Subclass 300 visa conditions: what you can do on a Prospective Marriage visa, how long it lasts, and the rules you must follow
Subclass 300 visa conditions require you to make your first entry before the date on your grant letter, not marry or enter a de facto relationship before entering Australia (8515), and marry your sponsor within the visa period of 9 to 15 months (8519). Under Migration Regulations 1994 clause 300.511, the Minister sets a 9–15-month end date at grant; without one, the period is 9 months. Home Affairs’ Prospective Marriage visa page, updated 10 August 2026, confirms full work rights, self-funded study and unlimited travel while valid. Migration Regulations Part 300 provides no extension; Home Affairs’ Prospective Marriage visa page says another visa grant replaces the 300. Services Australia’s Medicare enrolment page supports a derived reading: enrolment through the partner-visa pathway starts after lodging the combined 820/801 following marriage. Under Migration Regulations regulation 1.20(2)(b), your sponsor undertakes responsibility for your compliance with visa conditions, unless the Minister decides otherwise.
At a glance — checked against government sources as at 3 October 2026
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Visa period | 9 to 15 months from grant; 9 months if no date is set, under Migration Regulations clause 300.511 |
| First entry | Before the “first entry, arrive by” date on the grant letter, under clause 300.611 |
| Marriage deadline | Within the visa period, under condition 8519 |
| Work | Full work rights, according to Home Affairs’ Prospective Marriage visa page |
| Medicare | Through the 820/801 application, subject to Services Australia’s eligibility rules; a derived reading, not an entitlement stated for the 300 itself |
| Extension | None: Migration Regulations Part 300 contains no extension mechanism |
What are the conditions of a subclass 300 visa?
A Prospective Marriage visa carries a first-entry date and up to four Schedule 8 conditions: 8515, 8519, 8520 and, if imposed, 8502 (Migration Regulations Sch 2 Part 300, Compilation 288).
Conditions in their exact words
The wording and application rules below come from the Migration Regulations 1994, Schedule 2 Part 300 and Schedule 8, Compilation 288 dated 1 July 2026. The Home Affairs visa conditions tool, product 300, was checked on 3 October 2026.
| Condition | Exact wording (Schedule 8 / Part 300) | Who it applies to | What it means in practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| First entry — cl 300.611 | “First entry must be made before a date specified by the Minister for the purpose.” | All 300 holders | Enter Australia before the “first entry, arrive by” date on your grant letter. |
| 8515 | “The holder of the visa must not marry or enter into a de facto relationship before entering Australia.” | Main applicant: always, under cl 300.612. Family members: if imposed, under cl 300.615. | No wedding or de facto relationship before first entering Australia on the 300. After that, the wedding is allowed in any country if valid under Australian law. |
| 8519 | “The holder must enter into the marriage in relation to which the visa was granted within the visa period of the visa.” | Main applicant: always, under cl 300.612. | Marry the sponsor named in the application before the 300 ends. The condition says “within the visa period”, not “within nine months”. |
| 8520 | “The relevant person who holds a Subclass 300 visa on the basis of having satisfied the primary criteria must enter into the marriage in relation to which that visa was granted within the visa period of that visa.” | Family members: always, under cl 300.614. | The family member’s condition requires the main holder to marry the sponsor within the visa period. It does not require the child or dependant to marry. |
| 8502 | “The holder of the visa must not enter Australia before the entry to Australia of a person specified in the visa.” | Only if imposed: main applicant under cl 300.613, or family members under cl 300.615. | Enter on or after the named person, not before them. Check your grant letter or VEVO for this condition. |
Home Affairs’ conditions tool lists 8502, 8515, 8519 and 8520 for the 300, and not the “no further stay” condition 8503, as at 3 October 2026.
8502 applies only when imposed. Home Affairs’ visa conditions tool describes the person specified as “usually the main visa holder”, or another relevant person. Use the name and condition recorded on your own grant letter or VEVO rather than assuming who must enter first.
8515 controls the order of entry and marriage, not the wedding country. Home Affairs’ Prospective Marriage visa page, updated 10 August 2026, allows marriage in any country after first entry on the 300, provided the marriage is valid under Australian law. Its conditions tool also says it might cancel a visa if it discovers an undisclosed engagement, marriage or de facto relationship before grant.
