To be eligible for a Partner visa in Australia, you generally need to demonstrate that you are in a genuine and continuing spousal or de facto relationship.

While there is no specific time requirement, the Department of Home Affairs typically looks for evidence of a relationship that has been ongoing for a reasonable period. For married couples, there is no set duration for which you must be married before applying for a Partner visa. However, you should be prepared to provide evidence of the genuineness of your marriage. For de facto couples (unmarried but in a committed relationship), you generally need to have lived together in a de facto relationship for at least 12 months prior to lodging your application.

You may be exempt from the 12-month living together requirement if you have compassionate reasons (such as having children together), have been in a long-distance relationship, or if you’ve registered your de facto relationship with an Australian state or territory.