Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300): the Australian fiancé visa, who qualifies, and the path to marriage and the partner visa
The Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300) lets you enter Australia and marry your Australian sponsor within 9 to 15 months of the grant, costs AUD 11,710 from 1 July 2026, and must be applied for from outside Australia.
Under the Migration Regulations 1994, clauses 300.212A, 300.214 and 300.215 require you to be 18+, have met in person as adults and genuinely intend to marry within the visa period.
Your sponsor must be your fiancé or fiancée, aged 18+, and an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen under clause 300.213.
The Home Affairs 300 page, updated 10 August 2026, directs you to lodge and pay in ImmiAccount, then give your application number to your sponsor.
Home Affairs processing data as at 3 October 2026 shows 14 months for 50% of applications and 26 months for 90%.
Under Part 300 and the Home Affairs 820 page, marry and lodge the 820/801 in Australia before expiry for AUD 1,955 from 1 July 2026; the 300 cannot be extended.
- Visa application charge
- AUD 11,710 for the main applicant, from 1 July 2026 — Migration Regulations 1994, Schedule 1 item 1215
- How long you can stay
- 9 to 15 months from grant; the end date is on your grant letter — Home Affairs 300 page and clause 300.511
- Processing time
- 14 months for 50% of applications, 26 months for 90%, as at 3 October 2026 — Home Affairs global visa processing times
- Where you apply from
- Outside Australia, online in ImmiAccount — Home Affairs 300 page
- Who can sponsor
- An Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen, 18 or older — clause 300.213
An Australian migration lawyer can check your eligibility, your sponsor's eligibility and your dates against the subclass 300 criteria before you lodge. The page on subclass 300 legal help explains how that help works.
The route
Your seven-step route
- Qualify
Both of you meet the requirements below. - Evidence
Identity, relationship, police and health documents. - Apply
Applicant lodges from outside Australia; sponsor lodges the sponsorship. - Wait
14 months for half of applications, as at 3 October 2026. - Enter
Before the first-entry date on the grant letter. - Marry
Before the visa end date; notice at least 1 month ahead for an Australian wedding. - 820/801
Lodge the partner visa in Australia before the 300 ends.
This route follows the Home Affairs 300 and 820 pages, the Migration Regulations 1994, the Marriage Act 1961 and Home Affairs processing data as at 3 October 2026.
Go to a chapter
Explore each part of the route
Cost and fees
AUD 11,710 for the 300, AUD 1,955 for the 820/801 after the wedding, and the full total.
Processing time
14 months for half of applications, 26 for 90%: what the wait means for your wedding.
Document checklist
Every document for the applicant and the sponsor, with validity and upload rules.
For the sponsor
The Australian partner's side: online sponsorship, the limits, police checks and duties.
Conditions and rights
Work, study, travel, Medicare and the conditions you must meet, in their exact words.
The wedding
Notice of intended marriage, the celebrant and the deadline, mapped to your visa dates.
300 or partner visa?
The 300 against the 309/100, the de facto route and a visitor-visa wedding, side by side.
Important: Giving immigration assistance without registration or a legal exemption is unlawful under section 280 of the Migration Act 1958. An unregistered agent need not carry the professional indemnity insurance required of a practising Australian lawyer; if a mistake costs you a fee or pathway, there may be no insurer to claim against.
What is the Prospective Marriage visa?
The Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300) is a temporary visa for a person outside Australia to come to Australia, marry their prospective spouse and then apply for a partner visa, according to the Home Affairs 300 page, updated 10 August 2026.
Its legal home is Schedule 1 item 1215, Prospective Marriage (Temporary) (Class TO), and Part 300 of Schedule 2 of the Migration Regulations 1994, Compilation No. 288, dated 1 July 2026.
“Prospective spouse” means the Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen you intend to marry under clause 300.111 of the Migration Regulations 1994. Under regulation 1.03, an eligible New Zealand citizen is a protected Special Category Visa holder—not every New Zealand citizen.
The subclass 300 is not always a nine-month visa: clause 300.511 of the Migration Regulations 1994 lets the Minister specify an end date between 9 and 15 months after grant. If no date is specified, the default is 9 months after grant, not after arrival.
“Fiancé visa Australia” and “300 visa” are common names; the official name is the Prospective Marriage visa.
Prospective Marriage visa requirements: who can apply and who can sponsor
The Prospective Marriage visa requirements fall on both of you: the applicant must meet the criteria in clauses 300.211 to 300.224 of the Migration Regulations 1994, and the sponsor must be eligible and have the sponsorship approved.
