Overview
Stay
9 to 15 months from date of grant of visa.
Cost
From AUD9,365.00
Processing times
For an indication of processing times for this visa, use the visa processing time guide tool. This will show the processing times for recently decided applications. It is a guide only and not specific to your application.
The Department continues to prioritise aged, and compassionate and compelling applications. This is reflected in current processing times.
With this visa you can
- stay in Australia for 9 to 15 months from your visa grant date
- work and study in Australia.
You must
- be 18 years old or older
- have a sponsor who is an Australian citizen, or
- intend to marry your prospective spouse before the visa period ends
- have met your prospective spouse face to face as adults since turning 18, and are known to each other personally at the time you apply for this visa
- be outside of Australia when you apply for this visa, along with any family that apply with you
- be in or outside Australia when we decide your temporary visa.
Help with your visa
If you are getting help with your visa, make sure you read information on Who can help with your visa application.
About this visa
With this visa you can
- live, work and study in Australia for 9 to 15 months from the visa grant date
- travel to and from Australia as many times as you want while the visa is valid.
Settle in Australia
If you and your spouse want to settle in Australia, apply for a Partner visa (subclass 820 and 801):
- after you are married
- before your Prospective Marriage visa ends.
How long you can stay
This is a temporary visa. You can stay in Australia for the period specified on the visa grant letter. This is 9 to 15 months from the visa grant date.
Include family members
You can include in your application.
- when you lodge your visa application, or
- add a after you lodge your application but before we decide on your temporary visa.
Family members who apply with you must:
- be
- meet our health requirement
- meet our character requirement
- be outside Australia.
Family members who are not coming to Australia might also have to meet our health and character requirement.
Newborn children
For information on what to do if your child is born after you apply, see You had a baby.
Cost
The visa costs AUD9,365.00 for the main applicant.
There is also a fee for each family member who applies for the visa with you. We cannot process your application if you do not pay the correct visa application charge. You might also have to pay other costs for health checks, police certificates and .
To work out how much your visa will cost, including adding additional family members, use the Visa pricing estimator. The estimator does not take into account the costs for health checks, police certificates or biometrics.
You will also have to pay a fee for your Partner visa (subclasses 820 and 801). You pay less for this visa if you marry your prospective spouse and apply for the Partner visa before your Prospective Marriage visa ends.
Apply for this visa
You must be outside of Australia when you apply for this visa. Family who apply with you must also be outside Australia.
Your obligations
You and your family members must meet all visa conditions and obey Australian laws.
See what conditions might be attached to this visa on our visa conditions page.
Your marriage
You must enter Australia on the Prospective Marriage visa before the date specified on your grant letter.
You must have married your prospective spouse before your Prospective Marriage visa expires.
You can get married in any country but your marriage must be valid under Australian law.
Forced marriage
Forced marriage is when a person (or both people) gets married without freely and fully consenting. They may be tricked, threatened or pressured into getting married, or they are incapable of understanding the nature and effect of a marriage ceremony, for reasons including age or mental capacity.
Forced marriage is a crime in Australia.
If you or someone you know is in, or at risk of, a forced marriage you can seek help. For more information, see Forced marriage | Attorney-General's Department.
Adequate health insurance
We recommend you take out health insurance to cover any unforeseen medical treatment you might need while in Australia. You are personally liable for all your healthcare costs while you are in Australia. Insurance can help limit your financial liability.
See what we consider adequate health insurance.
Learn more about health insurance for overseas visitors.
Reciprocal healthcare agreements
Some countries have a reciprocal healthcare agreement with Australia. Find out more from Services Australia about reciprocal health care agreements.
Travel
You can travel to and from Australia as many times as you want while you hold this visa.
First entry arrival date
If you are outside Australia at the time of visa grant you must enter Australia before the first entry arrival date (first entry, arrive by) specified in your grant letter.
Visa label
We will digitally link your visa to your passport. You will not get a label in your passport.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can find the answers to common questions about this visa at Partner Program Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
Eligibility
Not had a visa cancelled or an application refused
We will consider your immigration history when we make a decision on your application, which means you might not be eligible for this visa if you have had a visa cancelled or refused.
In some circumstances you may still apply for a permanent visa if you have had a visa cancelled or an application refused, see Can I go to Australia.
If you want immigration assistance, see Who can help with your visa application.
Be outside Australia when you apply
You must be outside Australia when you apply for this visa. Family who apply with you must also be outside Australia.
Have a sponsor
You and anyone who applies for the visa with you must have a sponsor when you lodge your application and while you are on this visa.
Your sponsor is your prospective spouse.
