Australia Prospective Marriage Visa Subclass 300 for Thai Applicants

The Prospective Marriage Visa Subclass 300 is for people who are engaged to an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen and intend to travel to Australia to marry their prospective spouse.

For Thai applicants engaged to an Australian partner, the Subclass 300 visa can provide a route to enter Australia, get married and then progress to an Australian Partner Visa.

The application is not simply about proving that you are engaged. The Department of Home Affairs must be satisfied that the relationship is genuine, that you genuinely intend to marry and that the other visa requirements are met.

What Is the Prospective Marriage Visa Subclass 300?

The Prospective Marriage Visa is often described as Australia's fiancé or fiancée visa.

It allows an eligible applicant to travel to Australia to marry their prospective spouse.

While holding the visa, the applicant can generally:

• live in Australia for the period of the visa;
• work in Australia;
• study in Australia;
• travel to and from Australia while the visa remains valid; and
• marry their prospective spouse before the visa expires.

After the marriage, the visa holder can normally move on to the Australian Partner Visa process.

Who Can Apply for a Subclass 300 Visa?

The applicant will normally need to satisfy a number of requirements.

These can include:

• being at least 18 years old;
• having an eligible sponsor;
• being genuinely engaged to the sponsor;
• intending to marry before the visa expires;
• having met the prospective spouse face-to-face as adults;
• knowing each other personally;
• meeting health requirements;
• meeting character requirements; and
• meeting the other requirements of the visa category.

Who Can Sponsor a Prospective Marriage Visa?

The sponsor will normally need to be:

• an Australian citizen;
• an Australian permanent resident; or
• an eligible New Zealand citizen.

The sponsor will also need to complete the appropriate sponsorship process as part of the application.

Do We Need to Have Met in Person?

Yes. One of the important requirements for the Subclass 300 visa is that the couple must normally have met face-to-face as adults.

An online relationship alone will generally not be enough.

The couple must also know each other personally and be able to explain how the relationship developed.

Evidence of the Relationship

Relationship evidence is one of the most important parts of the application.

The evidence should show that the relationship is genuine and that the couple genuinely intend to marry.

Useful evidence can include:

• photographs together;
• travel records;
• flight bookings;
• passport entry and exit stamps;
• hotel bookings;
• messages and call records;
• evidence of holidays together;
• money transfers where relevant;
• evidence of gifts;
• statements from the applicant and sponsor;
• evidence of the engagement; and
• evidence of wedding plans.

A clear and organised relationship history is generally much stronger than uploading hundreds of pages of random screenshots without explanation.

How Long Is the Subclass 300 Visa Valid?

The Prospective Marriage Visa currently allows the holder to stay in Australia for between 9 and 15 months from the date the visa is granted.

The marriage must take place while the visa remains valid.

Can You Work on a Prospective Marriage Visa?

Yes. A Subclass 300 visa holder can generally work in Australia while the visa is valid.

This can be an important practical difference compared with fiancé visa routes in some other countries.

Can You Study in Australia?

Yes. A Subclass 300 visa holder can generally study while in Australia.

However, access to government-funded education may be limited and applicants should check the conditions that apply to their circumstances.

Can You Travel Outside Australia?

The visa generally allows multiple travel while it remains valid.

This means the holder can normally leave and re-enter Australia during the visa period.

Documents Commonly Required

The exact documents depend on the circumstances, but a Subclass 300 application may include:

• the applicant's passport;
• Thai identity documents;
• the sponsor's Australian citizenship or permanent residence evidence;
• relationship evidence;
• evidence that the couple have met in person;
• evidence of engagement and marriage plans;
• divorce documents from previous marriages;
• police certificates;
• health examination evidence;
• character documents;
• supporting statements; and
• English translations of relevant Thai-language documents.

Police Checks and Character Requirements

The applicant must satisfy Australia's character requirements.

Police certificates may be required from Thailand and potentially from other countries where the applicant has lived.

