How Long Can I Stay in Australia on a Subclass 300 Visa in 2026?
The Subclass 300 Prospective Marriage visa allows you to stay in Australia for 9 to 15 months, and that period starts on your visa grant date rather than the day you first arrive. According to the Australian Department of Home Affairs’ official Prospective Marriage visa (Subclass 300) page (as at July 2026), this is a temporary visa whose lawful stay period is the one specified in your visa grant letter; you can confirm the cease or expiry date again through the Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) system.
What is the maximum stay on a Subclass 300 visa?
The Subclass 300 is a temporary visa, and the official Home Affairs page describes its stay period as 9 to 15 months from the visa grant date. In practice this means the visa gives you a granted window of between nine and fifteen months, not an open-ended or renewable permission to remain. The exact end of that window is not the same for every applicant: it is the period written into your own grant letter.
When does the 9 to 15 month period start?
The period runs from your visa grant date, even if you are outside Australia when the visa is granted. It does not wait until you board a plane or clear the border.
Assume an applicant is granted the visa on 1 March 2026 but only flies to Australia on 1 August 2026: the 9 to 15 month entitlement has been running since March, so the time left to be in Australia is shorter than if entry had happened soon after grant. Treat the explanation here as general guidance only: it is not personalised legal or migration advice, and because grant dates and travel timing differ between applicants, rely on the official Home Affairs page and consider a registered migration professional for your own circumstances.
Where do I find my exact Subclass 300 expiry date?
You have two main ways to confirm the date that applies to you: your visa grant letter and VEVO. The grant letter is the record of the period you were granted, while VEVO lets you check the digital visa record linked to your passport.
| Where to check | What it shows | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Visa grant letter | The visa period specified for you, your visa number, and the first entry arrival date | This is the record of how long you were granted to stay, and of any deadline to enter Australia if you were offshore at grant |
| VEVO (Visa Entitlement Verification Online) | Your visa cease or expiry date and current visa conditions | Airlines, government agencies, employers and banks use VEVO; you access your digital record with the visa number from your grant letter |
Australian visas are digital, so you will not receive a visa label in your passport. Your grant letter contains the visa number used to open your record in VEVO.
Can I enter Australia late and still get the full stay period?
If you were outside Australia when the visa was granted, you must enter before the “first entry, arrive by” date specified in your grant letter. If that date has passed but the visa is still valid, you may still be able to travel to Australia, although the visa may be cancelled before arrival or at the border.
Late entry does not reset or extend the stay period. Because the entitlement already began on the grant date, arriving late reduces the time you actually have available in Australia. While the visa is valid you can travel to and from Australia as many times as you want, but the overall window itself is fixed.
Does travelling overseas pause my visa period?
No. Multiple trips are allowed while the visa is valid, but the stay period is a calendar window running from the grant date and does not pause or restart simply because you leave the country. Being outside Australia still uses up the granted time.
What must happen before your Subclass 300 stay ends?
You must marry your prospective spouse before the Subclass 300 visa expires. The marriage can take place in any country, but it must be valid under Australian law.
If you and your spouse want to settle in Australia, the official page states that you should apply for a Partner visa (subclasses 820 and 801) after you are married and before your Subclass 300 expires. Applying before this visa ends is also when you pay the lower visa application charge for that subsequent Partner visa application.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many months can I stay on a Subclass 300 visa?
A Subclass 300 visa permits a stay of 9 to 15 months from the visa grant date. Your own end date is the visa period specified in your grant letter, which may fall anywhere inside that range.
When does my Subclass 300 visa start?
The visa period starts on the grant date, not on the date you arrive in Australia. If you enter Australia later, the remaining time available to you in the country is reduced accordingly.
Where can I check my Subclass 300 visa expiry date?
You can check your visa grant letter, which specifies the granted period and contains your visa number. You can also use VEVO with that visa number to view your current visa cease or expiry date and conditions.
Can I enter Australia after my first entry arrival date has passed?
If your visa is still valid, you may be able to travel after that date, but the visa may be cancelled before arrival or at the border. Because the stay period runs from the grant date, entering late also shortens the time you can actually spend in Australia.
Does travelling outside Australia extend my Subclass 300 stay?
No. You may travel in and out as many times as you want while the visa is valid, but the granted period is fixed from the grant date. Time spent outside Australia still counts toward that window.
Do I have to marry before the Subclass 300 visa ends?
Yes, you must marry your prospective spouse before the visa expires, and the marriage must be valid under Australian law. If you intend to settle in Australia, you generally apply for a Partner visa after marrying and before this visa ends, and applying before expiry costs less.