You and your prospective spouse must have met in person as adults since turning 18, and are known to each other personally at the time you apply for this visa.
We must approve your sponsor.
Your sponsor should apply to sponsor you as soon as possible after you apply for this visa.
Select the ‘For Sponsors’ switch at the top of this page for information about sponsorship.
Be the right age
You and your sponsor must be 18 years old or older when you apply for this visa.
Meet relationship requirements
In most cases, your prospective spouse must be an:
- Australian citizen
- Australian
- .
Your relationship can be with someone of the same or different sex.
Meet our health requirement
You and any family members who apply for the visa with you must meet our health requirement. We might ask for health information about family not coming to Australia with you.
Meet our character requirement
You and any family members aged 16 years and over who apply for the visa with you must meet our character requirements. We might ask for character information about family not coming to Australia with you.
Have no debt to the Australian Government
If you or any family members owe the Australian government money, it must have been paid back or arranged to be paid back. This may include family members who do not accompany you to Australia.
Sign the Australian values statement
You and any family members who apply with you who are 18 years of age or older must:
- have read, or had explained, the Life in Australia booklet
- sign an Australian Values Statement that confirms you will respect the Australian way of life and obey Australian laws.
Best interests of the child
We might not grant this visa if it is not in the best interests of an applicant under 18.
Meet all these criteria? Check how to apply in our step by step guide.
How to apply
Step 1
Before you apply
There are things you need to know and might need to do before you apply.
Get help with your application
You can appoint anyone to receive correspondence relating to your visa application.
To appoint someone to receive your correspondence, use Form 956A Appointment or withdrawal of an authorised recipient (301KB PDF).
If you need help with your application, you can appoint someone to give you immigration assistance. A person who gives you immigration assistance can:
- discuss your application with us
- give us information
- send and receive correspondence about your application.
We treat any correspondence they send as if it came from you.
If you appoint someone to give you immigration assistance they must be:
To appoint someone to provide immigration assistance, use Form 956 Appointment of a registered migration agent, legal practitioner or exempt person (225KB PDF) .
For more information, see who can help you with your application.
Step 2
Gather and prepare your documents
You should provide all required information with your application, or as soon as possible after lodging your application. Applications with all required information reduce processing delays.
You have the option to obtain your police certificates before you apply. However for immigration purposes, police certificates are valid for 12 months from the issue date.
If more than 15 months has passed since your National Police certificate (NPC) was issued by the Australian Federal Police (AFP), new checks will be required to progress your application.
Ensure that all information you provide is accurate. As a visa applicant, you must prove your identity and provide true information with your application. For more information, see Providing accurate information.
Your sponsor should apply to sponsor you as soon as possible after you apply for this visa.
Select the 'For Sponsors' switch at the top of this page for information about sponsorship.
Identity documents
Provide a birth certificate showing the names of both parents.
If you cannot provide this, provide one of the following:
- Identification pages of a family book showing the names of both parents.
- Identification pages of an identification document issued by the government.
- Identification pages of a court-issued document that proves your identity.
- Identification pages of a family census register.
Also provide:
- the pages of your current passport showing your photo, personal details and issue and expiry dates
- a national identity card, if you have one
- proof of change of name, if applicable, such as:
- a marriage or divorce certificate
- change of name documents from an Australian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, or the relevant overseas authority
- documents that show other names you have been known by.
Evidence of relationships
You need to attach to your application, evidence of:
- your relationship with your prospective spouse
- any former relationships
- any dependants you have.
Your relationship with your prospective spouse
You must provide statements from 2 witnesses who:
- are 18 years or older
- know you and your prospective spouse
- know about your relationship.
Statements from witnesses can be done by completing Form 888 – Supporting statement in relation to a Partner or Prospective Marriage visa application (1027KB PDF).
If the witness is an Australian citizen or permanent resident, provide evidence of this, such as a passport or birth certificate.
Also provide other evidence of your relationship such as:
- evidence that you and your prospective spouse have met face-to-face as adults since turning 18 and know each other personally
- evidence (such as a letter from the person who will officiate at the wedding) that you will marry your prospective spouse within 9 months of being granted the visa
- evidence that you and your prospective spouse genuinely intend to live as spouses
- written statements showing the history of your relationship, such as:
- how, when and where you first met
- how your relationship developed
- when you got engaged
- what you do together
- significant events in the relationship
- your future plans as spouses.
Former relationships
If you have previously been married, widowed, divorced or permanently separated, provide divorce documents, death certificates, separation documents or statutory declarations.
