Prospective marriage (Subclass 300)

Subclass 300 prospective marriage visa

Subclass 300Applied from outside Australia while you are engaged. An immigration lawyer reviews your relationship evidence before anything is lodged. Tern handles the preparation and lodges directly with the Department. From A$1,400.
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Subclass 300 prospective marriage visa - Australian visa application
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What is the subclass 300 prospective marriage visa?

Subclass 300 is for couples who are engaged but not yet married. You apply from outside Australia and, once granted, come to Australia to marry your partner within the visa's validity period, generally around nine months.
After the wedding, the next step is to lodge an onshore partner visa (subclass 820/801). The prospective marriage visa is the entry point, not the permanent outcome. For everything you need to know about the pathway from engagement to permanent residency, see our complete partner visa guide.
An engaged couple

Applicant requirements

Engaged, not yet marriedYou are engaged to your partner but have not yet married
Applying from overseasYou are outside Australia when you apply for the subclass 300
Intention to marryYou and your partner intend to marry in Australia within the visa's validity period
Health and characterMeet standard health and character requirements set by the Department
Not sure if you qualify? Start the application and your eligibility is checked as you go.

Sponsor requirements

Australian statusThe sponsor must be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or an eligible New Zealand citizen.
18 or olderThe sponsor must be at least 18 years old.
Sponsorship limits applyThere are rules on how many times and how often a person can sponsor a partner, and our eligibility check confirms this up front.
Character and police checksThe sponsor must disclose any serious criminal history, and police checks may be required. An immigration lawyer reviews their situation.

What you and your sponsor need

The subclass 300 is a joint application. Both the applicant and the Australian sponsor are assessed separately, and both need to meet the Department's requirements.
Applicant requirements
You must be engaged to your Australian partner, with a genuine intention to marry within the visa's validity period. You'll need evidence that the relationship is real and the plan to marry is sincere, along with health and character checks.
Sponsor requirements
Your Australian partner must generally be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen, and must be 18 or older. The sponsor takes on formal support obligations and must meet character requirements, including disclosing certain serious criminal history, and there are limits on how often a person can sponsor.

How the prospective marriage visa works

The subclass 300 is designed around a specific sequence: engage, apply, marry, then move to the partner visa.
For couples engaged, not yet married
The subclass 300 is only for couples who have a genuine intention to marry. The Department assesses whether the relationship is real and the intention to marry is sincere, not just declared.
Applied from outside Australia
You apply while you are overseas. Once the visa is granted, you travel to Australia. The Department assesses the relationship at the time of application, so the evidence you lodge matters from day one.
Marry, then move to the partner visa (820/801)
After the wedding, you lodge an onshore partner visa (subclass 820). That begins the permanent pathway. The 300 gives you the time and lawful status in Australia to make that happen.

How it works with Tern

The simplicity of an app. The expertise of an immigration lawyer. Real advice, real-time evidence checks, and lawyer review at every stage that matters.
1
Free eligibility check
A quick, free check tells you whether you can apply and flags any issues early on. No account needed, no obligation.
2
Free lawyer consultation
Have a consult with an immigration lawyer at no cost. Ask whatever is on your mind.
3
Personalised evidence upload
Upload your documents in a guided flow. Each piece is assessed against what the Department expects in real-time, so gaps are caught as you go, not after lodgement.
4
Final lawyer review, then lodgement
Our immigration lawyers do multiple reviews of your complete application before anything reaches the Department. Tern then lodges directly with the Department of Home Affairs on your behalf.
5
Support after you lodge
Tern stays with you after lodgement. On the Complete plan, your case is actively managed through to a decision, including any requests for further information from the Department.

Get your visa

Your application goes to the Department fully prepared, giving your relationship every chance to be recognised.

Why choose Tern?

Focus on the relationship, not the paperwork

Tern builds your photo album, drafts your relationship statements, fills Form 80, and helps you gather Form 888 witness declarations. What typically takes over 100 hours to assemble takes closer to 10. As you upload evidence, each document is checked in real time against what the Department expects.

Know your evidence is strong before you lodge

An immigration lawyer reviews every application before it is lodged. If your evidence falls short, you find out before lodgement, while there is still time to fix it. Consultations are included on Guided and Complete plans so you can ask questions at any point.

No visa, no fee

The government fee of A$9,365 is non-refundable once lodged, so your application is checked before we send it in. If the Department refuses your visa, Tern's service fee is refunded in full. Full terms apply.

Complex situation? Talk to an immigration lawyer first.

A newer relationship, time spent living apart, children from a previous relationship, or a past visa refusal does not automatically close the door, but it does change how the case should be prepared and presented. Start with the free eligibility check on this page and a free consultation with an immigration lawyer follows before you commit to anything, so you go in knowing exactly where you stand.

What people are saying

Based on 42 reviews
LifesaversLifesavers. Very helpful!!! Tern helped me with a complicated partner visa situation. Tony was super knowledgeable and it would have cost me thousands and potentially a loss if visa without his help.
Samuel· 14 April 2026
I recommend this serviceThe consultation was efficient and helpful. The lawyer answered all of my questions and gave me clear next steps to follow. I would recommend if you need quick and knowledgable advice throughout your visa application.
Jade· 26 March 2026

Meet your legal team

Your application follows a process designed and maintained by immigration lawyers for accuracy and compliance.
Antonious Nehme
Antonious Nehme
Immigration Lawyer
License #5513641
Australian company with Australian immigration lawyers

Pick your level of support

Every plan includes lawyer review before lodgement. Choose how much guidance you want along the way.

Essential

Lawyer review at your pace.

A$1,400

AUD
Lawyer-authored advice tailored to your situation, every step of the way
Photo album, relationship statements, and Form 80 prepared for you
Real-time feedback on your evidence as you upload it
Multiple lawyer reviews, then Tern lodges with the Department
Most popular

Guided

Lawyer on call whenever questions come up.

A$1,900

AUD
Everything in Essential
4x30-minute consultations with an immigration lawyer
Use them anytime, by video or call, as questions arise

Complete

Hands-off from application to decision.

A$2,400

AUD
Everything in Guided
Tern manages your case until a decision is issued
Requests for further information handled for you
Changes of circumstance managed throughout
Total realistic spend is Tern's service fee from A$1,400, the A$9,365 government fee, and approximately $1,000 for medical exams and police certificates.

Common questions

Learn more about prospective marriages on our blog

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Australian visa applications with lawyer oversight and app-level simplicity.
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Tern Visa Pty Ltd is an independent company and is not affiliated with the Australian Department of Home Affairs. We do not issue visas; visas are issued by the Department of Home Affairs. General information on this website is not legal advice. Where you use our application flow, immigration assistance (including personalised advice) is provided by an Australian legal practitioner in connection with legal practice and is delivered through the Tern platform. The practitioner's details are shown in the application flow.

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