What a prospective marriage visa (subclass 300) costs: the government charge, health, police and evidence costs, plus the later partner visa fee. Book a consultation.
The prospective marriage visa (subclass 300) has one large government application charge, plus a set of smaller costs you’ll pay along the way: health examinations, police clearances from each country you’ve lived in, English translations of documents, and the cost of gathering relationship evidence. If you use a registered migration agent, professional fees are on top of that. The single biggest number is the Department of Home Affairs application charge, which changes regularly, so you should always confirm the current figure before you budget. Just as important, the subclass 300 is only the first half of the journey. After you marry, you apply for the partner visa, and that stage carries its own significant cost, though the structure is designed so you’re not paying the full charge twice.
This article breaks the cost into its real parts so there are no surprises, and explains the second-stage partner visa fee that many couples don’t plan for.
The subclass 300 visa lets a person come to Australia to marry their Australian fiancé within the visa’s validity period. The main cost is the government’s visa application charge, paid to the Department of Home Affairs when you lodge. This is a single charge for the main applicant, with additional charges if you include dependent children in the application.
Because government charges are reviewed and typically rise over time, we don’t publish a fixed figure that would date quickly. insert current subclass 300 base application charge from Home Affairs at publish date. We’ll give you the exact current amount in a consultation and confirm whether any dependants add to it.
The application charge is the big one, but it isn’t the whole picture. Budget for these as well:
None of these are huge on their own, but together they add up, so it pays to plan for them from the start.
If you engage a registered migration agent, their professional fee is separate from the government charge and the third-party costs above. What you’re paying for is advice from someone accountable under the Code of Conduct, a correctly built application, and relationship evidence prepared to the standard the department expects. Fees vary between practices and with the complexity of your case. A prospective marriage visa where the couple has strong, clear evidence is simpler than one with a short relationship history, previous refusals or complicating factors, and the fee usually reflects that.
At BYD we’re upfront about professional fees before you commit, so you know the full picture rather than discovering costs later.
This is the most important cost planning point. The subclass 300 does not lead straight to permanent residency. After you enter Australia and marry within the visa period, you apply for the partner visa (subclass 820, which leads to the permanent 801). That second stage is where you build toward permanent residency.
The good news is that the fee structure recognises you’ve already paid the prospective marriage charge. When you move to the partner visa after holding a subclass 300, you generally pay a reduced second visa application charge rather than the full partner visa charge. That’s a real saving, but it’s still a substantial cost, and you’ll again have possible health, police and evidence costs at that stage. Couples who budget only for the subclass 300 and forget the partner visa stage get a nasty shock later. Plan for both from day one.
Many couples can lodge a straightforward prospective marriage visa themselves. It’s worth getting advice if your relationship is newer, you’ve been refused before, there’s a large age or cultural gap that invites scrutiny, or your circumstances are complicated in any way. The government charge is significant and generally non-refundable, so an application that fails on avoidable evidence problems is an expensive mistake. As registered migration agents we can assess your case, tell you honestly whether the subclass 300 or a different partner pathway suits you better, and prepare the evidence properly. See our Prospective Marriage page for how we help.
The main cost is the Department of Home Affairs application charge, which changes over time, plus health examinations, police certificates, document translations and evidence costs. Professional fees apply if you use a registered migration agent. Confirm the current government charge before you budget.
Because government charges are reviewed regularly and usually rise, publishing a fixed number would mislead you. We give you the current figure in a consultation so you’re planning against accurate amounts.
Yes. After you marry, you apply for the partner visa (820/801), which carries its own significant charge. Because you already paid the subclass 300 charge, you generally pay a reduced second charge, but it’s still a real cost to plan for.
Including dependent children usually adds to the application charge, and can add health and police costs for each person. We’ll work out the total for your family in a consultation.
Yes. Budget for health examinations, police clearances from your home and other countries of residence, accredited translations of non-English documents, and gathering relationship evidence.
Government application charges are generally not refunded if an application is refused. That’s why getting the application right the first time matters, especially for newer or more complex relationships.
Professional fees vary by practice and by how complex your case is. They’re separate from the government charge. BYD confirms professional fees before you commit so there are no surprises.
The subclass 300 has its own charge, and then you pay a reduced partner visa charge later. Taken together, the prospective marriage route plus the partner visa is a two-stage cost, so compare the full journey, not just the first step.
If you’re already married or in a de facto relationship, a direct partner visa may suit you better. Which pathway is cheaper and stronger depends on your situation, and that’s worth checking before you lodge.
Get the evidence right the first time to avoid a refused, non-refundable application, plan for both stages up front, and get honest advice on which pathway genuinely fits so you don’t pay for the wrong one.
If you want a clear picture of what a prospective marriage visa will cost you, including the partner visa stage, book a consultation with a registered migration agent at BYD. We’ll confirm the current charges, estimate the extra costs for your situation, and tell you honestly which pathway fits. Call 0434 893 901 or contact us online, and see our Prospective Marriage page for more.