These conditions sit on top of everything else the subclass 300 visa requires before the grant.
For the sponsor, Migration Regulations regulation 1.20(2)(b) includes an undertaking about the applicant’s and accompanying family members’ compliance with visa conditions, unless the Minister decides otherwise. Home Affairs’ Prospective Marriage visa page also describes the sponsor’s responsibility for compliance with Australian law.
Rights on the 300 — and what is not included
| Right | Position as at 3 October 2026 | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Work | Full work rights | Home Affairs Prospective Marriage visa page, updated 10 August 2026 |
| Study | Allowed, but without government support; costs are yours | Home Affairs Prospective Marriage visa page |
| Travel | Enter and leave Australia as many times as you want while the visa remains valid | Home Affairs Prospective Marriage visa page |
| Medicare | Enrolment through the partner-visa pathway follows the combined 820/801 application, subject to eligibility; this is a derived reading for 300 holders | Services Australia Medicare enrolment page, updated 11 July 2025 |
| Health insurance | Recommended; otherwise you are personally liable for health costs | Home Affairs Prospective Marriage visa page |
| Free English classes — AMEP | Subclass 300 is not on the eligible temporary visa list; subclass 820 is | Home Affairs AMEP page, updated 3 July 2026; list current as at September 2023 |
How long does a Prospective Marriage visa last?
9 to 15 months from the date of grant. Under Migration Regulations clause 300.511, the Minister specifies an end date at least 9 months and no more than 15 months after grant. If no date is specified, the visa period is 9 months from grant.
The clock starts at grant, not arrival. Home Affairs’ Prospective Marriage visa page, updated 10 August 2026, says the exact end date is on your grant letter; check the digital visa record in VEVO as well. Arriving later does not restart the period.
Home Affairs’ sponsor guidance says sponsorship starts when the 300 is granted and ends when the 300 ceases.
“Last day to marry” — calculation guide
Use the visa end date printed on your grant letter whenever it is available. A month-based calculation is only an estimate based on Migration Regulations clause 300.511.
This page gives a manual date guide; it does not calculate or store dates.
| Date to check | Rule |
|---|---|
| Grant date | The date the 300 was granted |
| Visa end date on your grant letter — preferred | Use the printed end date |
| If no end date is specified | Clause 300.511 gives 9 months from grant; any Minister-specified date controls when stated. |
Date calculation:
- Visa end date: use the date on the grant letter; if none is specified, add 9 calendar months to the grant date.
- If the corresponding day does not exist in the end month, check the exact date against VEVO and the grant letter.
- Marry before the end date, reflecting Migration Regulations condition 8519.
After the wedding, lodge the 820/801 in Australia before the same date to pay AUD 1,955 rather than AUD 2,475 (from 1 July 2026), under Migration Regulations Schedule 1 item 1124B and Home Affairs’ visa pricing.
Those are standard main-applicant charges. The AUD 2,475 former-holder band has specific requirements: entering on the 300, marrying the intended spouse, and holding no substantive visa when applying. Pacific-regional passport concessions have separate amounts under item 1124B. The price comparison does not mean every person whose 300 expires qualifies for that former-holder band.
A partner visa with Australian Migration Lawyers usually costs $14,000 plus GST in professional fees, separate from the Home Affairs visa application charges.
Other dates to check:
- The first-entry date is set separately on your grant letter under Migration Regulations clause 300.611.
- For a wedding in Australia, the Notice of Intended Marriage must reach the celebrant at least 1 month beforehand under Marriage Act 1961 section 42(1)(a).
- The calculation is an estimate; your grant letter and VEVO are the records to check.
Worked example: grant on 3 October 2026 with no date specified → 3 October 2026 + 9 months = 3 July 2027. With a date set 15 months after grant → 3 October 2026 + 15 months = 3 January 2028. These are derived examples using Migration Regulations clause 300.511, not dates for your visa.
Calendar illustration: grant date → separately specified first-entry date → marriage before the visa end date, 9–15 months after grant.
Alt text: “A calendar strip running 9 to 15 months from the grant date, marking the first-entry date and the last day to marry.”
