How Much Does the Prospective Marriage Visa (Subclass 300) Cost in 2026?

Updated 2026-09-28 · General information, not migration advice · Run by the Arrivau team

If you are budgeting for the Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300) in 2026, there is no single flat price to look up. According to the Australian Department of Home Affairs' official Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300) page as of July 2026, what you pay breaks into three parts: a visa application charge for the main applicant, an additional charge for each family member who applies with you, and separate out-of-pocket costs for health checks, police certificates and biometrics. The Department's cost section does not quote one figure; it directs applicants to the official Visa pricing estimator, and it notes that concessions apply only in limited circumstances.

What exactly is included in the visa application charge?

The charge is set for the main applicant first. Every family member who applies for the visa with you adds a further charge on top of that, so a couple applying with a dependent child is not paying the same amount as a single applicant.

Family members who apply with you must be members of the family unit, must meet the health requirement and the character requirement, and must be outside Australia. You can also add a dependent child after you lodge but before a decision is made on the temporary visa, which is worth knowing because it changes what you end up paying.

How do you work out your own number?

Use the Department's Visa pricing estimator, which is the tool the official page names for calculating the cost of this visa including additional family members. It is the practical answer to "how much for my application," because the answer depends on how many people are on the form rather than on a published headline figure.

The estimator has one important limitation: it does not take into account the costs of health checks, police certificates or biometrics. Those sit outside the visa application charge entirely and are paid separately.

Treat the result as an estimate rather than a quote. This article is general information only and is not advice tailored to your circumstances, so the charge that actually applies is the one the Department applies when the application is lodged.

Why do health checks, police certificates and biometrics matter for your budget?

Because they are real costs that never appear in the estimator total. The official page states you might also have to pay other costs for health checks, police certificates and biometrics, which means two applicants with identical visa charges can still spend different amounts overall.

Health and character requirements apply to family members as well as to you, so the number of people being assessed is what drives these extra costs. The Department also recommends taking out health insurance to cover unforeseen medical treatment in Australia; without it you are personally liable for your healthcare costs while you are here.

What happens if the wrong amount is paid?

The Department states it cannot process your application if you do not pay the correct visa application charge. That makes the estimator step more than a budgeting exercise — underpaying is a processing problem, not just a rounding difference.

Should the Partner visa fee go in the same budget?

Yes. The official page is explicit that you will also have to pay a fee for the Partner visa (subclasses 820 and 801), which is the onshore route you apply for after you are married and before your Prospective Marriage visa ends.

The timing has a direct cost consequence: you pay less for that Partner visa if you marry your prospective spouse and apply before your Prospective Marriage visa ends. A subclass 300 visa is temporary and lets you stay for the period specified on your grant letter, which is 9 to 15 months from the visa grant date, so the window between marrying and the visa expiring is what determines whether you get the lower second fee. If you are outside Australia at the time of visa grant, you must also enter Australia before the first entry arrival date in your grant letter, and the marriage itself must be valid under Australian law even if it takes place in another country.

Do Pacific Island and Timor-Leste applicants pay less from 2026?

From 1 July 2026, a lower visa cost applies to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens who lodge a valid visa application. The Department charges the lower visa application cost during the application process in ImmiAccount, and recognises eligible applicants when they apply with a valid passport from one of the specified countries.

Family members are also eligible for the lower cost, and eligibility is based on the passport of the primary applicant (or the visa holder who satisfies the primary visa criteria). The primary applicant must hold a valid passport issued by one of these countries:

Federated States of Micronesia
Fiji
Kiribati
Nauru
Palau
Papua New Guinea
Republic of the Marshall Islands
Samoa
Solomon Islands
Timor-Leste
Tonga
Tuvalu
Vanuatu

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there one fixed price for the subclass 300 visa?

No single published figure covers every application. The cost is a charge for the main applicant plus a charge for each family member who applies with you, with concessions available only in limited circumstances.

Does the Visa pricing estimator include health checks and police certificates?

No. The Department states the estimator does not take into account the costs of health checks, police certificates or biometrics, so those must be budgeted separately.

Do family members always add to the cost?

A fee applies to each family member who applies for the visa with you. They must also be members of the family unit, meet the health and character requirements, and be outside Australia.

What if I pay the wrong visa application charge?

The Department says it cannot process your application if the correct visa application charge is not paid. That makes calculating the amount before lodgement a practical step, not an optional one.

Do I need to budget for a second visa fee?

Yes, a fee applies to the Partner visa (subclasses 820 and 801) if you settle in Australia after marrying. You pay less for it if you marry and apply before your Prospective Marriage visa ends.

Who gets the lower cost from 1 July 2026?

Eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens who lodge a valid application and hold a valid passport from one of the 13 listed countries. Family members qualify too, based on the primary applicant's passport.