Prospective Marriage Visa (subclass 300) — Australia

You must meet strict age, relationship, sponsorship, and location rules to qualify for the Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300).

Home Affairs assesses both you and your sponsor, along with any family members included in the application.

Basic applicant and sponsor rules

You must be 18 years or older at the time you apply.

Your sponsor must be:

• An Australian citizen
• An Australian permanent resident
• An eligible New Zealand citizen

You must have a valid sponsor when you lodge your application with Home Affairs.

You must also meet character and immigration history standards.

You’re not eligible if you have had a visa cancelled or a previous visa application refused.

You apply using Form Form 47SP and must provide accurate information about your identity, background, and relationship.

If you are a New Zealand passport holder, you should inform the Australian Border Force at entry that:

• You hold a Prospective Marriage visa, and
• You do not want a Special Category visa (subclass 444).

If you marry before Home Affairs decides your application, you no longer qualify for the subclass 300 visa.

In that case, you may need to consider the Partner Visa (offshore) (subclasses 309/100) or the Partner Visa (onshore) (subclasses 820/801) instead.

Relationship and location rules

You must genuinely intend to marry your sponsor.

You must:

• Have met your sponsor in person as adults (after turning 18)
• Know each other personally at the time you apply
• Intend to marry within nine months of entering Australia

You must be outside Australia when you lodge your subclass 300 application.

Any family members applying with you must also be outside Australia at that time.

You can be either inside or outside Australia when Home Affairs makes a decision on your temporary visa.

If Home Affairs grants the visa, you must marry your sponsor before the visa period ends.

If you marry before a decision is made, the application cannot proceed under subclass 300.

This visa is designed specifically for couples who are engaged but not yet married.

If you are already married, you must apply for a Partner visa instead.

Family members and special notes

You may include members of your family unit in your application.

Each included family member must:

• Meet health requirements
• Meet character requirements
• Be outside Australia at the time of application

Even family members who do not plan to migrate may still need to satisfy health and character checks.

Home Affairs assesses each person individually.

Failure by one included applicant to meet health or character requirements can affect the outcome of the application.

If you later marry and transition to a Partner visa, related pathways may involve the Partner Visa (onshore) (subclasses 820/801) or Partner Visa (offshore) (subclasses 309/100).

Other family migration programs, such as the Child Visa (offshore) (subclass 101), Contributory Parent Visa (subclass 143), or Carer Visa (subclass 836), operate under separate eligibility rules and do not replace the subclass 300 requirements.

You must prove your identity, health, and character to the Department of Home Affairs.

You also need to disclose any past visa issues and provide full records where required.

Identity and civil documents

You must confirm who you are and, if relevant, your marital status.

Provide clear copies of:

• Current passport (biographical page)
• National identity card (if issued in your country)
• Full birth certificate showing both parents’ names
• Registered marriage certificate if you marry before a decision is made

If you submit your application using Form Form 47SP, ensure all identity details match your passport exactly.

Inconsistent names, dates of birth, or parent details can delay assessment by Home Affairs.

If you have legally changed your name, include official evidence of the change.

You must also attach documents that support your relationship claims, especially if you later apply for a Partner Visa (onshore) (subclasses 820/801) or Partner Visa (offshore) (subclasses 309/100).

Submit complete copies.

Partial civil records are not accepted.

Health and character documents

You must meet Australia’s health and character standards.

Complete any required health examinations and provide the results as instructed by Home Affairs.

You must show that you satisfy the health requirement before a visa can be granted.

For character assessment, provide:

• Police certificates from every country where you lived for 12 months or more in the past 10 years, if you are over 17
• An Australian Federal Police National Police Certificate if you spent a total of 12 months or more in Australia in the last 10 years since turning 16
• Military service records if you served more than 12 months in any country’s armed forces

Only full disclosure police certificates are accepted.

These character standards are similar to those applied in visas such as the Contributory Parent Visa (subclass 143), Child Visa (offshore) (subclass 101), and Carer Visa (subclass 836).

Previous visa or legal history documents

You must fully disclose any past immigration issues.

Provide documents relating to:

• Previous visa refusals
• Visa cancellations
• Any conditions placed on earlier visas

Include copies of decision letters issued by Home Affairs.

Do not omit prior applications, even if they were for different visa types.

If you previously applied for a Partner Visa (onshore) (subclasses 820/801) or Partner Visa (offshore) (subclasses 309/100), attach relevant outcome notices.

Failure to disclose past visa history can affect your credibility and your eligibility.

Provide complete and accurate records to avoid delays or refusal.

You’ll need to pay the correct visa application charge and prepare for a lengthy assessment period. Home Affairs sets the fees and updates estimated processing times based on recently finalised cases.

Visa application charge

The visa application charge (VAC) for the main applicant is A$9,365 (as of July 2025). This must be paid when you lodge your application.

If you pay the wrong amount, processing may be delayed or your application might not be accepted. Use the fee information provided by Home Affairs to confirm the current charge before you submit.

The Prospective Marriage visa uses Form Form 47SP, which also applies to:

• Partner Visa (onshore) (subclasses 820/801)
• Partner Visa (offshore) (subclasses 309/100)

Other family visas, such as the Contributory Parent Visa (subclass 143), Child Visa (offshore) (subclass 101), and Carer Visa (subclass 836), have different charges and structures. Don’t assume the fee is the same for all family visas.

