Have you applied for an Australian Prospective Marriage Visa (subclass 300)? Are you waiting for your visa to be processed? If you don’t know the exact processing time for a 300 visa, don’t worry. We’ve got your back.
People dream of getting married in Australia. Lucky are the ones whose partners/fiancées live in Australia. If you’ve an Australian partner and you want to marry him/her in Australia, you can apply for a Prospective Marriage Visa.
The Australian Government offers a Prospective Marriage Visa (subclass 300) to those who want to get hitched in Australia. It’s a perfect option for you to reunite with your partner. You must meet certain requirements to apply for a Prospective Marriage Visa. It’ll also determine the processing time of your visa application.
So, let’s dig into the details of a Prospective Marriage Visa and its processing time.
Prospective Marriage Visa (Subclass 300)
Marrying your fiancee in Australia is possible with a Prospective Marriage Visa. It allows you to marry your partner in Australia. It’s a temporary visa. With a 300 Visa, you can reside in Australia for 9 to 15 months. You’re legally required to be married to your partner during this time.
You must marry your partner in Australia before your Visa 300 gets expired. Once you get married, you can apply for a Partner Visa. A Partner Visa will allow you to stay with your spouse in Australia permanently. The Australian Government offers Partner Visas to reunite people with their de facto partners or spouses in Australia.
Well, you’ve to pay around AUD 7,850 to lodge your application for a Prospective Marriage Visa (subclass 300). There’ll be additional charges if your family members apply with you for this visa. Besides the visa fee, you might also need to pay for health checks, biometrics, and police certificates.
Eligibility Criteria for Prospective Marriage Visa (Subclass 300)
You must meet the eligibility criteria to apply for a Prospective Marriage Visa in Australia. Home Affairs has set certain conditions to qualify for a 300 Visa. This visa will be granted to you if you satisfy its requirements.
To obtain the Australian marriage visa, you must:
- Be 18 years of age or above
- Plan to marry your future spouse before the visa 300 expires
- At the time of application, applicants must be outside of Australia.
- Applicants must be sponsored by their prospective spouse in Australia
- Be in good health and in good character.
- Settle your debts with the Australian Government. You must not owe money to the Government.
- No visa cancellations or refusals before
Eligibility for Refund of Visa Application Charge (VAC)
The refund of VAC is subject to certain conditions. You might apply for a refund of a Visa Application Charge (VAC) if:
- Your Prospective Marriage Visa got expired while you were outside Australia
- You were not able to enter Australia due to strict Covid-19 travel restrictions
- Your visa was extended due to new rules made by Home Affairs on 10 December 2020, and you want to cancel your visa.
Application Process for Prospective Marriage Visa (Subclass 300)
You can apply for a Prospective Marriage Visa by following a few steps. To file for a visa, you need:
- Fill out your application in your ImmiAccount. You’ll be asked to create an ImmiAccount login if you do not have one.
- You must pay the fee for the visa. If you don’t pay the fee, your visa application will not be processed.
- Submit your visa application and note down the Transaction Reference Number (TRN). Your sponsor will require a TRN to apply for sponsorship.
- Ensure that all supporting documents are submitted with your visa application.
When Home Affairs receives your application, it will inform you. It’ll tell you your visa grant number, visa conditions and the date when your visa starts. Wait until Home Affairs decides whether to grant you this visa.
Processing Time for Marriage Visa 300
The Department of Home Affairs takes a few months to finalize your visa application. It generally processes:
- 25% of applications in 7 months
- 50% of applications in 13 months
- 75% of applications in 23 months
- 90% of applications in 29 months
Make sure the visa application is submitted correctly to avoid delays in the processing time. Attach the required documents to support your claims on your application. Home Affairs might ask you for further details about your visa. Therefore, you need to get in touch as soon as possible.
Can I Include a Family Member with My Visa Application?
Yes, you can add a family member to your Prospective Marriage Visa application. However, they must meet the health and character requirements set by Home Affairs. Other family members who are not coming to Australia might need to meet these requirements as well. You can add a family member after you apply and before Home Affairs makes a decision on your visa application.
Prospective Marriage Visa (Subclass 300) – Final Words!
A Prospective Marriage Visa is a great option for people who wish to marry in Australia. Your partner living in Australia can sponsor you to apply for a 300 Visa. You must get married within 9 to 15 months after getting this visa.
Though, you must submit your application properly. This will affect the processing time of your visa. To avoid any delay in the processing time, you can consult with the registered migration agents of The Migration.