Common mistakes
- Counting 9 months from arrival instead of grant: Migration Regulations clause 300.511 starts the period at grant.
- Marrying overseas before first entering Australia on the 300: condition 8515 prohibits this.
- Accepting another visa, including a subclass 444 at the border: Home Affairs says it replaces the 300.
- Assuming Medicare comes with the 300: Services Australia’s published partner-visa enrolment rule concerns the 820/801 application; the 300 connection is derived.
- Letting the 300 end before lodging the 820/801: the standard eligible former-holder charge is AUD 2,475 rather than AUD 1,955, from 1 July 2026, under Schedule 1 item 1124B.
The first-entry date, and what happens if you miss it
First entry must be made before the “first entry, arrive by” date set on your grant letter, under Migration Regulations clause 300.611 and Home Affairs’ Prospective Marriage visa guidance. This is a separate deadline from the visa end date.
If that first-entry date has passed but the visa remains valid, Home Affairs’ Prospective Marriage visa page says you can still travel to Australia. However, it also says the visa may be cancelled before arrival or at the border. Missing the first-entry date does not, by itself, mean the visa has automatically expired.
Check validity through Home Affairs’ Visa Entitlement Verification Online — VEVO. Condition 8515 still ties the wedding to first entry: do not marry before first entering Australia on the 300.
Can you work on a 300 visa?
Yes: the Prospective Marriage visa gives full work rights (Home Affairs, 10 August 2026). Those rights come with the visa itself. Home Affairs’ Prospective Marriage visa page says employers use the digital visa record through VEVO to check visa conditions.
For the sponsor, Migration Regulations regulation 1.20(2)(b) includes responsibility for the holder’s compliance with employment law and awards in Australia.
Can you study on a 300 visa?
Yes, but you will not receive any government support and the costs are yours (Home Affairs, 10 August 2026). The Home Affairs Prospective Marriage visa page confirms that study is permitted at your own expense.
Medicare and health insurance on a 300 visa
Medicare
Services Australia’s “Enrolling in Medicare if you’re an Australian permanent resident or have applied” page, updated 11 July 2025, allows enrolment after applying for a permanent visa, including the combined 820/801. Its eligibility rules require work rights or an Australian-citizen, permanent-resident or New Zealand-citizen spouse; enrolment is available from the application date.
Services Australia does not name subclass 300 itself. The conclusion that a 300 holder’s Medicare enrolment through this pathway begins with the 820/801 application is a derived reading of its combined partner-visa rule—not a statement that the 300 itself provides Medicare. You do not need to wait for the 820 grant under that published application-based rule.
Home Affairs’ Prospective Marriage visa page notes that some countries have reciprocal health care agreements with Australia. That is a separate possible basis for access; it does not establish Medicare eligibility for every 300 holder.
Health insurance
Home Affairs’ Prospective Marriage visa page recommends health insurance and says you are personally liable for health costs in Australia. Its adequate health insurance guidance, updated 25 September 2026, provides further information.
Medicare, work and the bridging visa after you lodge are covered in the guide to moving from visa 300 to 820.
For English classes, the Home Affairs AMEP page, updated 3 July 2026, links an eligible temporary visa list current as at September 2023: the 300 is not listed; the 820 is.
Travelling in and out of Australia on a 300 visa
Yes, as many times as you want while the visa is valid (Home Affairs, 10 August 2026). Home Affairs’ Prospective Marriage visa page confirms multiple-entry travel, subject to the visa remaining valid and its entry conditions.
Keep these three points in mind:
- First entry has its own deadline. Migration Regulations clause 300.611 requires entry before the specified grant-letter date.
- New Zealand passport holders: Home Affairs says to tell the border officer that you hold a Prospective Marriage visa and do not want a Special Category visa, subclass 444. A 444 grant overrides the 300.
- The visa is digital. Home Affairs says it is linked to your passport, with no visa label; airlines use the digital record to check visa conditions before boarding.
Once the 300 ends and a Bridging visa A is in effect after lodging the 820/801, Home Affairs’ travel-on-a-bridging-visa guidance says only a Bridging visa B allows departure and return; its charge was AUD 575 as at 3 October 2026.
