Subclass 461 visa: NZ Citizen Family Relationship

Streams

The 461 has no streams. Home Affairs lists three ways to meet the relationship requirement (461 page):

Family member of a New Zealand citizen

A member of the family unit of a New Zealand citizen who is not an eligible New Zealand citizen, and who either holds a Special Category visa (subclass 444) in Australia or will travel with the applicant and be granted a 444 on entry. Home Affairs notes New Zealand citizens are not automatically granted a 444.

Former 461 holder in Australia

A person in Australia who holds a 461 (or whose last substantive visa was a 461), who is no longer a member of the family unit of the person it was granted through, and who has not become a member of another person's family unit.

Former 461 holder outside Australia

A person outside Australia who held a 461 when they last left, with the same family unit conditions. They must also have spent at least 2 of the last 5 years in Australia on a 461, or have substantial business, cultural, employment or personal ties with Australia that benefit Australia and no continuous absence of 5 years or more (unless there are compelling reasons).

461 visa requirements

Home Affairs lists these on the Eligibility tab of its 461 page:

• Not an Australian citizen.
• Not a New Zealand citizen.
• Relationship to a New Zealand citizen. One of the three categories above.
• Immigration status. No visa needed when applying outside Australia. In Australia, a substantive temporary visa held now or in the last 12 months, other than a 403 Domestic Worker (Diplomatic or Consular) visa. Otherwise, extra criteria apply.
• Health. The applicant and family unit members applying must meet the health requirement.
• Character. The applicant and family unit members 16 and over must meet the character requirement.
• Australian values. Applicants 18 and over sign the Australian Values Statement, unless Home Affairs decides compelling circumstances apply.
• Debts. Any debt to the Australian Government under an arrangement to pay it back.
• Immigration history. A past visa cancellation or refusal may affect eligibility.
• Children. Home Affairs might not grant the visa to an applicant under 18 if it is not in their best interests.
• No Further Stay. A No Further Stay condition may stop an application.

Home Affairs recommends health insurance. The full criteria are in Schedule 2 of the Migration Regulations 1994.

What the visa lets you do

According to Home Affairs' 461 page, the visa lets holders:

• live, work and study in Australia for 5 years from grant
• travel outside Australia and return as many times as they want during those 5 years.

Holders can't stay after the visa ends unless they hold another visa. They can apply for a further 461 if eligible.

Family members and cost

Other members of the family unit can make a combined application at the same time. They can't be added after lodgement, and Home Affairs assesses each applicant individually. Family members who apply must meet the health and character requirements.

Home Affairs' Visa Pricing table lists these charges for the 461:

Health examinations, police certificates and biometrics cost extra.

Step by step

This follows the Step by step tab of Home Affairs' 461 page.

Before you apply

1. All applicants need a valid passport or travel document before the visa is granted.
2. Home Affairs encourages health examinations before lodging.

Apply

1. Gather identity documents and evidence of the relationship to the New Zealand citizen (partner, or child or stepchild of the New Zealand citizen or their partner). Anyone who spent 12 months or more in New Zealand in the last 10 years provides a New Zealand police certificate.
2. Pay the charge, complete Form 147, attach the receipt and certified copies (not originals), and post the application to the New Zealand Family Relationship visa office, GPO Box 9984, Sydney NSW 2001. It can't be lodged in person, and it must be made before any current visa ends.

After you apply

1. After the acknowledgement letter arrives, the paper application can be imported into ImmiAccount.
2. Applicants in Australia tell Home Affairs if they want to travel during processing, and stay lawful by holding a visa.
3. Home Affairs tells the applicant its decision. The applicant can be in or outside Australia at that time.

Applying in or outside Australia

Home Affairs says applicants can be in or outside Australia when they apply, but not in immigration clearance. People relying on the outside-Australia criteria lodge outside Australia and stay outside until Home Affairs acknowledges the application (461 page).

461 visa processing time

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

Compare: 461 and 444