So you’re in a committed de facto relationship and want to apply for a partner visa to Australia? But you’ve only been in the de facto relationship for 6 months… can you still apply?
The short answer is yes with a but. You will need to take some additional steps first.
The Department of Home Affairs defines a de facto relationship as one that has been ongoing for at least 12 months. If your relationship is under 12 months and you aren’t married, the Department won’t grant you a partner visa.
If you want to know what a De Facto Relationship is, read this related article: https://partnervisaco.com.au/partner-visas-what-is-a-de-facto-relationship/
However, there is a BUT! If you have registered your relationship in one of the Australian states or territories that allows relationship register, then you can avoid the 12-month rule.
This means, even if you have only been in a de facto relationship for 6 months, you could still apply for a partner visa.
To find out how to register your relationship and in what situations, continue reading here: https://partnervisaco.com.au/register-relationship/
Remember that registering your relationship is no guarantee that you will get the visa. You still need to meet all the other requirements and present lots of relationship evidence.
