Bring Your Partner to Australia for Marriage
The Subclass 300 Prospective Marriage Visa allows engaged partners of Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens to enter Australia, get married, and apply for a Partner Visa.
Key Features
✅ Granted for 9 to 15 months – you must enter Australia and marry within your visa period
✅ Full work rights in Australia
✅ Pathway to permanent residency (via Subclass 820/801 Partner Visa)
✅ No age limit for applicants
Eligibility Requirements
For the Applicant (Fiancé(e))
✔ Must be genuinely engaged to an eligible sponsor
✔ Must be outside Australia when applying
✔ Must intend to marry within your visa period
✔ Must meet health and character requirements
For the Sponsor (Australian Partner)
✔ Must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible NZ citizen
✔ Must be 18+ years old
✔ Can sponsor only two partners in a lifetime (with a 5-year gap between sponsorships)
Required Documents
📌 Proof of engagement – Wedding plans, invitations, deposits
📌 Genuine relationship evidence – Photos, communication history, joint travel
📌 Statements of intent to marry from both partners
📌 Sponsor’s proof of citizenship/residency
Application Process & Timeline
- Lodge application offshore (while outside Australia)
- Processing times vary – check the Home Affairs processing time guide
- Visa grant (must enter Australia before expiry)
- Get married within your visa period
- Apply for Partner Visa (Subclass 820/801) before expiry
Why Choose Immigrad?
✅ Free eligibility assessment
✅ Strong application preparation
✅ Wedding planning guidance
✅ Seamless transition to Partner Visa
Start Your Australian Love Story
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Official Resources:
Home Affairs – Subclass 300 Visa
Document Checklist
Note: Immigration regulations change frequently. While we maintain current knowledge, we recommend verifying information with the Department of Home Affairs or consulting a registered migration agent.
Frequently asked questions about the subclass 300 visa
How long is a subclass 300 Prospective Marriage visa valid?
The visa is granted for a period of between nine and fifteen months from the date of grant. You must enter Australia, marry your sponsor and lodge an onshore Partner visa application before the visa ends. The exact validity period is set at grant, so plan the wedding date against the visa expiry rather than the application date.
Do I have to marry in Australia on a subclass 300 visa?
No. You may marry inside or outside Australia during the visa validity period, provided the marriage is legally recognised in Australia. What matters is that the marriage takes place before the visa ends and before you lodge the subclass 820 Partner visa application.
Can I work on a subclass 300 visa?
Yes. The subclass 300 Prospective Marriage visa carries full work rights and permits multiple entries to and from Australia for the life of the visa. Holders can also enrol in study, although they are not entitled to government study assistance.
What happens if we do not marry before the subclass 300 visa expires?
You cannot lodge the onshore Partner visa on the basis of the subclass 300 once it has ceased, and remaining in Australia after expiry without another visa creates serious consequences. Where the relationship is continuing but the timing has slipped, seek advice well before expiry so that alternatives can be assessed while options remain open.
Is the subclass 300 cheaper than applying directly for a partner visa?
Not overall. The subclass 300 attracts its own visa application charge, and a further charge applies at the subsequent Partner visa stage, although a substantially reduced rate applies to current subclass 300 holders. Check the Department of Home Affairs pricing estimator for both stages before deciding, as charges are typically indexed on 1 July each year.
How many times can a sponsor sponsor a partner?
A sponsor may generally sponsor no more than two partners in a lifetime, with at least five years between sponsorship applications. Limitations also apply where the sponsor was themselves granted a partner-category visa. These limits can be waived only in limited compelling circumstances, which are assessed on the evidence.
Related reading: the onshore Partner visa (subclass 820 and 801), the offshore Partner visa (subclass 309 and 100), and partner visa costs and timelines in 2026.
This page is general information only and is current as at September 2026. It does not take your circumstances into account. Visa application charges and processing times published by the Department of Home Affairs change, and complex cases need personal advice from a registered migration agent.