If one partner is currently living overseas and applying to migrate to Australia on a Prospective Marriage Visa (commonly known as a fiancé visa), you will need to formally declare your intention to marry under Australian law.
This is done by lodging a Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) with an authorised marriage celebrant. Once the NOIM has been lodged, our celebrants can provide the confirmation documentation often required for visa applications, commonly referred to as a Letter of Support.
The first step in the process is to complete and lodge your Notice of Intended Marriage form with one of our authorised celebrants.
This document officially records your intention to marry in Australia and allows the ceremony to take place from one month after the form has been signed, witnessed and submitted.
The current NOIM lodgement fee is $175, which is payable at the time the form is completed and lodged.
When lodging the NOIM, certain identification documents must be provided.
If you were born in Australia
• Your passport or original birth certificate
• Photo identification such as a driver’s licence or proof of age card
If you were born outside Australia
• Your passport or overseas birth certificate
If you have been previously married
• Divorce certificate, or
• Death certificate of your former spouse
For Partner Visa applications, we will also need to review identification documents for your fiancé, which can initially be provided as scanned copies. However, the original documents must be sighted before the wedding ceremony takes place.
If any documents are written in a language other than English, they must be translated by a translator accredited in Australia.
You can locate approved translators through:
If you hold refugee status or cannot obtain standard documentation, please contact our team and we will advise you on the available options.
After the NOIM has been lodged, your ceremony can legally take place from one month after the lodgement date.
The NOIM remains valid for 18 months, allowing you flexibility to schedule your ceremony at a convenient time within that period.
Ceremonies may take place in our Melbourne registry ceremony rooms or at another approved location if preferred.
Our Commonwealth-registered marriage celebrants are authorised under Australian law and regularly assist couples who are preparing documentation for Prospective Marriage (Partner) Visa applications.
Although we cannot provide immigration advice, we can assist you with:
• lodging your Notice of Intended Marriage correctly
• providing confirmation documentation supporting your visa application
• organising your legal marriage ceremony in Australia
For advice regarding visa eligibility or immigration law, you should consult a Registered Migration Agent or Immigration Lawyer.