How Long Must You Live Together for a Partner Visa in Australia? (2026 Guide)

Last Updated: 10 July 2026

There is no fixed number of months that automatically qualifies you for a Partner Visa. For most de facto applications, you generally need to have lived together in a genuine de facto relationship for at least 12 months immediately before you lodge, unless an exemption applies — such as holding a registered relationship recognised under Australian state or territory law. Married applicants do not need to meet this 12-month cohabitation rule at all.

Key takeaways

• De facto applicants generally need 12 months of living together immediately before lodgement, with exceptions for registered relationships.

• Married applicants skip the 12-month cohabitation requirement entirely — a legally valid marriage is the relevant test instead.

• Duration alone does not decide your application. The Department of Home Affairs assesses your relationship across four evidence categories, not a timeline.

• Living together strengthens an application because it generates evidence across all four categories at once — it is not a standalone requirement in itself.

• No two Partner Visa applications look the same. The evidence you need depends on your individual circumstances and the subclass you are applying for.

The general relationship requirements for a Partner Visa

Australian migration law recognises two relationship types for the Partner Visa: married couples and de facto couples. If you are married, you need to show your marriage is legally valid under Australian law. There is no minimum cohabitation period to satisfy.

If you are in a de facto relationship, you generally need to show you have lived together in a genuine, ongoing de facto relationship for at least 12 months immediately before lodging your application. This applies whether you are applying onshore (Subclass 820/801) or offshore (Subclass 309/100). Time spent dating or in an online relationship generally does not count toward this 12-month period — the Department looks for cohabitation, not just a relationship history.

Four situations can exempt you from the standard 12-month requirement:

• Compelling and compassionate circumstances — you can show circumstances exist that justify granting the visa sooner

• Your partner holds or held a permanent humanitarian visa, your de facto relationship existed before that visa was granted, and the Department was told about the relationship before the grant

• Your partner is an applicant for a permanent humanitarian visa

• Your relationship is registered with an Australian state or territory authority, such as a registry of births, deaths and marriages

Meeting any one of these does not require you to also meet the 12-month rule.

Why living together helps, even beyond the 12-month rule

Living together does more than satisfy a minimum timeframe. It naturally generates the evidence the Department looks for across your relationship as a whole. A shared address produces joint utility bills, shared lease agreements, and consistent mail records. Shared daily life produces evidence of household responsibilities, shared routines, and mutual support — all of which feed directly into how your relationship is assessed.

This is why couples who have lived together longer than the minimum 12 months are not automatically in a stronger position, but couples who can show consistent, well-documented cohabitation generally find it easier to build a complete evidence file across every category the Department reviews.

The four key factors the Department considers

Duration of cohabitation is one input among several. The Department of Home Affairs assesses whether your relationship is genuine and continuing by reviewing evidence across four areas:

• Financial aspects — joint bank accounts, shared bills, financial support between you and your partner

• Nature of the household — shared accommodation, division of household duties, joint responsibility for children if applicable

• Social aspects — how others perceive your relationship, joint social activities, statements from family and friends

• Commitment to each other — the duration of your relationship, knowledge of each other's personal circumstances, and future plans together

Strong applications provide consistent evidence across all four categories, not just one. A couple with 18 months of cohabitation but weak financial and social evidence can face more scrutiny than a couple with 12 months of cohabitation and strong, consistent documentation across every category.

Why no two Partner Visa applications are the same

Every relationship looks different, and the Department assesses each application on its individual circumstances. A couple who has lived apart for work or study reasons, a couple in a long-distance relationship before moving in together, and a couple who registered their relationship under state law will each need a different evidence strategy — even though they may all ultimately qualify.

This is also why generic checklists rarely capture what a specific application needs. The subclass you are applying for, whether you are onshore or offshore, and the shape of your relationship history all change which evidence carries the most weight in your case.

When to seek professional migration advice

Because the assessment depends on individual circumstances rather than a fixed formula, it is worth speaking with a registered migration agent if:

• Your relationship does not fit a straightforward 12-months-living-together pattern, such as long-distance periods or recent cohabitation

• You are unsure whether your relationship qualifies for the registered relationship exemption

• You want a second opinion on which subclass and evidence strategy fits your situation before you lodge

A migration agent can assess your specific circumstances against the four evidence categories and help you identify gaps before you submit, rather than after a decision has already been made.

Frequently asked questions

How long do I need to live together before applying for a Partner Visa?

For most de facto applications, you generally need at least 12 months of cohabitation in a genuine, ongoing relationship immediately before lodging. Compelling circumstances, certain humanitarian visa situations, and registered relationships under state or territory law can all exempt you from this requirement.

Do married applicants need to live together for 12 months?

No. Married applicants do not need to meet the 12-month cohabitation rule. The relevant test is whether your marriage is legally valid under Australian law.

Does living together longer than 12 months strengthen my application?

Not by itself. What matters is consistent, well-documented evidence across financial, household, social, and commitment factors — not the length of cohabitation alone.

What if my relationship is registered under state or territory law?

A registered relationship recognised under state or territory law is one of four situations that can exempt you from the standard 12-month cohabitation requirement, since registration itself demonstrates a genuine and committed relationship. The others involve compelling circumstances or specific permanent humanitarian visa situations.

Can I still qualify if I have not lived with my partner for 12 months?

It depends on your individual circumstances, including whether an exemption applies and how strong your evidence is across the other assessment areas. Speak with a registered migration agent to assess your specific situation.

Get advice tailored to your relationship

Every relationship is unique, and the evidence required depends on your individual circumstances and the Partner Visa subclass you are applying for. If you want to understand how your situation fits the Department's assessment criteria, book a consultation with RACC's registered migration agents.

Registered Migration Agent (MARN): 1572961

📞 Phone or WhatsApp: +61 420 746 705 | +61 485 505 268

📅 Book a consultation: https://www.racc.net.au/migration-agent-education-agent

This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute immigration or legal advice. Policies and requirements may change and can vary depending on your individual circumstances. Speak with a MARA-registered migration agent before making decisions about your visa application.