Prospective marriage (Subclass 300)

Subclass 300 prospective marriage visa

Name: Australia partner visa (Subclass 300)
Brand: Tern
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.7 (49 reviews)

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.

Immigration lawyer guidance

Free consult before you pay

Money back if refused

Subclass 300 prospective marriage visa - Australian visa application

Free eligibility check, then a free lawyer consult. Commit only when you know your case.

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.

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.

Why choose Tern?

The heavy lifting, done for you

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 thoroughly 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, and Tern's hands-on customer support team supports you throughout.

No visa, no fee

The government fee of A$11,710 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.

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.

Free eligibility check

A quick, free check tells you whether you can apply and flags any issues early on. No account needed, no obligation.

Free lawyer consultation

Have a consult with an immigration lawyer at no cost to discuss your specific situation and ask any questions you have.

Personalised evidence upload

Upload your documents in a guided flow, on your own schedule. Everything is saved to your account, so you can always see what's still outstanding without back-and-forth emails to check. Each document is assessed against what the Department expects in real time, so gaps are caught as you go, not after lodgement.

Lawyer review, then lodgement

An immigration lawyer reviews your complete application before lodgement and advises on anything that needs to change, with re-reviews included at no extra charge as needed. Tern then lodges directly with the Department of Home Affairs on your behalf.

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.

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 49 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

Immigration Lawyer

License #5513641

Australian company with Australian immigration lawyers

Pick your level of support

Every plan includes the online application platform, hands-on support from Tern's customer support team, and a thorough lawyer review before lodgement. Choose how much guidance you want along the way.

Direct

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

Lawyer-reviewed, re-reviewed as needed, then Tern lodges with the Department

Guided

Lawyer on call whenever questions come up.

A$1,900

AUD

Everything in Direct

4x30-minute consultations with an immigration lawyer

Use them anytime, by video or call, as questions arise

Complete

We handle everything, 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$11,710 government fee, plus medical exams and police certificates paid directly to the providers (cost varies by country).

Common questions

How long do we have to get married on a subclass 300 visa?

The subclass 300 is designed to give you time to marry in Australia within its validity period, generally around nine months. The visa is built around that purpose: you come to Australia, marry your partner, and then lodge the onshore partner visa (subclass 820/801). The exact validity is set by the Department at the time of grant. If circumstances change after you arrive, speak with your immigration lawyer about your options before the validity period closes.

What happens after we marry on a prospective marriage visa?

After the wedding, you lodge an onshore partner visa (subclass 820). This is the beginning of the permanent pathway. The subclass 300 is the entry step, not the permanent outcome: its purpose is to bring you to Australia legally so the marriage can take place. Once you lodge the 820, a Bridging Visa A is typically granted automatically when your subclass 300 expires, so you remain lawful in Australia while the Department processes Stage 1 of the partner visa.

Will we have an interview for the subclass 300 visa?

Not every subclass 300 application results in an interview, but the Department may request one to satisfy itself that the relationship is genuine and that you both genuinely intend to marry. Interviews are more likely where the evidence raises questions or where the Department wants to test the relationship directly. If an interview is requested, preparation matters: your immigration lawyer helps you understand what to expect and how to present your case. Going in prepared makes a real difference.

Will an immigration lawyer review my application?

Yes, on every plan. An immigration lawyer reviews your complete application before it is lodged with the Department, including your relationship statements, supporting evidence across all four pillars, your Form 80, and any witness declarations. The goal is to strengthen your application and catch anything that could read as a red flag to the case officer. Your lawyer advises on any additional evidence needed and any changes worth making before lodgement.

Who lodges my application with the Department?

Tern lodges your application directly with the Department of Home Affairs on every plan.

Which plans include lawyer consultations?

Guided and Complete both include four 30-minute consultations with an immigration lawyer, available at any point during your application. On Direct, consultations can be purchased separately if you need one.

What does the "no visa, no fee" guarantee cover?

Tern's service fee is refunded in full if your visa is refused. The government fee of A$11,710 is set by the Department and is non-refundable by them, so it is not covered by the guarantee. This is why lawyer review before lodgement matters.