The table uses the Migration Regulations 1994, Compilation No. 288, and the applicant and sponsor views of the Home Affairs 300 page, updated 10 August 2026.
| Requirement | Applicant (fiancé or fiancée) | Sponsor (Australian partner) |
|---|---|---|
| Who | Intends to marry an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen (clause 300.211) | That person, as the prospective spouse (clauses 300.111 and 300.213) |
| Age | 18 or older at application (clause 300.212A) | 18 or older (clause 300.213) |
| Where | Outside Australia when applying (Schedule 1 item 1215(3)(b)) | Inside or outside Australia; a permanent resident or eligible New Zealand sponsor must show they usually live in Australia (Home Affairs 300 page) |
| Meeting | Met in person since both turned 18, and know each other personally (clause 300.214) | Same |
| Intention | Genuinely intend to marry within the visa period and live together as spouses (clauses 300.215 and 300.216) | Same |
| Free to marry | No impediment under Australian law at the decision; a previous marriage must be legally ended (clause 300.221A) | Same |
| Checks | Health; character for applicants aged 16+; Australian Values Statement at 18+; Commonwealth debts repaid or repayment arranged (clause 300.223 and the listed public interest criteria) | AFP complete-disclosure National Police Certificate and required overseas certificates (Home Affairs 300 page); consent to disclosure of relevant-offence convictions (clause 300.222(2)) |
| Approval | Must satisfy the visa criteria | Sponsorship approved and still in force at decision (clause 300.222), subject to limits on earlier partner sponsorships (regulation 1.20J) |
| Income test | The Home Affairs 300 page sets no income or financial threshold for the applicant | The Home Affairs 300 page sets no income threshold; the sponsor accepts responsibility for the applicant’s financial obligations to the Commonwealth (regulation 1.20(2)(b)) |
| Cost | AUD 11,710 main-applicant charge from 1 July 2026 (Schedule 1 item 1215) | No sponsorship charge (Home Affairs 300 page) |
Under clause 300.221 of the Migration Regulations 1994, the intention to marry an eligible person, personal meeting and genuine intentions to marry and live as spouses must still exist at the decision—not only at lodgement.
The sponsor’s steps, earlier-sponsorship limits and police checks are explained in the guide to subclass 300 sponsorship.
Can you apply for a subclass 300 from inside Australia?
No. You must be outside Australia when you apply, and so must any family member applying with you, under Schedule 1 item 1215(3)(b) of the Migration Regulations 1994.
You can be in or outside Australia when the visa is granted, but not in immigration clearance, under clause 300.412 of the Migration Regulations 1994.
If you visit Australia on another visa while the 300 application is being decided, the Home Affairs 300 page, updated 10 August 2026, requires you to keep holding a valid visa throughout your stay.
For a couple already in Australia who are married, or have been de facto partners for 12 months, the onshore partner visa is the relevant alternative described by the Home Affairs 820 page; exceptions to the 12-month rule also exist.
The applicant’s and sponsor’s ImmiAccount steps are set out under how to apply for a Prospective Marriage visa.
Can same-sex couples get a 300 visa?
Yes: the Home Affairs 300 page, updated 10 August 2026, says your relationship can be with someone of the same or different sex. The same criteria apply, including a marriage valid under Australian law, consistent with section 5F of the Migration Act 1958 and section 5 of the Marriage Act 1961, which defines marriage as “the union of 2 people to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life”.
How the 300 visa path runs, from engagement to permanent residence
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Qualify — before preparing the application. Check both columns of the requirements table against the Migration Regulations 1994, including age, sponsor status, meeting in person as adults and genuine intentions.
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Gather evidence — before lodgement, then keep it current. The Home Affairs 300 page, updated 10 August 2026, lists identity and relationship evidence, two witness statements for which Form 888 is an option, evidence of the intention to marry such as an officiant’s letter, police certificates and Form 80. That page gives police certificates and health assessment results a 12-month validity period.
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Apply — applicant first, sponsor afterwards. Under the Home Affairs 300 page and Schedule 1 item 1215 of the Migration Regulations 1994, the applicant lodges “Stage 1 – Partner or Prospective Marriage Visa” in ImmiAccount from outside Australia and pays AUD 11,710 from 1 July 2026. The sponsor then uses the transaction reference number (TRN) to lodge “Sponsorship for a Partner to Migrate to Australia” online.
