Head to head · Checked 30 October 2026
300 Prospective Marriage vs 309/100 Partner (offshore)
A couple abroad who intend to marry can marry first and lodge the offshore partner visa, or lodge the prospective marriage visa, come to Australia on it, marry here and then lodge the onshore partner visa at the reduced charge. Marrying first and lodging the 309 is one application, one charge and the shorter road to permanent residence; the 300 is two applications and a higher total cost but it is the only route for a couple who cannot marry before the applicant travels, who are not yet de facto, and who want an Australian wedding. Processing times for the two move around each other and are not the reason to choose.
By Keshab Chapagain, registered migration agent (MARN 1576536) since 2015 · WIDEN, Sydney · Reviewed 30 October 2026
Keshab Chapagain · MARN 1576536 · Registered since 2015 - Relationship at lodgement
- Engaged, met in person, intending to marry; not yet married or de facto · Married, or de facto for 12 months or registered
- Where lodged
- Outside Australia · Outside Australia
- What is granted
- A temporary visa, usually 9 months, to enter and marry · Temporary 309 then permanent 100
- After the wedding
- The 820/801 onshore at the reduced charge for 300 holders, $1,955 · Nothing further; the 100 follows the 309
The migration agent that other migration agents learn from. WIDEN is an OMARA-approved CPD provider — our training is rated ★4.8 by 40+ registered migration agents.
About the CPD →Side by side
| 300 Prospective Marriage | 309/100 Partner (offshore) | |
|---|---|---|
| Relationship at lodgement | Engaged, met in person, intending to marry; not yet married or de facto | Married, or de facto for 12 months or registered |
| Where lodged | Outside Australia | Outside Australia |
| What is granted | A temporary visa, usually 9 months, to enter and marry | Temporary 309 then permanent 100 |
| After the wedding | The 820/801 onshore at the reduced charge for 300 holders, $1,955 | Nothing further; the 100 follows the 309 |
| Charge | The 300 charge, then $1,955 for the 820/801; see the fees page | $11,710 primary applicant |
| Applications | Two | One |
| Watch out | Marrying outside the 300’s period; condition 8515 on marrying before entry | A marriage of convenience is read as hard as any; the sponsor limitations apply to both |
Charges are the current government application charges (from 1 July 2026, main applicant) — see the fee calculator for your family's total. Checked 30 October 2026.
The honest verdict
A couple abroad who intend to marry can marry first and lodge the offshore partner visa, or lodge the prospective marriage visa, come to Australia on it, marry here and then lodge the onshore partner visa at the reduced charge. Marrying first and lodging the 309 is one application, one charge and the shorter road to permanent residence; the 300 is two applications and a higher total cost but it is the only route for a couple who cannot marry before the applicant travels, who are not yet de facto, and who want an Australian wedding. Processing times for the two move around each other and are not the reason to choose.
Which side of that line you fall on depends on facts a table cannot hold — your age, score, occupation's lists, and what evidence you can actually assemble. That is consultation territory, not guesswork territory.
More head-to-heads: 482 vs 494 · 190 vs 491 · 189 vs 190 · 482 vs 186
General information only, not migration advice. Settings shown are the general rules; exemptions and stream variations exist. Migration advice is provided by Keshab Chapagain (MARN 1576536) after a paid consultation under the Migration Agents Code of Conduct.
Book 30 minutes with Keshab.
Keshab Chapagain, registered migration agent (MARN 1576536), reads your situation with you and tells you which route fits, what it costs and what happens next.
Video consultation. A$330 inc. GST for 30 minutes, credited in full if you go ahead. Free questions are closed: advice on your own case is the consultation.
Book a consultation — A$330 inc. GST, credited In writing, no call — A$550
Need 60 minutes, or bringing a partner, employer or documents to go through? Extended consultation, A$550 inc. GST.
MARN 1576536 · practising since 2015 · contact details
Not sure which visa fits you?
Answer three questions. An automated guide points you to the route that usually applies. General information only.
Questions we get asked first
300 Prospective Marriage or 309/100 Partner (offshore) — which is better?
A couple abroad who intend to marry can marry first and lodge the offshore partner visa, or lodge the prospective marriage visa, come to Australia on it, marry here and then lodge the onshore partner visa at the reduced charge. Marrying first and lodging the 309 is one application, one charge and the shorter road to permanent residence; the 300 is two applications and a higher total cost but it is the only route for a couple who cannot marry before the applicant travels, who are not yet de facto, and who want an Australian wedding. Processing times for the two move around each other and are not the reason to choose.
What is the main difference between the 300 Prospective Marriage and the 309/100 Partner (offshore)?
Relationship at lodgement: 300 Prospective Marriage — Engaged, met in person, intending to marry; not yet married or de facto; 309/100 Partner (offshore) — Married, or de facto for 12 months or registered. Where lodged: 300 Prospective Marriage — Outside Australia; 309/100 Partner (offshore) — Outside Australia. What is granted: 300 Prospective Marriage — A temporary visa, usually 9 months, to enter and marry; 309/100 Partner (offshore) — Temporary 309 then permanent 100.
Keep reading