Subclass 300 Prospective Marriage visa — strategy + intent evidence
Engagement-stage visa for fiancé(e) of Australian sponsor. 9-month window to marry, transition to Partner 820/801.
AustraliaProspective Marriage300Fiance visaEngagement
Draft the Subclass 300 Prospective Marriage application for [APPLICANT_NAME] (intending spouse) sponsored by [SPONSOR_NAME] (Australian sponsor). Engagement date: [ENGAGEMENT_DATE].
Subclass 300 is the engagement-stage visa for couples who have a formal commitment to marry but haven't yet married. The visa allows applicant to enter Australia, marry within 9 months, then apply for Subclass 820 onshore.
§1 — ELIGIBILITY (150-200 words)
Subclass 300 criteria (Sch 2):
(a) Applicant outside Australia at application + decision
(b) Sponsored by eligible Australian citizen / PR / eligible NZ citizen
(c) Applicant and sponsor have MET IN PERSON (s.5F + Reg 1.20J) — this is non-negotiable
(d) Genuine intention to marry within 9 months of grant
(e) Both free to marry (no existing marriages)
(f) Both 18+ years of age
(g) PIC 4001, 4007, 4020 met
(h) Sponsor approved
CRITICAL: "Met in person" requirement (Reg 1.20J):
▪ Couple must have met as adults
▪ In-person, not video / phone
▪ Aware of each other's relevant personal circumstances
▪ Evidence: passport stamps, joint photos, joint travel records
Met-in-person waiver:
▪ Available only on "compelling reasons" — very narrow (e.g. medical emergency preventing travel)
▪ COVID-era waivers no longer routinely granted
▪ Indian-context: family arranged + sponsor's first travel post-engagement is standard — document it carefully
§2 — RELATIONSHIP NARRATIVE (200-250 words)
[IN_PERSON_MEETING] — document:
▪ When couple first met in person (date + city + circumstances)
▪ Duration of first meeting
▪ Who else was present (family, community)
▪ Subsequent in-person meetings if any
▪ Passport stamps proving each visit
▪ Joint photos from each visit
Engagement details:
▪ Date + format (Roka / Sagai / engagement Mass / formal engagement at home)
▪ Religious + civil aspects of engagement
▪ Engagement ring exchange (if applicable)
▪ Family involvement
▪ Engagement invitation card
▪ Engagement ceremony photos / video
Demonstration of commitment to marry:
▪ Wedding venue booked OR shortlisted with deposit
▪ Wedding date set
▪ Wedding invitation card (provisional / printed)
▪ Wedding plans communicated to families (both sides)
▪ Joint statements of intention to marry within 9 months
§3 — WEDDING PLAN (150-200 words)
[WEDDING_PLAN] — detail:
Wedding venue:
▪ Australia / India / third country
▪ Specific venue (banquet hall, gurdwara, mosque, church, temple, registry office)
▪ Booking confirmation with date
Wedding date:
▪ Specific or window
▪ Must be within 9 months of Subclass 300 grant
▪ Allow buffer (6-7 months typical to allow visa grant + planning)
Wedding format:
▪ Religious ceremony (which religion + officiant)
▪ Civil registration (where + which authority)
▪ Guest count + categories
Post-wedding plan:
▪ Application for Subclass 820 onshore Partner immediately post-wedding
▪ Cohabitation in Australia
▪ Sponsor's housing arrangement
§4 — FORM 888 SUPPORT (100-120 words)
Form 888 statutory declarations for Subclass 300:
▪ Australian citizens / PRs only
▪ Witness signature requirement
▪ 4-8 declarations typical
▪ Each declaration confirms:
- Awareness of relationship
- Genuineness of engagement
- Couple's communicated intent to marry
- Their personal interaction with the couple
Indian-context note: Sponsor's parents + adult siblings + close Australian family friends typically provide Form 888 declarations. Sponsor's pastor / priest / community leader can also be a witness.
§5 — STRATEGIC NOTES (150-200 words)
When Subclass 300 is the right choice (vs. waiting to marry + applying 309/820):
Advantages:
▪ Applicant can enter Australia + marry there with sponsor's family present
▪ Wedding planning in Australia
▪ Shorter overall timeline to PR (Subclass 300 + 9 months + 820 + 2 years = ~5-6 years total)
▪ Couple together during wedding planning
Disadvantages:
▪ Subclass 300 fee is high (A$8,850+)
▪ Subsequent Subclass 820 application also has fee (A$8,850+ at time of writing)
▪ Total cost: A$17,000+ for Partner pathway via 300
▪ Compared to direct 309/820: A$8,850 once
▪ Wedding must occur within 9 months — pressure if visa grant delayed
▪ If wedding does not occur, no path to remain in Australia
Indian-context realities:
▪ Most Indian families prefer wedding in India with full family attendance
▪ Subclass 300 is more common for couples where applicant is highly mobile (already studied abroad) or wedding is planned in Australia
▪ For most arranged marriages, direct 309 offshore is more cost-effective
§6 — CLOSING (60-80 words)
Filing checklist:
▪ Form 47SP + Form 40SP (sponsor)
▪ Engagement evidence (photos, invitation, certificate if any)
▪ Wedding plan (date + venue + officiant)
▪ In-person meeting evidence (passport stamps, photos)
▪ Form 888 statutory declarations
▪ Police + health checks
▪ Communication log
End with: "DRAFT SUBCLASS 300 STRATEGY — for MARN holder review. Confirm in-person meeting evidence is rock-solid (this is the #1 failure point). 9-month wedding window starts at grant — plan wedding date with buffer. For most Indian arranged-marriage cases, direct Subclass 309 offshore is more cost-effective than 300 + 820 staged."Purchase the vault to unlock