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Wait — 14 months for 50% and 26 months for 90% of recently decided applications, according to Home Affairs global visa processing times, data as at 3 October 2026; these are guides, not deadlines. The Home Affairs family visa processing priorities page places the 300 in Direction 117’s lower-priority group from 25 July 2026, and the Home Affairs 300 page says not to arrange travel until written grant confirmation; the guide to 300 visa processing times explains the figures.
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Enter Australia — before the first-entry date on the grant letter. Clause 300.611 of the Migration Regulations 1994 sets that deadline, while condition 8515 prohibits marrying or entering a de facto relationship before first entering Australia on the 300.
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Marry — before the visa end date. Under condition 8519 and the Home Affairs 300 page, marry in Australia or, after first entry, in another country with a marriage valid under Australian law; for an Australian wedding, section 42(1)(a) of the Marriage Act 1961 requires notice to reach the celebrant between 1 and 18 months beforehand, as explained under marrying within the 300 visa period.
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Lodge the 820/801 in Australia — after the wedding and before the 300 expires, for AUD 1,955 from 1 July 2026 under the Home Affairs 820 page and Schedule 1 item 1124B of the Migration Regulations 1994. A Bridging visa A starts when the 300 expires if the partner application remains undecided, and the Home Affairs 801 page and clause 801.221(2)(d) put the usual permanent-stage assessment from 2 years after application, with long-term relationship exceptions; see the route from 300 visa to partner visa 820/801.
Deadline: Marry before the end date on your grant letter and lodge the 820/801 in Australia before that date: the Prospective Marriage visa cannot be extended under Part 300 of the Migration Regulations 1994.
What the Prospective Marriage visa costs and how long it takes
| Figure | As at | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa application charge | AUD 11,710 main applicant; AUD 5,860 each additional applicant 18 or older; AUD 2,935 each under 18 | From 1 July 2026 | Migration Regulations 1994, Schedule 1 item 1215; Home Affairs current visa pricing |
| Processing time | 14 months for 50%, 26 months for 90% of recently decided applications | Data as at 3 October 2026 | Home Affairs global visa processing times |
The Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Regulations 2026 introduced a 25% increase from 1 July 2026, taking the main charge from AUD 9,365 to AUD 11,710.
Under Schedule 1 item 1215 of the Migration Regulations 1994, a primary applicant holding a valid passport issued by a Pacific-regional country pays AUD 9,600 from 1 July 2026.
The Home Affairs 300 page, updated 10 August 2026, states that the application charge is not refunded if the visa is refused.
The full breakdown, including the partner application after the wedding, is under how much is a prospective marriage visa.
The dated record of the fee and processing-priority changes is under Prospective Marriage visa changes in 2026.
What you can do on a 300 visa, and the conditions you must meet
- Work: the Home Affairs 300 page, updated 10 August 2026, confirms full work rights.
- Study: the Home Affairs 300 page permits study at your own expense, without government support.
- Travel: the Home Affairs 300 page permits travel in and out of Australia as many times as you want while the visa is valid.
- Condition 8515: Schedule 8 of the Migration Regulations 1994 states: “The holder of the visa must not marry or enter into a de facto relationship before entering Australia.”
- Condition 8519: Schedule 8 of the Migration Regulations 1994 states: “The holder must enter into the marriage in relation to which the visa was granted within the visa period of the visa.”
Medicare, health insurance and other conditions are covered under what you can do on a Prospective Marriage visa.
Prospective Marriage visa or partner visa?
The 300 is the route for an engaged couple who are not yet married and do not already qualify as de facto partners; for a married couple, or usually a couple with 12 months as de facto partners, the Home Affairs partner pages describe the 309/100 application outside Australia or the 820/801 application in Australia. Under regulation 2.03A of the Migration Regulations 1994, exceptions to the de facto 12-month rule include an eligible registered relationship.
The Home Affairs 309 page and current pricing give the offshore 309/100 main-applicant charge as AUD 11,710 from 1 July 2026. Home Affairs processing data as at 3 October 2026 gives the 309 stage 21 months for 50% and 32 months for 90% of recently decided applications.
Using Home Affairs charges from 1 July 2026, the standard fiancé route totals AUD 13,665 for one applicant: AUD 11,710 + AUD 1,955, provided the married holder lodges the 820/801 before the 300 ends. This calculation covers the two visa application charges, not every evidence or application expense.
The routes are compared side by side under Prospective Marriage visa vs partner visa.
For visitor visa marriage, condition 8503 prevents a later valid partner visa application in Australia unless waived first; the Home Affairs No Further Stay waiver page, updated 24 September 2026, says marriage is not a reason for a waiver.
