Australia Subclass 300 Visa: A Dedicated Partner Migration Pathway for Unmarried Couples
If you and your partner aren’t married yet but already plan to build a life together in Australia, partner migration doesn’t have to wait until after the wedding.
The Prospective Marriage Visa (Subclass 300) is a dedicated pathway designed for unmarried couples — it lets you enter Australia, marry your partner here, and then apply for permanent residency.
For many applicants, the Subclass 300 visa answers a critical question: “Can I apply for partner migration if we aren’t married?” The answer is yes — provided you take the correct pathway.
Free Subclass 300 Eligibility Assessment →The Subclass 300 is a temporary prospective spouse visa — enter Australia first, then marry
The Subclass 300 is a temporary prospective spouse visa, primarily designed for couples who are already engaged or have firm marriage plans, and where one partner is an Australian citizen or permanent resident.
Once the visa is granted, you can enter Australia and complete the marriage within the prescribed time frame.
Engaged or with firm marriage plans
Suitable for couples who are already engaged or have firm plans to marry. The Subclass 300 doesn’t prescribe a minimum relationship length — what matters is that the relationship is genuine and both parties hold a clear intention to marry.
One partner must be an Australian citizen or PR
The sponsor must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen. The sponsor plays a critical role in the Subclass 300 application and must contribute relationship evidence and a formal sponsorship undertaking.
Enter Australia and marry after grant
Once the visa is granted, you can enter Australia and complete the marriage within the prescribed time frame (generally within 9 months). After the marriage, you transition to a Subclass 820/801 application to complete the full partner migration pathway.
The core rule of the Subclass 300 is straightforward: marry within 9 months of entering Australia, then apply for the partner visa (Subclass 820/801). The full pathway is: 300 → 820 → 801 (PR).
Talk to an Adviser About Your Subclass 300 Pathway →The Subclass 300 isn’t about your qualifications or career — it’s about the relationship itself
The Subclass 300 doesn’t hinge on your qualifications or work history — it hinges on the relationship itself. The Department of Home Affairs focuses on whether your relationship is genuine and whether you have clear, credible plans to marry.
You’ll need to meet the basic eligibility criteria, plus pass two core assessment tests — the genuineness of your relationship, and the credibility of your intention to marry.
The Subclass 300 may look straightforward on paper, but the assessment focus is sharp: can your relationship be “proven”, and can your marriage plans be “believed”? We recommend designing a complete relationship-evidence structure before lodging.
Pre-Lodgement Relationship Evidence Audit →Basic eligibility criteria
- Genuine and continuing romantic relationship with the sponsor
- Both parties intend to marry (with the wedding planned in Australia)
- The sponsor is an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen
- Both parties meet the health and character requirements
Core assessment test 1 — Relationship genuineness
The Department of Home Affairs assesses whether your relationship genuinely exists:
- Whether the relationship is a genuine partnership, rather than a “relationship of convenience”
- Whether records of in-person meetings, chat logs, photos, and shared activities are complete
- Whether each partner’s family, friends, and social circle know about and acknowledge the relationship
Core assessment test 2 — Credibility of marriage intention
Whether you genuinely plan to marry in Australia, rather than going through the motions just to secure a visa:
- Whether the wedding date is clearly defined and the venue is locked in
- Whether wedding preparations are demonstrably underway (venue, ceremony, guest arrangements)
- Whether the marriage plans align logically with your broader life plans
In plain terms
- The Subclass 300 isn’t only about proving you’re “together”
- It also requires proof that you’re “preparing to marry”
- Both pieces of proof are essential — together they form the core assessment focus
Six steps: visa first, then entry, then marriage, then onto the Subclass 820
The Subclass 300 process mirrors a standard partner visa, with an added “wedding stage”. The end-to-end pathway covers confirming the relationship, preparing evidence, lodging offshore, processing and grant, entering Australia, and marrying within 9 months before transitioning to the Subclass 820 visa.
