VISA FOR PROSPECTIVE MARRIAGE (SUBCLASS 300)

Features

This visa permits individuals to marry their fiancé in Australia.

If granted this visa, you must marry your fiancé and apply for a Partner Visa (subclasses 820 and 801) before your Prospective Marriage Visa (subclass 300) expires.

Eligibility

To qualify for this visa, you must:

• Intend to marry your fiancé(e).
• Have met and established a relationship with your future spouse.
• Meet health and character requirements.
• Be at least 18 years old.

The Prospective Marriage Visa allows the fiancé(e) of an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen to travel to Australia to marry. After the marriage, you may apply for a Partner Visa, provided the marriage occurs within nine months of the visa issuance date. Below are the minimum requirements for this visa:

REQUIREMENTS FOR A PROSPECTIVE MARRIAGE VISA

Requirements for You and Your Fiancé(e):

Both you and your fiancé(e) must:

• Be at least 18 years old and not currently married or in a prohibited relationship.
• Be legally eligible to marry each other.
• Have a genuine intention to marry within nine months of the visa being granted (the marriage can take place in Australia or overseas).
• Have met in person and be personally familiar with one another.
• Have a sincere intention to live together as a married couple.

Sponsorship Requirements

As a sponsor, you must:

• Be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or an eligible New Zealand citizen.
• Not have sponsored more than one fiancé(e), partner, or spouse for migration to Australia, and not have sponsored anyone in these categories within the past 5 years unless there are compelling circumstances.
• Not have been sponsored for a Spouse, Partner, or Prospective Marriage visa yourself within the last 5 years, unless there are compelling circumstances.
• Provide police checks when requested by the agency.
• Agree that the department may disclose any convictions for a “relevant offence” to the applicant(s) you are sponsoring.

If you have a relevant criminal conviction and a long criminal history, your sponsorship will be denied. Offenses including violence, intimidation, breaching a protective order, people smuggling, human trafficking, and weapons are all examples of relevant offenses.

Application Process

The application is submitted to the Department of Home Affairs (DOHA) on behalf of you and your sponsor. It is essential that both your relationship and your sponsor meet the specified eligibility criteria. Additionally, you must pass the standard health and character checks.

This visa is valid for nine months, allowing you to travel to Australia before marrying your fiancé(e). You must be outside of Australia both at the time of application and when the visa is granted. The marriage must occur within the nine-month validity period of the visa, either in Australia or overseas.

Next Steps: Applying for a Partner Visa

After arriving in Australia and getting married, you can apply for a Partner Visa. This application must be submitted before your Prospective Marriage Visa expires. The key requirements for a Partner Visa include:

• You and your partner are in a mutually exclusive relationship.
• Your relationship is genuine and ongoing.
• You either live together as a couple or are temporarily separated.

If you meet the eligibility criteria, you will initially be granted a temporary Partner Visa, valid for a 'stand-down period' of approximately two years from the date of application. After this period, if your relationship continues to meet the specified criteria, you will be eligible for a permanent Partner Visa.

Important Note:

The preparation and submission of your application may take several weeks, depending primarily on how quickly you (and your sponsor, if applicable) provide the required supporting information and documentation.

The Department of Home Affairs (DOHA) processes applications based on its service standards, but processing times can vary due to factors such as case complexity, perceived risk, and prioritization of applications. For the latest updates on expected processing times for this type of visa, please feel free to contact us.

Duration of stay

Period of nine months.

Cost

Starting at AUD 7,715

Processing time