Dependants under 18
For each of the under 18 years old applying with you, provide:
- identity documents
- evidence of your relationship with your dependant, like a birth or marriage certificate
- health examinations
- character documents, if the dependant is 16 or 17 years of age
- adoption papers or parental court orders, if applicable
- evidence of enrolment at school, college or university, if applicable
- evidence of sole custody, if applicable.
Parental responsibility documents
You must get consent for any applicant under 18 years of age to migrate to Australia from anyone who:
- has a legal right to decide where the child lives and
- is not coming to Australia with the child.
They must complete Form 1229 Consent form to grant an Australian visa to a child under the age of 18 years (276KB PDF).
Include:
- an identity document that shows the signature and photo of the person who completed the form, such as a passport or driver’s licence
- adoption papers or other court documents, if applicable.
Alternatively, you can show us one of the following:
- An Australian court order that allows your child to migrate to Australia
- That the laws of the child's home country allow them to leave their home country permanently.
Dependants over 18
To include who are over 18 in your visa application, they must be:
- between the ages of 18 and 23, and dependent on you or your partner
- over 23 years of age and unable to earn a living to support themselves due to physical or cognitive limitations and dependent on you or your partner.
Provide:
- identity documents
- documents about their other relationships, if applicable
- health examinations
- character documents.
You must also provide evidence the child is dependent on you. This includes the following:
- Evidence of your relationship with the dependent such as a birth certificate or adoption papers.
- Evidence of financial dependence such as bank statements, money transfers and rent receipts.
- A completed Form 47a Details of a child or other dependent family member aged 18 years or over (307KB PDF).
If the child is aged 23 or is likely to turn 23 while your application is being processed, you must also provide a report from a qualified medical practitioner. This report should state that they are dependent on you or your partner due to the total or partial loss of their bodily or mental functions.
Prepare your documents
Translate
Have all documents translated into English.
Provide original and translated documents in your application.
Translators in Australia must be accredited by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters.
Translators outside Australia do not have to be accredited. But on each translation, they must include their:
- full name
- address and telephone number
- qualifications and experience in the language they are translating.
These details must be in English.
Scan or photograph
Scan or photograph all documents (English and non-English) in colour.
The scans and photos must be clear enough to read.
If a document is more than one page, save it all as one file.
You do not need to have any documents certified.
Step 3
Apply for the visa
You must apply:
- online, and
- while outside Australia.
Using our website and protections to your privacy
We take our obligation to protect your privacy seriously. We provide a secure online environment, but you can do more to ensure your personal safety online:
- Make sure you give us your contact details when you apply for your visa and tell us if they have changed. We may need to contact you directly even if you have:
- nominated your sponsor’s email address for all electronic correspondence
- appointed your sponsor or someone else to receive your correspondence as your authorised recipient
- appointed someone to give you immigration assistance.
- Protect your ImmiAccount, email account and passwords. Don’t share them with anyone.
For more information see Using our website.
How to apply
- Login to ImmiAccount. If you do not have an ImmiAccount login, you will be asked to create a new account.
- Select ‘New application’.
- Select ‘Family’.
- Select ‘Stage 1 – Partner or Prospective Marriage Visa’.
- Complete your application.
- Pay the visa application charge.
- Submit your application.
- Give your transaction reference number (TRN) to your sponsor. Your sponsor will need the TRN to apply for sponsorship.
- Attach supporting documents to your completed application.
We cannot process your application if you do not pay the correct visa application charge.
To find information for how to apply as a sponsor, click on the “Personalise this page..” toggle above to view this information.
The partner visa application form will ask you for your own phone number and email address. It is important to provide your own contact details in case we need to contact you directly about your application.
Clearly label your documents and only attach a document once, even if you are using it to show more than one thing.
Keep a copy of your completed application.
You can attach up to 100 documents for each person on your application.
The attachment limit cannot be increased.
If you reach the attachment limit for an applicant, you can attach more documents to other clients on the application.
For more information, see Applying online in ImmiAccount.
You can find the answers to common questions about this visa at Partner Program Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
Step 4
After you apply
We will let you know when we have received your application.
Be sponsored
You and anyone who applies for the visa with you must have a sponsor when you lodge your application and when you are on this visa.
After you apply for this visa, give your sponsor your Transaction Reference Number (TRN) or application ID. Your sponsor can then apply to sponsor you.
Select the ‘For Sponsors’ switch at the top of this page for information about sponsorship.
Organise health examinations
You need to have health examinations.
To organise your health examinations, see What health examinations you need.
We cannot grant you a visa unless you have a valid health assessment.
The results of your health assessment are valid for 12 months from the time you completed your examinations. If we ask you to sign a health undertaking, this will be valid for 6 months.
