Before grant · preparationGuide record · 3 October 2026

Marrying an Australian citizen: what it gives you, from a visa to citizenship, and where the Prospective Marriage visa fits

Marrying an Australian citizen gives no automatic visa, permanent residence or citizenship: you still need a visa such as the Prospective Marriage visa, and citizenship later needs 4 years' residence, the last 12 months as a permanent resident (as at 3 October 2026).

The Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300) is for a couple who are engaged and not yet married: the fiancé or fiancée applies from outside Australia, marries the Australian sponsor within the visa period, then applies for the partner visa in Australia (Home Affairs 300 page, updated 10 August 2026).

A couple who are already married apply for a partner visa instead: the 309/100 from outside Australia, or the 820/801 in Australia, according to Home Affairs’ partner visa pages. Permanent residence starts only when the permanent partner visa, the 801 or the 100, is granted (Home Affairs 801 and partner pages, updated 10 August 2026).

Citizenship is a separate application, with residence requirements under s 22 of the Australian Citizenship Act 2007 and a fee of AUD 595 for an adult applying under general eligibility on or after 1 July 2026 (Australian Citizenship Regulation 2016 Sch 3; Form 1298i).

A partner visa with Australian Migration Lawyers usually costs $14,000 plus GST in professional fees, separate from the Home Affairs visa application charges.

At a glance

Status ladder: engagement to citizenship

Read from rung 1 upwards through the route. These times are current as at 3 October 2026. Home Affairs’ global processing times are updated monthly and are a guide only, not legal minimums or promised decision dates.

Example — calculating the earliest application date

This illustration uses Migration Regulations cl 801.221, Citizenship Act s 22 and Home Affairs’ processing figures at 3 October 2026. It assumes no earlier Australian residence, continuous lawful status and absences within the limits.

• Month 0: first entry on the 300.
• Month 1: wedding, with notice received at least 1 month earlier. The Attorney-General’s Department’s “Get married” page permits completing the notice from overseas.
• Month 2: combined 820/801 application.
• Month 26: 801 assessment opens: month 2 + 24 months.
• Month 34: illustrative 801 grant at the published 50% figure: month 26 + 8 months.
• Month 46: 12 months as a permanent resident: month 34 + 12.
• Month 48: 4 years since first entry. Earliest citizenship application: month 48, the later date.
• At the published 90% figure, the illustrative 801 grant is month 45: 26 + 19. The earliest citizenship application becomes month 57: 45 + 12.

Under Citizenship Act s 22, lawful time on the 300, 820 and bridging visas counts towards the 4 years; only time after the 801 grant in Australia counts as permanent-resident time in this example.

Does marrying an Australian citizen give you citizenship?

No. Marriage gives no automatic citizenship or visa. Smartraveller’s “Getting married overseas” page, updated 18 August 2026, says: “Marrying an Australian citizen doesn't ensure you can come to Australia.”

Citizenship comes later, by application once you are a permanent resident and meet the relevant criteria under s 21(2) of the Australian Citizenship Act 2007, including the residence requirement explained below.

Does marrying an Australian citizen give permanent residence?

Marriage itself does not give permanent residence. On the partner route, the permanent stage — the 801 after the 820, or the 100 after the 309 — makes the holder a permanent resident, according to Home Affairs’ Partner visa (subclass 801) page and partner visa pages.

For a 300 holder, Home Affairs requires marriage followed by the 820/801 application in Australia before the 300 ends. Under Migration Regulations cl 801.221(2)(d), assessment usually opens 2 years after that application, not 2 years after the wedding or 820 grant.

The application itself, its standard AUD 1,955 charge from 1 July 2026 under Migration Regulations Sch 1 item 1124B, and the bridging visa are covered in the step from subclass 300 to 820.

Which visa to marry an Australian citizen: the Prospective Marriage visa or a partner visa

1. Engaged, outside Australia, not yet married → Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300). Home Affairs’ 300 page describes the route to come and marry. Standard single-applicant charges from 1 July 2026 under Migration Regulations Sch 1 are AUD 11,710 + AUD 1,955 for the later 820/801 = AUD 13,665, excluding other costs.

2. Already married or usually de facto for 12 months, outside Australia → 309/100, applied for together offshore; standard main-applicant charge AUD 11,710 from 1 July 2026 under Migration Regulations Sch 1 item 1129; reg 2.03A includes a registered-relationship exception to the 12-month rule.

3. Married or qualifying de facto, already in Australia on a visa → 820/801, applied for together in Australia according to Home Affairs’ onshore partner page, with a standard charge of AUD 11,710 from 1 July 2026 under Sch 1 item 1124B; a no-further-stay condition such as 8503 prevents application unless waived first.

Every requirement for the engaged route is listed in the guide to the 300 visa. Costs, processing times and risks are set side by side in Prospective Marriage visa vs partner visa.

