However, you may be granted a permanent visa without having to wait if you can demonstrate one of the following:
•at the time you apply for the visa, you have been in a married or de facto relationship with your partner for three years or more
•at the time you apply, you have been in a married or de facto relationship with your partner for two years or more, and there is a dependent child of your relationship
•your partner was granted a Protection visa or a permanent visa under the humanitarian program and you were in the relationship before the visa was granted and this had been declared to the department at the time.