The Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300) allows a person to come to Australia to marry their intended spouse and later apply for a Partner visa. This visa is typically used by individuals who are engaged to an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen and wish to marry and live with them in Australia.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Age: You must be 18 years old or older.
- Sponsor: Your sponsor must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.
- Intention to Marry: You must intend to marry your sponsor before the visa period ends (usually 9 to 15 months after visa grant).
- Location: You must be outside of Australia when applying for this visa, along with any accompanying family members. You can be in or outside Australia when the visa decision is made.
What You Can Do with this Visa:
- Live, Work, and Study: You can live, work, and study in Australia for up to 9 to 15 months from the visa grant date.
- Travel: You can travel to and from Australia as many times as you want during the visa validity period.
- Marriage: You and your sponsor must marry before the visa expires, and your sponsor should apply for a Partner visa for you thereafter.
Sponsor’s Obligations:
- As a sponsor, you must:
- Ensure marriage: You and your prospective spouse must marry before the visa expires.
- Apply for Partner visa: After marriage, your sponsor should help you apply for a Partner visa (subclass 820/801 or 309/100).
- Financial Responsibility: You must take responsibility for any debts your prospective spouse or their family members owe to the Australian government.
- Compliance: You must ensure that your prospective spouse and their family members comply with all visa conditions and Australian laws during their stay.
- Employer Obligations: You must ensure your prospective spouse and their family members comply with their employer obligations under Australian law, if applicable.
Who You Can Sponsor:
- You can sponsor your prospective spouse and any family members who are included in the application.
Key Things to Remember:
- This visa is temporary and valid for a fixed period (9 to 15 months).
- You must marry your sponsor before the visa expires and apply for a Partner visa (subsequent permanent visa) after marriage.
- The sponsor is responsible for financial obligations and compliance with Australian laws during the visa holder’s stay in Australia.
This visa serves as a pathway to bring your partner to Australia to marry and eventually apply for permanent residency through a Partner visa.