Before deciding when to complete your health examinations, you should refer to the Visa processing times.
For more information on health requirements and examinations, see Health
Character documents
To show that you meet our character requirements you need to provide:
- a police certificate from every country where you spent a total of 12 months or more during the last 10 years since you turned 16
- military service records or discharge papers if you served in the armed forces of any country.
For immigration purposes, police certificates are valid for 12 months from the issue date.
To get a police certificate, see Offices outside Australia.
Complete and attach to your application Form 80 Personal particulars for assessment including character assessment (596KB PDF).
Australian police certificate
Provide an Australian police certificate if you have spent a total of 12 months or more in Australia in the last 10 years since you turned 16.
We only accept complete disclosure National Police Certificates issued by the Australian Federal Police. We do not accept standard disclosure certificates or national police certificates issued by Australian state or territory police.
To get an Australian police certificate see National Police Checks.
Status updates
To help ensure your application is processed as quickly as possible, attach all necessary supporting documents to your application. The checklist provided on ImmiAccount will help make sure you include all required documents in your application.
If your application is within standard processing times, do not contact us. We cannot provide any further updates on your application's progress. You can see if we have asked for more information in ImmiAccount.
To see standard processing times for this visa see Global processing times.
You can find the answers to common questions about this visa at Partner Program Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
Travel
Do not arrange to travel to Australia until we let you know, in writing, that we have granted you the subclass 300 visa.
Biometrics
We will tell you if you need to provide .
Attach more information
If you did not attach all documents when you applied, attach them in ImmiAccount as soon as you can.
We might ask you to provide more information.
For more information on attaching documents in ImmiAccount see Applying online or paper.
If you are unable to upload the relevant documents to you application in ImmiAccount, you need to contact us using the Partner Processing Enquiry Form.
Add family members
You can add a to your application before we decide on your visa. Your child must be outside Australia.
Complete and attach to your application in ImmiAccount Form 1436 - Adding an additional applicant after lodgement (481KB PDF).
After you have attached the form, let us know by using the Partner Processing Enquiry Form.
We can grant your child the subclass 300 visa if they are , and meet all other criteria for grant.
Newborn children
If you have a baby, you will need to let us know. For more information, see You had a baby.
After you have updated ImmiAccount, let us know by using the Partner Processing Enquiry Form.
Tell us if your details have changed
See here for changes to your contact details, address or passport
Tell us if things change
Tell us if things change after you apply but before we have made a decision.
Things you need to let us know about include:
- the birth of a child
- any other changes relevant to your application
- a request to withdraw your application.
For more information, see Change in your situation.
If you are unable to upload the relevant documents to your application in ImmiAccount, you need to contact us using the Partner Processing Enquiry Form.
If your relationship ends
Complete the Notification of Relationship Cessation form in the ‘Update Details’ tab in ImmiAccount.
Your online safety
To ensure your personal safety online we recommend that you:
- change your ImmiAccount password as soon as possible
- do not use saved passwords to access your ImmiAccount
- change your email password or consider setting up a new email account.
To see how you can increase your personal safety you can use the eSafety Commissioner’s online safety checklist
If you are having trouble completing the ImmiAccount form, complete the Partner Processing Enquiry Form.
If you marry
If you get married before we decide on your visa application, you are no longer eligible for this visa. To tell us about this change:
- Sign into ImmiAccount
- Go to the 'Update details' tab
- Click on the 'Change in situation' option.
You will also need to attach the following to your application:
- evidence that your marriage is valid (registered marriage certificate issued by the relevant legal authority)
- a request to be considered for a Partner (Provisional) visa (subclass 309)and Partner (Migrant) visa (subclass 100)
- a statement telling us you want to withdraw your Prospective Marriage visa application.
After you have updated ImmiAccount, let us know by using the Partner Processing Enquiry Form.
If you do not withdraw your application, it will be refused as you no longer meet the eligibility requirements for the visa.
Stay lawful
If you travel to Australia on a visa while your Prospective Marriage visa is in progress, you are responsible for ensuring that you continue to hold a valid visa for the duration of your stay.
No longer need help with your application
Let us know if you no longer want someone to:
- receive your correspondence - complete Form 956A Appointment or withdrawal of an authorised recipient (301KB PDF)
- provide immigration advice - complete Form 956 Appointment of a registered migration agent, legal practitioner or exempt person (308KB PDF).
After you have attached the form to ImmiAccount, let us know by using the Partner Processing Enquiry Form.
For more information see Who can help you with your application.
Mistakes on your application
Let us know as soon as you can if you have made a mistake on your application. For more information, see After you apply.
