Fiancé visa · Subclass 300
Subclass 300 Prospective Marriage Visa — come to Australia to marry your fiancé
The prospective marriage visa subclass 300, often called the fiance visa or prospective marriage visa 300, lets you come to Australia to marry your partner, who must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen. After the wedding you apply for the onshore partner visa. This guide covers the 300 visa requirements, the visa period, the cost and the difference between the 300 and the 309.
What is the Subclass 300 prospective marriage visa?
The Subclass 300 is a temporary visa for a person who intends to marry an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen. You apply from outside Australia, enter Australia, and marry your sponsor within the visa period. You then apply for the onshore partner visa, the 820 and 801.
Key facts
- From 1 July 2026 the Subclass 300 charge is AUD 11,710 for the main applicant. After you marry, the onshore partner visa costs you far less.
- You must be outside Australia when you apply. The visa can be granted while you are in or outside Australia, but not in immigration clearance.
- The visa lasts 9 months from grant, or to a later date the Department sets, up to 15 months from grant.
- You must marry your sponsor within the visa period. You must not marry anyone, or enter a de facto relationship, before you enter Australia.
- You and your fiancé must both be 18 or over, and must have met in person since you both turned 18.
- The 300 has no condition limiting work or study.
What is the difference between visa 300 and 309?
Both are for couples where one partner is outside Australia. The difference is whether you marry before or after you come.
| Feature | Subclass 300 | Subclass 309 |
|---|---|---|
| Your relationship | Engaged, not yet married | Married, de facto, or marrying before grant |
| Where you marry | In Australia, within the visa period | Usually overseas, before the 309 is granted |
| What comes next | Apply for the onshore 820 and 801 | The permanent 100, in the same application |
| Charge | AUD 11,710, then a reduced 820/801 charge | AUD 11,710 for both stages |
If you are already married or in a de facto relationship, read our Subclass 309 partner visa guide. Every partner pathway is compared on our partner visas page.
What are the 300 visa requirements?
- You intend to marry an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen.
- You have turned 18, and your fiancé has turned 18.
- You have met in person since each of you turned 18, and you know each other personally.
- You genuinely intend to marry, and to marry within the visa period.
- You genuinely intend to live together as spouses.
- There is no impediment to the marriage under Australian law.
- Your fiancé sponsors you, and the sponsorship is approved.
- You meet the health and character requirements.
The sponsor
Your fiancé sponsors you. The partner sponsorship limits apply: at most two partner or prospective marriage sponsorships approved in a lifetime, five years apart. A New Zealand citizen can sponsor only if they are an eligible New Zealand citizen, a permanent resident or an Australian citizen; the rules are set out on our partner visas page.
How much does it cost to get a 300 visa?
The 300 visa cost is set by government and paid when you lodge the 300 visa Australia application.
| Applicant | Charge (AUD) |
|---|---|
| Main applicant | $11,710 |
| Each additional applicant 18 or over | $5,860 |
| Each additional applicant under 18 | $2,935 |
| Second instalment | Nil |
After you marry, the onshore partner visa has a much lower charge for you than the full partner charge, because most of it was paid on the 300. From 1 July 2026 the main applicant pays AUD 1,955 if they still hold the 300 when they apply, or AUD 2,475 if the 300 has already ended. Apply before the 300 ends. Holders of a Pacific-regional passport pay less on both. Government charges rise each 1 July. Our professional fee is quoted separately.
How long does a 300 visa take, and how long does it last?
The Department publishes a current processing time for the Subclass 300 in its processing times guide, and it changes, so check it on the day you apply. Once granted, the visa lets you travel to, enter and stay in Australia for 9 months from the date of grant, or until a later date the Department sets, which can be up to 15 months from grant. Your first entry must be made before a date the Department sets.
Can you work on a 300 visa?
Yes. The Subclass 300 carries no condition that limits work or study. Its conditions deal with entry and the marriage.
What happens after you marry?
You apply for the onshore Subclass 820 partner visa and the permanent Subclass 801 from inside Australia, at the reduced charge. If your 300 has ended by the time you apply, you are exempt from the extra criteria that normally apply to onshore applicants without a substantive visa, provided you married your sponsor.
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Onshore and offshore partner visas, the sponsorship limits, how to build your relationship evidence and what happens after you lodge. Read it before you prepare anything.
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Subclass 300 prospective marriage visa — frequently asked questions
What is the difference between visa 300 and 309?
The 300 is for an engaged couple who will marry in Australia: you come on the 300, marry within the visa period, then apply for the onshore 820 and 801. The 309 is for couples who are already married or de facto, or who marry before it is granted, and it leads to the permanent 100 in the same application. Both are applied for from outside Australia.
How long does a 300 visa take?
The Department publishes a current processing time for the Subclass 300 in its processing times guide, and it changes, so check it on the day you apply. A complete application with strong evidence of your relationship and your plans to marry, prompt health checks and quick replies to any request all help. Once granted, the visa lasts 9 to 15 months.
How much does it cost to get a 300 visa?
From 1 July 2026 the government charge for the Subclass 300 is AUD 11,710 for the main applicant, AUD 5,860 for each additional applicant 18 or over and AUD 2,935 for each additional applicant under 18. After you marry, the onshore 820 and 801 cost AUD 1,955 for the main applicant if you still hold the 300, or AUD 2,475 if it has ended.
Can you work on a 300 visa?
Yes. The Subclass 300 carries no condition that limits work or study, so you can work while you are in Australia on it. Its conditions deal with entering Australia and the marriage: you must not marry anyone before you enter Australia, and you must marry your sponsor within the visa period. Check your grant letter and VEVO for your own conditions.
How long is the Subclass 300 visa valid for?
The Subclass 300 lets you travel to, enter and stay in Australia for 9 months from the date of grant, or until a later date the Department sets, which can be up to 15 months from grant. You must make your first entry before a date the Department sets, and marry your sponsor before the visa ends, then apply for the onshore partner visa.
Do we need to be engaged to apply for the 300?
The test is that you genuinely intend to marry your sponsor within the visa period and to live together as spouses, not a formal engagement ceremony. You must both be 18 or over and have met in person since you both turned 18. Evidence of your relationship and your wedding plans shows the Department that the intention is genuine and lasting.
Can I apply for the 300 from inside Australia?
No. You must be outside Australia when you apply for the Subclass 300. The visa itself can be granted while you are in or outside Australia, as long as you are not in immigration clearance. If you are already in Australia and want to stay with your partner, the onshore partner visa may be the better route, subject to its own rules.
Related partner visa guides
Plan the wedding around the visa, not the other way round.
A free eligibility check tells you whether the 300 or the 309 fits your plans, and what to prepare first.
Visa Advisor is a MARA-registered visa agent in Sydney, NSW, advising onshore and offshore partner visa applicants across Australia.
Sources and last checked dates
- Migration Regulations 1994 — Schedule 2 Part 300 (criteria, grant location, visa period, conditions), Schedule 8 conditions 8515 and 8519, Schedule 1 items 1215 (300 charge and location) and 1124B (reduced 820/801 charge), regulation 1.20J, Compilation No. 288, 1 July 2026 (F2026C00667) read 23 September 2026 open ↗
Information is general only and is not migration advice for your circumstances. No outcome is guaranteed.