📋 Quick Overview
- 💰 Application Fee: AUD 8,850
- 💼 Visa Type: Prospective Marriage Visa (Subclass 300)
- ⏱️ Processing Time: 14-22 months
Planning to marry in Australia? This prospective marriage 300 document checklist includes all documents required for your 2026 application.
You must be outside Australia when you apply and meet several relationship and character requirements. At VisaTasker, we help couples navigate this process and ensure their application is complete from the start.
⚠️ Key Eligibility Requirements
- ✅ You must be at least 18 years old
- ✅ You must be outside Australia at the time of application
- ✅ You and your prospective spouse must have met in person
- ✅ You must have a genuine intention to marry and a realistic commitment to a shared life
- ✅ Your prospective spouse (sponsor) must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen
- ✅ Both partners must meet health and character requirements
📄 Applicant Documents
Identity
- ✅ Current valid passport (biographical page)
- ✅ Birth certificate (certified copy)
- ✅ National identity card (if applicable)
- ✅ Passport-sized photographs
Evidence of Intention to Marry
- ✅ A statutory declaration from both the applicant and the sponsor confirming the intention to marry before the visa expires
- ✅ Evidence of wedding preparations (venue bookings, invitations, wedding planner correspondence)
- ✅ Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) lodged with an authorised celebrant in Australia — this must be lodged at least one month before the wedding
Evidence of Having Met in Person
- ✅ Photographs together (dated and labelled)
- ✅ Travel records — flight itineraries, boarding passes, passport stamps showing visits
- ✅ Communication records showing an ongoing relationship (video calls, messages, emails)
Relationship Evidence (Four Pillars)
The Department assesses Subclass 300 applications using the same four-pillar framework as partner visas:
Financial — Joint accounts, shared expenses, money transfers, evidence of financial support
Household — If you have lived together at any point, provide lease agreements, shared address evidence, household bills
Social — Statutory declarations from two witnesses (Form 888), photos at family events, correspondence acknowledging the relationship
Commitment — Length of relationship, future plans, knowledge of each other’s circumstances, how you manage the relationship across distance
Character Documents
- ✅ Police clearance certificates from every country where you have lived for 12+ months in the past 10 years since turning 16
Health Documents
- ✅ Health examination results via a panel-approved physician (generate your HAP ID in ImmiAccount)
📄 Sponsor Documents
Identity and Eligibility
- ✅ Proof of Australian citizenship, permanent residency, or eligible NZ citizenship
- ✅ Birth certificate
- ✅ Current passport
Sponsor Declaration
- ✅ Form 40SP — completed and signed
- ✅ The sponsor agrees to provide accommodation, financial support, and assistance for at least two years
Character
- ✅ AFP check
- ✅ Police clearances from any country where the sponsor lived 12+ months in the past 10 years
Prior Sponsorship
- ✅ If the sponsor has previously sponsored a partner or was themselves sponsored, a statutory declaration addressing the history and any applicable waiting periods
📄 Dependent Family Members
If including dependent children:
- ✅ Birth certificates
- ✅ Passports
- ✅ Custody or court orders
- ✅ Form 1229 — consent from the other legal parent
- ✅ Health and character documents for dependants aged 16+
📄 After Arrival: Pathway to Permanent Residency
Once you arrive in Australia on your Subclass 300 visa:
1. Marry your partner within the visa validity period (9-15 months)
2. Apply for the onshore Partner Visa (Subclass 820/801) — your Subclass 300 allows you to lodge this application while in Australia
3. The 820 temporary partner visa is assessed, followed by the 801 permanent visa approximately two years later
This is a well-established pathway to permanent residency, and planning ahead ensures a smooth transition between visa stages.
💰 Costs
The Subclass 300 application fee is approximately AUD 9,095. This is the same fee as a partner visa, as the Prospective Marriage Visa is effectively the first step of the partner visa journey.
⏱️ Processing Times
As of 2025-26, 90% of Subclass 300 applications are processed within approximately 23 months. Front-loading health checks and providing comprehensive relationship evidence at lodgement can help reduce processing time.
📄 Start Your Journey With VisaTasker
The Prospective Marriage Visa requires careful documentation and genuine evidence of your relationship and intention to marry. VisaTasker’s MARA-registered agents help you prepare a compelling application that covers every requirement.
Ready to Get Started?
Our MARA-registered agents will handle everything for you.
📞 Book a Free Consultation*Disclaimer: This blog post provides general information only and does not constitute migration advice. Requirements are subject to change. Always verify the latest requirements on the Department of Home Affairs website or consult a MARA-registered migration agent.*
📚 Related Visa Document Checklists
Disclaimer: This blog post provides general information only and does not constitute migration advice. Visa requirements are subject to change. Always verify the latest requirements on the Department of Home Affairs website or consult a MARA-registered migration agent.
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Reviewed by VisaTasker Migration Services
MARA Registered Migration Agent · MARN 2318017
This article is written and reviewed by VisaTasker Migration Services, a MARA-registered migration agency based in Australia. As registered agents, we are bound by the Migration Agents Code of Conduct and required to provide accurate, up-to-date advice based on Australian migration legislation. Information is reviewed against the latest Department of Home Affairs policy.
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