Prospective Marriage visa preparation checklist

In general terms, check that the couple is engaged (not yet married), that there is an eligible sponsor, and that both parties intend to marry within a fixed validity window. This is a high-level orientation step only — confirm current eligibility on the official page, and a registered practitioner can advise on individual circumstances.

Typically the application relies on an eligible sponsor, most commonly an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen. Gather the sponsorship details and confirmation of the sponsor's eligibility and commitment to the marriage. Check the official page for current sponsor requirements.

A clear colour copy of the photo page of your current passport, plus any pages showing name changes or previous visas. It is generally recommended that your passport stay valid well beyond your planned travel date.

A birth certificate showing both parents' names is typically used. If one is not available, alternatives such as a family register or household book, a baptismal certificate, or another official identity record showing your date of birth are generally accepted.

Applications typically call for recent passport-sized photos of both you and your partner, labelled with your names. Check the current size and format specifications before having them taken.

Records showing you have spent time together face to face since you both turned 18 — for example dated photos of you together, boarding passes, passport entry stamps, or accommodation bookings from visits.

Written confirmation that a wedding is genuinely planned. This is typically a completed Notice of Intended Marriage lodged with an authorised celebrant, or a signed letter from the celebrant confirming the intended date and place of the ceremony.

Items showing a continuing commitment, such as records of contact while apart (call logs, chat messages, video-call history), evidence of the engagement, written statements about your future plans together, or documents naming each other in wills or superannuation nominations.

Material showing your relationship is known to family and friends — joint invitations, photos at family or community events, joint travel bookings or itineraries, and memberships or activities you share as a couple.

If you have lived together or share money matters, records such as joint bank statements, transfers between you, shared bills, or a lease naming you both are generally useful. Many prospective-marriage couples have few of these — include whatever applies to your situation.

Statutory-declaration-style statements from friends or relatives describing your relationship in their own words. Witnesses in Australia typically use the Department's published supporting-statement form (Form 888) for this.

Your partner generally provides evidence they are an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen — such as a passport, citizenship certificate or Australian birth certificate — along with their own identity documents for the linked sponsorship.

Police certificates are typically needed from your home country and from each country where you have spent 12 months or more in total over the past 10 years since turning 16. Sponsors are generally asked to provide police checks as well.

Immigration health examinations with an approved panel clinic are generally part of this visa process. Keep any referral letter and your health-examination reference number with your records.

Any document not issued in English generally needs an English translation prepared by a qualified translator, provided together with a copy of the original document.

After grant, the holder typically enters Australia and marries within the fixed validity window, then generally lodges a partner visa from within Australia before the prospective marriage visa expires. Confirm current timing and partner visa requirements on the official page and with a registered practitioner.