Subclass 444 visa: Special Category

Streams

The 444 has no streams. Home Affairs' 444 page also refers to the "eligible New Zealand citizen (or Protected SCV holder)" category, whose entitlements are set out on its New Zealand citizens entitlements page.

444 visa requirements

Home Affairs lists these on the Eligibility tab of its 444 page:

• Valid New Zealand passport. Applicants must hold one to be granted the visa.
• Not a behaviour concern non-citizen. Home Affairs may refuse the visa, or entry, to someone convicted of a crime with a sentence of death or at least 1 year in prison, convicted of crimes with prison sentences totalling at least 1 year, found guilty of a crime while of unsound mind, or removed, deported or excluded from Australia or another country in the past.
• Not a health concern non-citizen. Home Affairs may assess someone who declares tuberculosis on arrival as a health concern non-citizen and ask for more information.
• No "no further stay" condition. People holding a visa with this condition can't apply.

Home Affairs also says a 444 can't be applied for on entry by someone who already holds another temporary visa (they can apply after entering), or by someone who holds a permanent visa.

What the visa lets you do

According to Home Affairs' 444 page, the visa lets holders:

• enter and stay in Australia for as long as they remain a New Zealand citizen
• visit, work and study in Australia
• apply for a permanent visa, if eligible.

Holders must remain New Zealand citizens, obey Australian laws and continue to meet the character requirement. The visa ends when the holder leaves Australia. Home Affairs recommends health insurance and says people who hold a permanent visa need to tell officers on arrival that they do not want a 444; otherwise one may be granted, which may affect a later Resident Return visa.

Family members and cost

Each family member makes their own 444 application, by showing a valid New Zealand passport and a completed incoming passenger card, or by using SmartGate. Family members who are not New Zealand citizens need another visa, such as the subclass 461.

Home Affairs' Visa Pricing table lists AUD 0 and notes that additional applicants are not eligible (each person applies separately).

Step by step

This follows the Step by step tab of Home Affairs' 444 page.

Before you apply

1. Get a valid New Zealand passport before travelling. The visa is linked to the passport used.
2. Check in VEVO whether a visa is already held (a reference number is needed).

Apply

1. On arrival, show the passport and a completed incoming passenger card to an officer, or answer the health and character questions at SmartGate.
2. After entry, apply through Home Affairs' online form in set cases: becoming a New Zealand citizen after entry, entering on another passport or another temporary visa, or having a New Zealand citizen baby born in Australia. An Australian birth certificate is needed for people born in Australia on or before 30 June 2022.

After you apply

1. Arrival applications are usually processed at the airport or seaport. For applications after entry, Home Affairs contacts the applicant with an appointment.
2. Applicants after entry stay lawful by holding a visa, such as a Bridging visa A or C.

Applying in or outside Australia

Home Affairs says the 444 is usually applied for on entry to Australia. In some cases it can be applied for after entering, and the grant date is then the decision date, not the original entry date (444 page).

444 visa processing time

Home Affairs publishes current processing times in its visa processing times guide.

Compare: 444 and 461