Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300): the fiancé(e) visa to marry in Australia

The Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300) is for someone who intends to marry an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen. It is a temporary visa that lets the applicant come to Australia, marry within the visa’s validity, and then apply for a Partner visa towards staying long term. Unlike a Partner visa, subclass 300 does not require the couple to be already married or to meet the de facto definition when they apply — but it does require showing a genuine intention to marry and that the couple have actually met in person. This page explains how the visa works.

What this visa is for

Subclass 300 is a temporary visa with a specific purpose: to bring a fiancé(e) to Australia to marry. Its structure is an intermediate step, not a final destination:

The applicant (currently outside Australia) is granted the 300 visa and enters Australia.
The couple marry within the visa’s validity period.
After marrying, the applicant usually applies for a Partner visa towards permanent residence.

The 300 visa does not lead straight to permanent residence on its own; it opens the way to the Partner visa step that follows.

Who it usually suits

Couples who are engaged or intend to marry but are not yet married and do not yet meet the de facto definition.
An applicant who is outside Australia and wants to come to Australia to hold the wedding.
Couples who want to marry in Australia rather than marrying overseas and then lodging an offshore Partner visa.

If the couple are already married, or already meet the de facto definition, the Partner visa (309/100 offshore or 820/801 onshore) usually fits instead of the 300.

Common misunderstandings

This is not a permanent visa. The 300 is only a temporary visa to come to Australia and marry; staying long term depends on the Partner visa step afterwards.
It is not for couples who are already married. If you are married, going straight to a Partner visa is usually the better route.
It is not a “come now, sort it out later” visa. The obligation to marry within the visa’s validity is a key condition; not marrying in time can seriously affect plans to stay.
It is not a substitute for a visitor visa if the couple do not genuinely intend to marry.

Key conditions to look at

These are the conceptual, slow-changing conditions:

A genuine intention to marry: the couple genuinely intend to marry each other.
Having met in person: the couple generally must have met and known each other in person as adults (not only online).
Free to marry under Australian law: for example, both of marriageable age and not already in another marriage.
An eligible sponsor: usually an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.
The applicant is outside Australia at the time of applying (and usually when the visa is granted).
Health and character requirements.

The visa’s validity period — the window within which the couple must marry — is a specific figure that can change over time. When you check the Home Affairs page, confirm the period currently applying so you can plan the wedding accordingly.

The sponsor’s and applicant’s roles

The sponsor — the fiancé(e) in Australia — undertakes the sponsorship and is one half of the intention to marry that must be shown. As with the other partner pathways, the department looks at the sponsorship history and applies sponsorship limits; the specific numbers should be checked against the official source.

The applicant is the fiancé(e) overseas. After entering and marrying within the visa’s validity, the applicant usually lodges the Partner visa that follows. Keeping evidence of the relationship — before, during, and after the marriage — supports that Partner visa step.

The evidence you usually prepare

Because the 300 focuses on the intention to marry (rather than an established relationship like a de facto one), the evidence usually centres on:

Evidence of having met and known each other: photos together when meeting, the schedule of visits, entry stamps.
Evidence of the intention to marry: confirmation from the wedding venue, wedding plans, notice to family, engagement (if any).
Evidence of continuous contact: messages and calls showing the relationship developing genuinely over time.
Social evidence: statements from family and friends describing specifically, and community recognition of the engagement.

After the marriage, the familiar four relationship-evidence categories (financial, household, social, commitment) become important for the Partner visa step, so many couples start building them early.

The process at a glance

Confirm the right pathway: not married and not yet de facto → consider the 300; already married → consider a Partner visa.
Prepare evidence of having met, the intention to marry, and being free to marry.
Lodge the application and fee through the official system from outside Australia; the sponsor lodges the sponsorship part.
If granted: enter Australia and marry within the visa’s validity period.
After marrying: apply for a Partner visa towards permanent residence.

The exact sequence and steps can change; follow the guidance on the official page at the time you lodge.

Fees, processing time, validity and conditions

According to the official Home Affairs page, the base application charge for the main applicant of subclass 300 is from 11,710 AUDVerified 02/07/2026 · Source: Department of Home Affairs. Because both the fee and the processing time change over time and with your circumstances, always confirm before lodging. Especially important are the visa’s validity period — the window within which the couple must marry — and the conditions attached to the visa; these are things you should not rely on from old figures because they directly affect wedding planning. When you check the Home Affairs page, confirm the fee, processing-time range, validity period, and conditions currently applying to subclass 300 and to your situation. Rules can change.

Two official tools help you estimate against your own circumstances:

Visa Pricing Estimator (https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/visa-pricing-estimator): choose the correct subclass/stream and number of dependants to estimate the fee. Important for the partner pathways: the estimator may not include the second instalment of the application charge that can apply, so check the full total on the official fee pages.
Visa Processing Times (https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-processing-times): updated monthly; match your exact subclass, stream and situation (lodged onshore or offshore).

Refusal risks

Not being able to show the couple have genuinely met and known each other in person.
An unconvincing intention to marry or no concrete plans.
Weak relationship evidence, or evidence appearing only right before lodging.
Health or character issues not handled properly.
An ineligible sponsor because of earlier sponsorship limits.

Common mistakes

Choosing subclass 300 when already married (a Partner visa is usually the route).
Not planning the wedding in time within the visa’s validity period.
Forgetting that the 300 is only an intermediate step and does not lead to permanent residence on its own.
Not keeping continuous relationship evidence to use for the later Partner visa step.
Relying on validity, fee, or time figures heard from acquaintances instead of the official source.

When to ask a migration agent

Consider speaking to a registered migration agent (OMARA) when: there is a criminal record or character issue; you have had a visa refused before; you are unsure whether to choose subclass 300 or go straight to a Partner visa; you are concerned about meeting the “have met and known each other” requirement; or you need to plan the timing of the marriage and the move across to a Partner visa. An agent does not guarantee an outcome, but can help you avoid hard-to-fix mistakes. This is general information, not personal advice for your specific case.

A quick self-check

Have the two of you genuinely met and known each other in person?
Are you already married? (if so, a Partner visa may suit better than the 300)
Are you ready to marry within the visa’s validity period and then lodge a Partner visa?
Is the sponsor eligible and clear of sponsorship limits?

Official sources

The Department of Home Affairs page for the Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300): https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/prospective-marriage-300 — this is the single reliable source for fees, processing times, the visa’s validity period, conditions, and the specific figures currently applying.

Visa Pricing Estimator (Home Affairs): https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/visa-pricing-estimator
Visa Processing Times (Home Affairs): https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-processing-times

Subclass 300 is a starting step, not a destination. Understanding that it leads to marrying within the validity period and then moving across to a Partner visa helps you plan correctly — and always check the current official source for every figure and time period.