Are you married to an Australian permanent resident or citizen?

(Note - to be granted a spouse visa on 'married' grounds you must be married at time of decision - therefore you are legally entitled to marry while your application in progress - thus potentially reducing the time until visa grant)

Have you been in a defacto relationship with an Australian permanent resident or citizen for twelve months or more?

(Defacto implies cohabitation - if this is not possible due to prevailing cultural conditions or visa constraints you may still meet requirements for visa grant).