Always verify the current charge with Home Affairs before payment.

How to check current processing times

Home Affairs publishes estimated processing times in its Visa Processing Times Guide. Use this tool to check current figures for your visa type.

For applications under Form 47SP in the category “Partner (Provisional/Temporary)”, the processing time is about 17 months (as of February 2026). This is based on recently finalised cases.

Processing times vary depending on:

• Visa category
• Processing location
• Your individual circumstances

Select the correct category in the processing times tool. If the page doesn’t load, clear your browser cache and try again.

Processing priorities and variations

Home Affairs tries to finalise applications quickly, but not every case moves at the same pace. Processing time depends on your personal situation and application history.

Applications can take longer if:

• The case is referred for character assessment
• Extra information is needed
• Supporting documents are incomplete

Character referrals often involve complex matters and usually take longer than standard cases.

Home Affairs publishes quarterly reports on visa processing priorities. These can help you understand where your application might sit in the queue.

If your case is within the published timeframe, you’ll need to wait for assessment. Contacting Home Affairs just to ask about standard processing times won’t speed things up.

After marriage, you’ll need to act before your Prospective Marriage visa expires. The pathway to permanent residence is through the Partner visa program, managed by Home Affairs.

After you marry: the Partner visa pathway

Once you’re legally married, you can apply for a Partner Visa (onshore) (subclasses 820/801) if you intend to stay in Australia.

You must lodge this application before your Prospective Marriage visa ends. Acting promptly helps maintain your lawful status and keeps your migration options open.

The onshore Partner visa process has two stages:

If you’re outside Australia, you may request consideration for the Partner (Provisional) visa (subclass 309) and Partner (Migrant) visa (subclass 100) instead.

Home Affairs assesses these applications. The Australian Border Force manages border entry, but not visa processing.

Your marriage must be legally valid under Australian law before applying.

What documents to attach for partner processing

When moving from the Prospective Marriage visa to a Partner visa, you’ll need to attach specific documents.

At a minimum, include:

• Registered marriage certificate from the relevant legal authority
• A request to be considered for the Partner (Provisional) visa (subclass 309) and Partner (Migrant) visa (subclass 100), if applying offshore
• A written statement confirming you want to withdraw your Prospective Marriage visa application

Only officially registered marriage certificates are accepted. Informal or ceremonial documents aren’t sufficient.

Submit clear copies and make sure all statements are signed. Home Affairs will base its assessment on the documents you provide.

Check the Department of Home Affairs for current document requirements and application charges in AUD (A$).

Typical next-step visas

Most applicants move from the Prospective Marriage visa directly to the Partner Visa (onshore) (subclasses 820/801).

Some may have family members who need separate visas. Common examples:

Each visa has its own eligibility rules and process. You must submit a separate application for each family member.

Home Affairs assesses each case on its own merits. Review the specific category for your family member before applying.

Seek professional advice if your immigration history, character issues, or missing documents put your case at legal risk.

Mistakes in a Prospective Marriage visa application can affect future visa options and related cases.

Complex character or cancellation history

If Home Affairs has refused or cancelled a visa on character grounds since your last arrival in Australia, get legal advice immediately.

You may only be eligible for a Protection visa (subclass 866) if you meet its requirements.

You can’t simply lodge a new Partner Visa (onshore) (subclasses 820/801), Partner Visa (offshore) (subclasses 309/100), or Prospective Marriage visa.

A new application may only proceed if the Minister finds it’s in the public interest.

A professional can review the wording of your refusal or cancellation, confirm if application restrictions apply, and assess whether any ministerial discretion is possible.

They’ll also advise on lawful next steps before you submit anything.

Don’t submit a new application without checking your eligibility.

A mistaken filing risks refusal and further limitations.

Avoiding common application mistakes

Refusals often happen because applicants leave out required documents or supplements.

Home Affairs may reject or refuse an incomplete application.

Make sure all required documents are included at lodgement.

Relationship evidence should match your civil documents.

Names, dates, and personal details must be consistent across forms.

File required supplements with Form Form 47SP.

Missing relationship or identity documents creates immediate risk.

If you plan future applications like the Child Visa (offshore) (subclass 101), Carer Visa (subclass 836), or Contributory Parent Visa (subclass 143), inconsistencies in your Prospective Marriage visa file can affect those later cases.

A professional reviews your documents as a complete immigration record, not just one form.

Expert tips and submission strategy

A Prospective Marriage visa is usually followed by a Partner Visa (onshore) (subclasses 820/801) after marriage.

Plan both stages from the start.

An adviser helps you structure your evidence for Home Affairs, prepare Form 47SP with supporting documents, and align future Partner Visa evidence with your current statements.

Anticipate questions that may arise during assessment.

If your case involves prior refusals, character concerns, or complex family structures, strategy matters.

Clear sequencing and complete documentation reduce avoidable delays and refusals.

Check current requirements directly with the Department of Home Affairs before you lodge.

A professional will make sure your application meets those requirements at the time of submission.