It is important that previous convictions, visa refusals or immigration issues are dealt with accurately rather than omitted from the application.

Health Examination

The applicant must also meet Australia's health requirements.

The Department may request a medical examination as part of the application process.

Applicants should follow the medical instructions provided through their ImmiAccount rather than arranging the wrong examination independently.

How Much Does a Prospective Marriage Visa Cost?

As of September 2026, the Australian Government application charge for the main Subclass 300 applicant starts from AUD 11,710.

Additional charges can apply where dependent family members are included.

Other costs may include:

• health examinations;
• police certificates;
• biometrics;
• document translations; and
• professional assistance where used.

Australian Government visa charges can change, so the current fee should always be checked immediately before submission.

Where Does a Thai Applicant Apply?

A Thai applicant must normally be outside Australia when the Subclass 300 application is lodged.

The application is normally made online through the Australian Government's ImmiAccount system.

The applicant may be in or outside Australia when the Department makes the visa decision.

How Do You Apply?

A typical application can involve:

• creating an ImmiAccount;
• completing the visa application;
• paying the government application charge;
• uploading identity and relationship evidence;
• providing the application reference to the sponsor;
• the sponsor completing the sponsorship process;
• providing police and character documents;
• undertaking health examinations where required; and
• responding to any further requests from the Department.

How Long Does a Prospective Marriage Visa Take?

Processing times can vary considerably and should not be treated as guaranteed.

The Department of Home Affairs publishes current visa processing information and applicants should check the latest figures rather than relying on old forum posts or outdated visa websites.

Processing can also be affected by the completeness of the application, requests for additional evidence, health checks, character checks and the complexity of the relationship history.

Can Children Be Included?

Eligible dependent children may potentially be included in the application.

Additional government charges and documentary requirements can apply.

If children are involved, issues such as parental responsibility, consent and custody documentation may also need careful attention.

What Happens After You Get Married?

The applicant should marry their prospective spouse before the Subclass 300 visa expires.

After the marriage, the usual next step is an application for the Australian Partner Visa Subclass 820 and 801.

The Subclass 820 is the temporary stage, while the Subclass 801 is the permanent stage of the onshore partner route.

Partner Visa After a Subclass 300 Visa

Applicants who entered Australia on a Subclass 300 visa and marry their sponsor may be eligible for a reduced Partner Visa application charge when they move onto the 820/801 route.

The exact fee should always be checked at the time the Partner Visa application is lodged.

Common Problems With Subclass 300 Applications

Problems can arise where:

• the couple have not met face-to-face;
• the relationship evidence is weak;
• the applicant and sponsor give inconsistent information;
• previous marriages have not legally ended;
• wedding plans are vague or unsupported;
• important immigration history has not been disclosed;
• documents are not translated correctly;
• police or character matters are not addressed; or
• further information requested by the Department is not supplied correctly.

Prospective Marriage Visa From Thailand

Thai applicants commonly need to provide documents issued in Thailand as part of the application.

These can include:

• Thai birth certificates;
• Thai identity cards;
• name-change certificates;
• marriage and divorce records;
• house registration documents; and
• police and civil documents.

Thai-language documents should be accompanied by suitable English translations where required.

Australian Visitor Visa While a Partner Application Is Pending

Some couples also ask whether a Thai partner can apply for a visitor visa while another Australian partner visa application is being processed.

This depends on the individual circumstances and the applicant must still satisfy the requirements of the visitor visa they are applying for.

Read our guide: Can I Apply for an Australian Visitor Visa While My Partner Visa Is Processing?

Australian Visitor Visa for Thai Nationals

If the intention is simply to visit Australia rather than marry and remain there, a different visa category may be more appropriate.

See our Australian Visitor Visa Subclass 600 guide for Thai nationals.

Last reviewed: September 2026. Australian immigration rules, government fees and processing arrangements can change. Always check the current Department of Home Affairs requirements before applying.