A separate point applies to Marrying an Australian citizen: the Smartraveller marriage page, updated 18 August 2026, explains that marriage does not itself ensure entry to Australia or citizenship.
When the plan breaks: a refusal, a cancelled wedding or an expiring visa
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Refused. Under regulation 4.02(5)(r) of the Migration Regulations 1994 and sections 347 and 347A of the Migration Act 1958, the sponsor—not the applicant—applies to the Administrative Review Tribunal, ordinarily within 28 days after notification; the deadline is not extendable, and is 14 days in immigration detention. The ART fees page gives the fee as AUD 3,727 as at 3 October 2026; the guide to Prospective Marriage visa refused explains the next checks.
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Visa expiring before the wedding. Part 300 of the Migration Regulations 1994 contains no extension mechanism, and the Home Affairs Visa about to expire page, updated 24 September 2026, says staying longer requires a new visa. Home Affairs does not publish a general outcome for expiry before marriage; the issue is case-specific, as explained under Prospective Marriage visa expiring before the wedding.
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Wedding cancelled or relationship ended. The Home Affairs 300 page requires you to tell the Department and says sponsorship is not withdrawable after grant; clauses 820.211(7) to (9) of the Migration Regulations 1994 provide specific partner-visa routes involving a sponsor’s death, family violence or child arrangements, subject to their criteria. The guide to Prospective Marriage visa relationship ended explains those distinctions.
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Married before grant. If you are Married before the Prospective Marriage visa is granted, the Home Affairs 300 page says you are no longer eligible for the 300 and must notify the Department, provide the marriage evidence, request 309/100 consideration and withdraw the 300 application. Regulation 2.08E of the Migration Regulations 1994 supplies the legal mechanism for the additional 309/100 applications; Home Affairs says the 300 is refused if it is not withdrawn.
Frequently asked questions
Does Australia have a fiancé visa?
Yes. The Home Affairs 300 page, updated 10 August 2026, describes the Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300) as a temporary visa to come to Australia and marry an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen.
Can you visit Australia while the 300 is being processed?
Yes, on another visa, provided you hold a valid visa throughout your stay, according to the Home Affairs 300 page, updated 10 August 2026. That page also says marrying before the 300 decision ends eligibility for the 300.
Is a fiancé visa guaranteed?
No. Home Affairs assesses the application against the Migration Regulations 1994 criteria, and its 300 page states that the charge is not refunded on refusal. As at 3 October 2026, the Home Affairs Migration Program report does not publish a current subclass-300-only refusal rate, so it does not establish how “easy” this visa is to obtain.
Can children come on a Prospective Marriage visa?
Yes, as members of the family unit included at lodgement, according to the Home Affairs 300 page, updated 10 August 2026. A dependent child outside Australia can be added before the decision using Form 1436, but family members cannot be added after grant.
Getting help with a Prospective Marriage visa: what an Australian migration lawyer checks before lodgement
An Australian legal practitioner is permitted to give immigration assistance in connection with legal practice under section 280(3) of the Migration Act 1958.
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Both people’s criteria: the Migration Regulations 1994 require applicant eligibility and approved sponsorship, so the pre-lodgement review should check both sides, including evidence that you met in person since both turned 18.
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The financial commitment: the Home Affairs 300 page says the application charge is not refunded on refusal, making the AUD 11,710 main-applicant charge from 1 July 2026 an important check before payment.
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The review deadline: the Migration Act 1958 and regulation 4.02(5)(r) of the Migration Regulations 1994 place the review application with the sponsor, ordinarily within 28 days after notification, with no extension.
Before lodgement, an Australian migration lawyer’s review can check each criterion against your documents, identify gaps or inconsistent dates, confirm the applicable charge and map the first-entry, wedding and partner-application deadlines. If there is already a refusal, the immediate task is to check notification and the sponsor’s review deadline—not to predict a grant or review outcome. The help guide explains the role of a Prospective Marriage visa lawyer.
This information guide uses legislation and government pages, with figures dated to 3 October 2026; its research approach is explained under About Prospective Marriage Visa Australia. The shared enquiry page can send a private question to Australian Migration Lawyers.
Ask an Australian migration lawyer
An Australian migration lawyer can check your eligibility, your sponsor's eligibility and your dates against the subclass 300 criteria before you lodge. A partner visa with Australian Migration Lawyers usually costs $14,000 plus GST in professional fees, separate from the Home Affairs visa application charges. The page on subclass 300 legal help explains how that help works, and the enquiry page is where to put your question to Australian Migration Lawyers.