An applicant may be eligible for a spouse visa if the spouse or de facto partner (including same sex partner) is in Australia (at the time the visa is granted) and is:
For married couples, the marriage must be legally recognised in Australia.
For de facto couples, the relationship must have been at least 12 months and genuine. This includes same-sex partnerships.
Applicants must also satisfy health and character requirements.
If successful, initially a temporary 2-year visa is granted, which can be extended to permanent residence if the relationship is ongoing and assessed as genuine