Citizenship after marriage: the residence requirement

Citizenship after marriage generally needs 4 years living in Australia lawfully, including the last 12 months as a permanent resident, before applying, under Australian Citizenship Act 2007 s 22(1) and Home Affairs’ “Citizenship for permanent residents” page, updated 30 September 2026.

Under s 22(1A)–(1B), absences must not exceed 12 months in total over the 4 years, or 90 days in the last 12 months. Time as an unlawful non-citizen does not count under s 22(1).

Home Affairs says permanent residence starts, for citizenship purposes, on the permanent visa’s grant date if granted while you are in Australia, or your first entry on a permanent visa.

Section 21(2) also requires adult applicants to be aged 18 or over, permanent residents at application and decision, satisfy the citizenship test requirement, be likely to live in or maintain a close association with Australia, and be of good character.

For applications from 1 July 2026, Australian Citizenship Regulation 2016 Sch 3 sets adult general-eligibility fees at AUD 595, or AUD 85 with a Pensioner Concession Card, previously AUD 575 and AUD 80; a child under 16 included on a parent’s form pays nil. Home Affairs’ citizenship page directs readers to Form 1298i for the full fee list.

The spouse concession, s 22(9)

The spouse concession in s 22(9) of the Australian Citizenship Act lets the Minister count time spent outside Australia as a permanent resident, while the spouse of an Australian citizen, as time in Australia as a permanent resident.

If you are a citizen’s spouse, de facto partner or surviving spouse when applying

The discretion requires a close and continuing association with Australia and supporting evidence. Home Affairs says it cannot be assessed before you apply; it is not automatic.

If the time was spent on a temporary visa

Section 22(9)(b)–(c) does not convert 300 or 820 time into permanent-resident time: it covers periods outside Australia while already a permanent resident.

Separately, s 22(6) permits temporary-visa time in Australia to be treated as permanent-resident time where significant hardship or disadvantage would otherwise result; this is not a spouse-specific concession.

If you marry an Australian permanent resident

Marrying an Australian permanent resident leads to the same visa routes. Home Affairs’ 300 and partner pages permit sponsorship by permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens; the 300 page requires those sponsors to show they usually live in Australia.

However, Citizenship Act s 22(9) requires the spouse to be an Australian citizen when the citizenship application is made.

Frequently asked questions

How long after marrying an Australian citizen do you get permanent residence?

For a 300 holder, Migration Regulations cl 801.221 usually opens assessment 2 years after the 820/801 application. Home Affairs’ global processing times at 3 October 2026 show 50% of 801s decided within 8 months of eligibility and 90% within 19 months; cl 100.221 has the same usual 2-year eligibility rule for the 309/100.

Can I apply for citizenship after 3 years of marriage?

Marriage length is not the test. Citizenship Act s 22 generally requires 4 years’ lawful residence, including the last 12 months as a permanent resident.

What are the benefits of marrying an Australian citizen?

In visa law, a citizen spouse is an eligible partner sponsor. Migration Regulations Sch 1 sets the standard 820/801 charge from 1 July 2026 at AUD 1,955 for a married 300 holder applying before expiry, rather than AUD 11,710; after permanent residence, the narrow s 22(9) citizenship concession is potentially available.

What changed for Australian citizenship in 2026?

Australian Citizenship Regulation 2016 Sch 3 and Form 1298i record the adult general-eligibility fee rising from AUD 575 to AUD 595 for applications made on or after 1 July 2026.

Marrying an Australian on a Prospective Marriage visa: what an Australian migration lawyer checks about sponsorship

An Australian migration lawyer can check the sponsor’s history, the couple’s visa route and the residence dates before an application is lodged. Australian legal practitioners are permitted to give immigration assistance in connection with legal practice under Migration Act 1958 s 280(3).

1. Sponsorship limits first. Under Migration Regulations reg 1.20J, two previous sponsored partner grants or an earlier relevant application within 5 years can prevent approval unless compelling circumstances apply. A lawyer checks the actual application dates and grants before the applicant pays the standard AUD 11,710 charge, effective from 1 July 2026.

2. The right route for the couple’s status. A lawyer checks engagement or marriage status, location and visa conditions against the 300, 309/100 or 820/801 requirements. Home Affairs’ 300 page says its application charge is not refunded on refusal.

3. The citizenship clock. A lawyer checks lawful residence, absences and the permanent-residence start date against Citizenship Act s 22, including whether the narrow spouse discretion is relevant. This checks eligibility and evidence before lodgement; it does not predict approval.

The sponsor's side of this route, from approval to the limits on earlier sponsorships, is set out in the guide to the subclass 300 sponsorship application.

If you need individual advice

Have your relationship status, current locations and visa dates ready for an Australian migration lawyer. The shared enquiry page can send a private question to Australian Migration Lawyers. If a deadline is close, contact an Australian migration lawyer directly; viewing this page does not lodge an application or pause a deadline.

Ask an Australian migration lawyer

An Australian migration lawyer can check which route fits your circumstances. 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.