Confirm the relationship and marriage plans
- First, confirm your relationship is genuine and continuing
- Confirm you have firm plans to marry
- Including the expected wedding date and venue
Prepare relationship evidence
- Provide evidence of the romantic relationship
- Including records of in-person meetings, chat logs, and photos
- Plus evidence of how you interact and your shared plans for life together
Lodge the Subclass 300 application
- Lodge the application from outside Australia
- The Department of Home Affairs begins assessment
- The formal Subclass 300 review process is now underway
Wait for processing and respond to requests
- The Department reviews the genuineness of your relationship
- With particular focus on the credibility of your intention to marry
- They may request additional evidence or further clarification when needed
Visa is granted and you enter Australia
- Once the visa is granted
- You can enter Australia
- And begin a shared life with your partner
Marry within the time frame and lodge the Subclass 820
- Complete the marriage within 9 months
- Lodge a Partner Visa (Subclass 820) application
- Continue along the partner migration pathway, ultimately obtaining PR via the Subclass 801
Subclass 300 vs Subclass 820: the key differences at a glance
Many applicants weigh up the choice: marry first and apply for the Subclass 820, or take the Subclass 300 route? The two visas differ in assessment focus and use case — the right answer comes down to your current relationship status.
| Comparison | Subclass 300 | Subclass 820 |
|---|---|---|
| Already married? | No | Yes, or de facto partners |
| Where to lodge | Offshore | Onshore |
| Direct PR pathway? | No (requires marriage and transition first) | Yes |
| Assessment focus | Romantic relationship + intention to marry | Relationship genuineness |
Bottom line: if you aren’t married and don’t meet the de facto partner requirement, the Subclass 300 is the only compliant pathway. If you’re already married or meet the de facto criteria, lodging directly for the Subclass 820 will save you time and money.
Get an Adviser to Recommend 300 or 820 →The biggest value of the Subclass 300 is “entering the partner migration system early”
For couples who haven’t yet married, the Subclass 300 opens up a “come to Australia first, marry later” pathway.
Begin the migration pathway before marriage
First, it lets you start the migration pathway before you’re married — you don’t have to wait for the formalities to fall into place. For international couples, that means you no longer have to spend long stretches apart just to wait for the wedding.
Legal entry to complete the marriage
Second, it gives you a lawful route to enter Australia and complete the marriage, smoothing the entire process. After marriage, you transition seamlessly to the Subclass 820/801, making the whole partner migration pathway clear and manageable.
The best option when de facto criteria fall short
On top of that, for couples who can’t meet the de facto cohabitation requirement (for example, you haven’t reached the 12-month live-together threshold), the Subclass 300 is often the only viable option — meaning your relationship status no longer blocks your migration plans.
The key to the Subclass 300 isn’t stacking up paperwork — it’s telling your “relationship” story in a way the assessor can believe
Newstarsec can help you with:
- Assessing whether the Subclass 300 pathway suits your situation
- Designing your relationship-evidence structure
- Refining how your marriage plans are presented
- Delivering end-to-end application support
Reach out today for a personalised partner migration pathway assessment.
Total Subclass 300 budget: AUD $10,000+
Subclass 300 and downstream costs typically include the following items. Note: the 300 and 820 are charged separately — unlike the 820/801, which is a single combined fee.
| Item | Cost range (AUD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Subclass 300 application fee | $9,000+ | Primary applicant |
| Subsequent Subclass 820/801 fee | Charged separately | Lodged after the marriage as a transition application |
| Medical examination | $300 – $500 | Applicant health check |
| Document preparation | $500 – $1,500 | Notarisation, translation, and relationship-evidence assembly |
Fees shown are reference figures as at June 2026 — the latest officially published rates prevail.
Your overall budget needs to treat the Subclass 300 and the downstream 820/801 as separate line items — and that’s the key budget difference compared with the onshore single-fee 820/801 pathway.
The main Subclass 300 risks centre on relationship evidence and marriage intent
The risks for the Subclass 300 cluster around relationship evidence and the credibility of your marriage plans. Common pitfalls include:
- Limited in-person meetings or thin relationship evidence
- Inability to demonstrate a genuine romantic relationship
- Wedding plans that are vague or unconvincing
Most refusal cases come down to a single underlying issue: the relationship couldn’t be sufficiently “proven”. The relationship itself may well be real, but the evidence chain wasn’t comprehensive, logical, or persuasive enough for the case officer.
Get Ahead of Subclass 300 Refusal Risks →End-to-end Subclass 300 professional service
Newstarsec has spent years specialising in Australian migration, building deep case experience and refined evidence frameworks across partner and prospective spouse visas.
Subclass 300 fit assessment
We weigh up your relationship status, cohabitation history, and marriage plans to confirm whether the Subclass 300 is genuinely the best pathway for you right now.
Relationship-evidence structure design
We build a logical, assessor-credible evidence package around your meeting records, interactions, social circle, and marriage plans.
