The Prospective Marriage Visa (Subclass 300) allows a person outside Australia to enter Australia to marry their Australian partner. You generally have a set window after grant to enter and marry within — check the current period rather than an older figure. After marriage, you'd apply for the Partner Visa (820/801) to remain in Australia. Getting the 300 application right sets up that partner visa pathway, so document preparation matters here too.
As of 1 July 2026, the visa application charge is from AUD 11,710.00, with a lower concessional cost available to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens who lodge a valid application. You and your sponsor must both be 18 years or older when you apply, and you must have met your prospective spouse in person as adults — since each of you turned 18 — and be known to each other personally at the time you apply.
Identity documents
- Passport bio-data page
- Birth certificate
- Two passport-style photographs
- Change of name document, if applicable
- Divorce decree or death certificate, if you were previously married
Proving the relationship
One of the most critical requirements for the Subclass 300 is demonstrating that you and your fiancé(e) have met in person as adults, and that your relationship and intention to marry are genuine. A failure to evidence in-person contact is a common reason for refusal.
- A relationship history statement covering how you met and your relationship since
- Photographs together over time
- Communication evidence — messages, emails, call history showing ongoing contact
- Evidence of in-person meetings — passport stamps, boarding passes, accommodation bookings, photos with dates and location context
- Two Form 888 statutory declarations from people who know you as a couple
Plans to marry
- Evidence of your intention to marry in Australia — venue bookings, wedding planning correspondence, or similar
- Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM), if it's already been lodged
Fiancé(e) (sponsor) documents
- Your fiancé(e)'s passport or citizenship certificate
- Your fiancé(e)'s evidence of citizenship or permanent residency
- Form 40SP — Sponsorship application
- Your fiancé(e)'s divorce decree or death certificate, if previously married
- Your fiancé(e)'s Australian Federal Police check — required regardless of whether they've lived overseas
Health and character
- Health examination through an approved panel physician
- Police clearance certificate(s) from every country you've lived in for 12 months or more in the last 10 years
- Form 80 — Personal Particulars
- Evidence that any debt owed to the Australian Government has been repaid or arranged to be repaid, if applicable
Australian values statement
If you're 18 or older, you and any family members applying with you who are also 18 or older need to read (or have explained to you) the Department's Life in Australia booklet and sign an Australian Values Statement confirming you'll respect the Australian way of life and obey Australian laws. If you're applying with a child under 18, the Department will also consider whether granting the visa is in that child's best interests.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Providing photos together but no independent evidence of in-person meetings (flight records, accommodation bookings)
- Missing the fiancé(e)'s own Form 40SP or AFP check
- Assuming the entry-and-marry window is a fixed number of months without checking the current period
- Missing Form 888 statutory declarations from people who actually know you as a couple
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between the 300 and the 309/100?
The 300 is for couples who haven't yet married and intend to marry after the applicant arrives in Australia. The 309/100 is for couples who are already married or in a de facto relationship before lodging. See our separate guide to the 309/100 if that better matches your situation.
Do I need to lodge the Partner Visa (820/801) immediately after marrying?
You generally need to lodge before your 300 visa expires to maintain your ongoing status in Australia. Check the current requirements and timing with a registered migration agent if you're close to your visa's expiry.
After you enter Australia and marry, lodge the Partner Visa (820/801) before your 300 visa expires — it continues your right to stay while the permanent 801 stage is processed. The 801 stage is generally decided 2 years after you apply for the combined temporary and permanent Partner visas, though always confirm the current figure on the Department's website before relying on it.