The Home Affairs travel on a bridging visa page, updated 24 September 2026, explains that separate travel permission.
Getting another visa replaces the 300
If you are granted any other visa, the new visa replaces your subclass 300 (Home Affairs, 10 August 2026), because a substantive visa ceases when another substantive visa comes into effect under Migration Act 1958 section 82(2).
Home Affairs’ Prospective Marriage visa page says this means you “may need to pay a higher” 820/801 charge. Under Migration Regulations Schedule 1 item 1124B and Home Affairs’ visa pricing, the standard main-applicant charge from 1 July 2026 is AUD 1,955 for a 300 holder who has married the sponsor and lodges before the 300 ends, compared with AUD 11,710 for most applicants. Pacific-regional passport concessions are separate.
A New Zealand passport holder receiving a subclass 444 at the border is one example: Home Affairs expressly says that grant overrides the 300. Check the replacement visa’s effect on the partner-visa lodgement route and charge before relying on the 300-holder band.
Is there an extension?
No: Part 300 has no extension; the visa period is fixed at grant, and Home Affairs says that to stay longer you must apply for a new visa (Migration Regulations clause 300.511; Home Affairs’ “Visa about to expire” page, updated 24 September 2026).
Home Affairs’ visa conditions tool lists no “no further stay” condition 8503 for subclass 300, as at 3 October 2026. That does not establish eligibility for a replacement visa or extend the 300’s period.
What to do before the end date, and what is known when it passes, is set out under prospective marriage visa expired.
Living on a subclass 300: why an Australian migration lawyer helps you keep the visa and the partner-visa pathway
Under Migration Act 1958 section 280(3), an Australian legal practitioner may give immigration assistance in connection with legal practice. Under section 116(1), failure to comply with a visa condition—such as 8515 or 8519—is a ground on which the Minister may cancel a visa; it is not a statement that cancellation is automatic.
An Australian migration lawyer can review three connected issues before you travel, marry or lodge:
- The order of entry and marriage. Check condition 8515 against travel and wedding dates, and condition 8519 against the actual visa period. An overseas wedding before first entry breaches 8515; a delayed wedding can run into the marriage deadline, with no extension mechanism in Part 300.
- A replacement visa and the application charge. Check whether another visa—including a subclass 444 at the border—would replace the 300 and remove access to the standard AUD 1,955 300-holder charge band, in force from 1 July 2026 under Schedule 1 item 1124B.
- The grant-letter dates and 820/801 lodgement path. Compare the first-entry date, visa end date and intended wedding date with the documents, then check the requirements for lodging the combined 820/801 in Australia before the 300 ends.
These are checks of conditions, documents and deadlines—not a prediction that the visa will remain in force or that a partner visa will be granted. Enquiries about your own dates and circumstances go to an Australian migration lawyer.
Can I get free English classes on a 300?
No: subclass 300 is not on the Adult Migrant English Program’s eligible temporary visa list, current as at September 2023. Subclass 820 is listed, according to Home Affairs’ AMEP page, updated 3 July 2026.
Does the 300 have a “no further stay” condition?
No: Home Affairs’ visa conditions tool lists 8502, 8515, 8519 and 8520 for the 300, and not condition 8503, as at 3 October 2026. Check your own grant letter and VEVO for the conditions imposed on you.
What does my sponsor have to do while I hold the 300?
Under Migration Regulations regulation 1.20(2)(b) and Home Affairs’ Prospective Marriage visa sponsor guidance, the undertaking covers debts to the Australian Government, employment obligations, visa conditions and Australian law. Home Affairs says sponsorship runs from grant until the 300 ceases; the regulation allows the Minister to decide otherwise about responsibility for visa-condition compliance.
Can I get Centrelink payments on a 300?
Services Australia publishes no 300-specific rule in its newly arrived resident’s waiting period guidance, updated 4 December 2025, so this does not establish your entitlement. For 820 holders, it describes a waiting period of up to 4 years for most payments, starting from the later of applying or arriving to live in Australia.
Ask an Australian migration lawyer
An Australian migration lawyer can check the visa conditions against your grant letter and your plans to enter Australia and marry. 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.