Everything You Need To Know About A Prospective Marriage Visa
Within Australian immigration law, there are visas of kinds for anyone wishing to live in Australia. Many relate to families such as parent visas and partner visas. Another of these family visas applies to couples planning to get married. It is called the Prospective Marriage Visa, although you may hear it being referred to as the “Fiancé Visa”. You may also see it referred to as “Subclass 300”. Here is everything you need to know about it.
Who Is The Prospective Marriage Visa For?
This visa exists for couples who plan to marry but where one of them is an Australian citizen or permanent resident and the other is not. Specifically, it applies to those who are
- Living outside Australia
- Intending to marry an Australian citizen or permanent resident of Australia
- Do not meet the requirements for a de facto or spousal visa, such as a partner visa
Prospective Marriage Visa Entitlements
Anyone who is granted a prospective marriage visa is entitled to the following.
- Live in Australia
- Work in Australia
- Study in Australia albeit at your own expense
Requirements For A Prospective Marriage Visa
Anyone who is applying for a prospective marriage visa must meet the following requirements.
- Be aged at least 18 years of age
- Have the intention to marry their spouse-to-be before the visa period expires
- Be living outside Australia when they apply
- Be sponsored
Necessary Documentation
Unlike a partner visa for a couple in a de facto relationship, you do not need to supply documentation showing you live together as a couple, such as a joint mortgage on a property, for example. However, you must provide evidence that shows you are both in a genuine, loving relationship and that the intention to get married is real. Some examples of the documentation and evidence which can prove this include:
- Correspondence between you
- Joint hotel bookings
- Joint travel tickets
- Statutory declarations provided by your family and friends
- Photographs of you both together
- A notice of intent to marry with a marriage celebrant dated up to 18 months in the future
- Other documentary evidence. For example joint residence tenancy agreement, joint bank account statements
Fees
At the time of writing the current fee for a prospective marriage visa in Australia is AUD 7,850. Given that this fee is non-refundable if your application is rejected because it is incomplete or includes errors, you must review your application carefully before submission.
Application Process Time
The usual process time for a prospective marriage visa is between 16 and 18 months, although it can be over 30 months if there are delays.
Time Constraints Of A Prospective Marriage Visa
Those granted a prospective marriage visa usually have a period of 9 months by which time they must get married. During the 9 months, they are free to live in Australia and travel to and from Australia as many times as they wish.
Next Steps
Once married, assuming they wish to continue living in Australia, those who previously had a prospective marriage visa should apply for a Partner Visa to have their residency made permanent.
And Finally
As with anything relating to immigration and visa applications, there are lots of regulations, some of which may seem confusing. Further, if you make an application and something is missing, or you make a mistake it can delay it and even cause your application to be rejected.
This is why we always recommend aH you speak to an immigration support service who can advise how to complete the application fully, and ensure that your application is accurate before submitting it.
About The Author