If you are unable to update your application in ImmiAccount, you need to contact us using the Partner Processing Enquiry Form.
Step 5
Visa outcome
You can be in or outside Australia when we decide your visa application.
We will tell you our decision in writing. Keep a copy of the decision.
If we grant your visa, we will tell you:
- your visa grant number
- the date your visa starts
- your visa conditions.
If we refuse your visa, we will tell you:
- why we refused the visa
- if you have a right to a review of the decision.
We will not refund the application fee if we refuse your application.
When you have this visa
Tell us if your details have changed
What you can do on this visa
This visa lets you:
- live, work and study in Australia for 9 to 15 months from date of visa grant
- travel to and from Australia as many times as you want while your visa is valid.
How long you can stay
You can stay in Australia for 9 to 15 months from date of visa grant. To see when your visa expires, refer to your grant letter or use VEVO.
What you must do on this visa
You and your family members must meet all visa conditions and obey Australian laws.
Check your visa details and conditions using VEVO.
If you and your spouse want to settle in Australia, you should apply for a Partner visa (subclass 820 and 801) after your marriage and before your Prospective Marriage visa expires. You will pay less for the Partner visa if you apply for it before your Prospective Marriage visa ends.
Travel on your visa
You can travel to and from Australia as many times as you want whilst your visa is valid.
First entry arrival date
If you are outside Australia at the time of visa grant, you must enter Australia before the first entry arrival date (first entry, arrive by) specified in your grant letter.
You can travel to Australia with an expired first entry arrival date if your visa is still valid. Your visa may still be subject to cancellation before arrival or at the border.
To see if your visa is still valid, use VEVO.
New Zealand passport holders
If an immigration officer processes your clearance at our border, we recommend you tell them:
- you have a Prospective Marriage visa
- you do not want a Special Category visa (subclass 444).
If you do not tell them, you might be granted a 444 visa. Grant of a subclass 444 visa will override your Prospective Marriage visa.
Do not get another visa
As a subclass 300 visa holder, you are eligible to pay a lower visa application charge for the Partner visa (subclasses 820 and 801) application.
If you are granted any other visa, the new visa will replace your subclass 300 visa. This means you may need to pay a higher visa application charge when you apply for the Partner visa (subclasses 820 and 801).
Prove you have a visa
To prove you have a visa and show your conditions to someone, use VEVO.
Australian visas are digital. We do not put a visa label in your passport. Instead, we link your digital visa record to your passport.
Your visa number is contained in your visa grant letter. Use this number to access your digital visa record in VEVO.
Your digital visa record is also used by:
- airlines to check your visa before you board your flight
- Australian government agencies to check your identity and visa conditions
- employers, banks or other registered organisations to check your visa conditions.
Working
With this visa you will have full work rights and are protected by Australian workplace law. See your workplace rights and entitlements.
Studying
With this visa you will be able to study in Australia. However you will not receive any government support and any study costs will be at your own expense.
Bring a family member
You cannot add family members to your visa application after we grant your Prospective Marriage visa subclass 300.
To find a visa for a family member, explore visa options.
Newborn children
If you have a baby after you have been granted this visa, you need to let us know. For more information, see You had a baby.
If your relationship ends
Depending on your situation you may need to complete the Notification of Relationship Cessation form in ImmiAccount. To confirm, check Your relationship has changed.
Your online safety
To ensure your personal safety online we recommend that you:
- change your ImmiAccount password as soon as possible
- do not use saved passwords to access your ImmiAccount
- change your email password or consider setting up a new email account.
To see how you can increase your personal safety you can use the eSafety Commissioner’s online safety checklist
If you do not have access to ImmiAccount, you can notify us using the Partner Processing Enquiry Form.
You may still be eligible for the Partner visa (subclasses 820 and 801) if your relationship ends or your partner dies. All information you provide is confidential.
You must be in Australia to apply for the Partner visa (subclasses 820 and 801).
If you are experiencing domestic and family violence, we may be able to help you. You may still be eligible for the grant of your temporary and permanent visa. For more information, see Domestic and family violence and your visa.
Tell us if your details have changed
See here for changes to your contact details, address or passport
Tell us if things change
You must tell us about:
- the birth of a child
- any other changes relevant to your application.
See what to do if there is a change in your situation.
If you do not have access to ImmiAcount you can let us know by completing the Partner Processing Enquiry Form.
Official Information
For complete eligibility requirements, application process, processing times and costs, visit the official Department of Home Affairs page.
View on Home AffairsImportant Disclaimer
The information on this page is intended as a general guide only. Always verify the latest details on the official Department of Home Affairs website or seek help from a registered migration agent.