Marriage-plan articulation
We turn your wedding date, venue, and preparation progress into a clear, structured narrative that lifts the credibility of your intention to marry.
End-to-end application support
From evidence preparation, lodgement, and follow-up requests through to entry and transitioning to the Subclass 820, our MARA-registered advisers oversee every critical milestone.
Real Subclass 300 grant stories from our clients
Real feedback from Newstarsec Subclass 300 clients — proof of our professional standards.
My fiancé and I had been together nearly two years, but our cohabitation didn’t meet the de facto threshold. Newstarsec recommended the Subclass 300 pathway and helped us build solid records of our meetings and wedding plans. The visa was granted smoothly, we married after entering Australia, and we transitioned to the Subclass 820 without a hitch.
Because we’d had limited time face-to-face, I worried our relationship evidence would fall short. Newstarsec helped us pull together a complete picture of our interactions and our families’ contact with each other, structuring the evidence so cleanly that the grant came through without difficulty.
Our wedding plans were vague to begin with. After our adviser flagged it, we sat down and properly planned the date and venue, and gathered the supporting documents. Newstarsec fine-tuned how we expressed our intention to marry, which kept the assessor from raising concerns.
FAQ | Australia Subclass 300 Prospective Marriage Visa
Can I really apply for Australian partner migration if we aren’t married?
Yes. If you aren’t married yet but you’re in a stable romantic relationship with firm plans to marry, you can apply for the Prospective Marriage Visa (Subclass 300) to enter Australia, marry locally, and then continue with a partner visa application. This is the standard pathway many unmarried couples use to migrate.
How strict are the relationship requirements for the Subclass 300?
The Subclass 300 isn’t focused on “how long” you’ve been together — it’s focused on whether the relationship is genuine and credible. The Department of Home Affairs cares more about whether you’re in a genuine romantic relationship, whether you have ongoing interaction, and whether you have firm plans to marry. If your relationship evidence is solid, you have a real chance of approval even if the relationship hasn’t been especially long.
Do we have to marry in Australia?
Yes. One of the core requirements of the Subclass 300 is that the applicant must complete the marriage within a prescribed time frame after entering Australia (generally within 9 months). If you plan to marry overseas, the Subclass 300 typically isn’t the right pathway.
Subclass 300 versus marrying first and applying for the 820/309 — which is better?
It depends on your relationship status. If you’re already married or meet the de facto criteria, it’s usually better to apply directly for the Subclass 820 or 309 — it saves time and money. If you aren’t married and don’t meet the de facto requirement, the Subclass 300 is the only compliant pathway.
Can we choose not to marry during the Subclass 300 period?
No. The whole premise of the Subclass 300 is “marry after you enter Australia”. If the marriage isn’t completed within the visa validity period, you can’t progress to a downstream partner visa application — the entire migration pathway breaks down.
Can I apply for PR straight after the Subclass 300 is granted?
No. The Subclass 300 is only the first step. After you enter Australia, marry, and lodge a Subclass 820 application, you’ll formally be on the partner migration pathway — and you ultimately obtain PR through the Subclass 801 visa.
Can I include my children in a Subclass 300 application?
Yes. Where the eligibility criteria are met, you can include your children as secondary applicants on the Subclass 300, but you’ll need to provide a complete picture of your family relationships and custody arrangements.
How long does it take to get a Subclass 300 grant?
On average, processing takes around 10 to 14 months (as at June 2026), but the actual timeline varies depending on case complexity, evidence completeness, and the Department of Home Affairs’ processing throughput at the time.
What are the most common reasons Subclass 300 applications are refused?
The most common reasons for refusal include insufficient relationship evidence, a lack of genuine in-person meeting records, vague or implausible wedding plans, and internal inconsistencies in the documentation. In many cases the relationship is genuine — it simply hasn’t been proven in the right way.
Is the Subclass 300 success rate high?
If the relationship is genuine and the evidence is thoroughly prepared, the success rate is well within your control. That said, compared with married or de facto partner visas, the Subclass 300 sets a higher bar on “relationship evidence”, so upfront preparation matters more than ever.
Unmarried? You can still start partner migration — assess your Subclass 300 pathway today
Our MARA-registered migration agents map out your relationship structure, design the evidence package, refine how your marriage plans are presented, and oversee the transition to the Subclass 820/801 — making sure your Subclass 300 application is thoroughly prepared.
Free Subclass 300 Success-Rate Assessment →
