Validity Date for Visa 300 is Extended until the end of 2022 for Holders Impacted by COVID-19
The Australian Government decided to extend the validity date for Visa 300 or Prospective Marriage Visa whose holders are outside Australia. It is applicable for Visa 300 holders who had their visa granted on 15 September 2021 but were unable to travel to Australia due to the travel restriction.
The extension for the validity date means the Visa 300 holders now have a longer time to enter the country and marry their prospective spouse.
Find the details below.
Previous Arrangement for Visa 300
Previously, the Australian Federal Government also provided some flexibility and arrangements for Visa 300. Firstly, on 10 December 2020, the Australian Federal Government announced an extension validity date for Visa 300 until 31 March 2022. It was applicable for the visa holders outside Australia on 10 December 2020 and who held a Visa 300 at any time between 6 October 2020 until 10 December 2020.
Then, on 18 August 2021, the Australian Federal Government included Visa 300 holders as eligible people to apply for Travel Exemption Australia with a condition of at least 12 months having passed since the visa holders first lodge their Visa 300 application. The Australian Federal Government made these arrangements in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, possibly continuing until 2022.
Read more about Visa 300 – Prospective Marriage Visa (Provisional) here.
Updated Validity Extension for Visa 300
The Australian Federal Government now extends the validity period for Visa 300 until 31 December 2022 for those visa holders outside the country and held the visa on 15 September 2021.
Currently, some Australian states and territories still implement mandatory quarantine, and there are limited numbers of flights to the country. These conditions have been the main concerns for the visa 300 holders. However, with the extension of the validity period for visa 300, the visa holders have additional time to secure a flight to Australia and marry their partner within the visa validity period.
Read more: Section 48 Bar is Now Lifted for 190, 494, and 491 Visa Application
Updated Information for Visa 300 Holders Regarding Travel Restriction
Regarding the arrangement for travel exemption Australia, the Australian Federal Government announced eligible Australian visa holders could travel to Australia without securing a travel exemption Australia from 1 December 2021.
Visa 300 holders are considered eligible visa holders with the condition that they must be fully vaccinated. They will be considered fully vaccinated if they have received:
- Two doses at least 14 days apart of:
- AstraZeneca Vaxzevria;
- AstraZeneca Covishield;
- Pfizer/Biontech Comirnaty;
- Moderna Spikevax;
- Sinovac Coronavac;
- Bharat Biotech Covaxin;
- Sinopharm BBIBP- CorV (for 18-60 years old travellers).
- Or one dose of:
- Johnson & Johnson/ Janssen-Cilag Covid Vaccine.
The visa 300 holders must show their international Covid-19 vaccination certificate stating they have received two doses of vaccination. However, suppose the visa holders have a certain health condition that prevents them from vaccination. In that case, the visa holders must submit a medical certificate stating the holders could not get a Covid-19 vaccination. The medical certificate must include the following information:
- Given name (this must match the visa holders’ travel identification documents);
- Date of medical consultation and name of the medical practitioner;
- Information clearly acknowledges that the visa holders have a medical condition that prevents them from receiving COVID-19 immunisation (vaccination is contraindicated).
Read more: Travel Exemption Australia Update: Eligible Visa Holders Now Can Enter Australia!
What does this mean for you?
Visa 300 usually has a validity period of around 9 – 15 months. However, if you have been granted your Visa 300 on 15 September 2021, your visa will be valid until 31 December 2022, so you can travel to Australia and marry your partner within the grant date until 31 December 2022.
If you are a fully vaccinated Visa 300 holder, you can travel to the country without Travel Exemption from 1 December 2021. However, please note that you must still obey the quarantine procedure of the state to which you are travelling. Currently, you can only travel to NSW, Victoria and ACT without mandatory quarantine.
Are you planning to lodge a Prospective Marriage Visa?
It might be the best time for you to apply for Visa 300 now since you can travel without Travel Exemption to Australia!
We fully understand that applying for a visa to Australia is certainly very complicated. It is even more challenging during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our visa specialists at ONEderland Consulting will help you assess your visa options. We have a 98% success rate and are one of Australia’s most highly recommended migration agents. Read our 4.9* score customer reviews.
We are complex visa specialists. As registered Australian migration agents with the Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA), we are regulated in our professional practice and bound by the profession’s Code of Conduct issued by the Migration Agents Registration Authority.
Take the first step and get in touch with us. Our team members are professional, honest and speak various languages such as Mandarin/ Chinese, Bahasa Indonesia, Arabic, Japanese, and Thai. Contact us through email at [email protected] or via phone on 1300 827 159. Alternatively, you may book your consultation online, and it is backed by our 100% Money Back Guarantee Program.
