461 New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship visa (subclass 461)

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa	Subclass 461
Visa name	New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship
Stay	Five years temporary
Cost	From AUD1,330
Apply from	In or outside Australia
Eligibility timing	Not New Zealand citizen at application
Work rights	Work permitted
Study	Study permitted
Medicare	Reciprocal healthcare may apply
Travel facility	Multiple entry, five years
Citizenship	Not stated in the source
Family sponsorship	Include family unit at lodgement
Visa record	Digitally linked to passport
Application method	Paper application by post
Processing	Guide tool only

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Purpose

The Subclass 461 visa is for a person who is not a New Zealand citizen and is a member of the family unit of a New Zealand citizen. It allows the holder to live, work and study in Australia for five years.

Stay and Travel

• This is a temporary visa valid for five years from grant.
• It has multiple entry: you may leave and re-enter Australia as often as you wish during the visa period.
• Time outside Australia does not extend the visa.
• You cannot remain in Australia after it ceases unless you hold another visa.
• You may apply for a further Subclass 461 visa if eligible.

Cost

Applicant	Visa application charge
Main applicant	AUD1,330
Family member, 18 or over	AUD675
Family member, under 18	AUD325

Additional costs may include health examinations, police certificates and biometrics.

Eligibility

You cannot be granted this visa if you are:

• An Australian citizen.
• A New Zealand citizen.

You may be eligible if you are a member of the family unit of a New Zealand citizen who:

• Holds a Subclass 444 Special Category visa; or
• Will travel with you and be granted a Subclass 444 visa on entry.

The New Zealand family member must hold, or be eligible for, a Subclass 444 visa. New Zealand citizens are not automatically granted a Subclass 444 visa.

Former family members

You may also be eligible where you previously held a Subclass 461 visa but are no longer a member of the previous New Zealand citizen’s family unit, provided you have not become a member of another person’s family unit.

If applying outside Australia under this former-family-member pathway, you must also:

• Have held a Subclass 461 visa in Australia for at least two years in the previous five years; or
• Have substantial beneficial business, cultural, employment or personal ties to Australia, and not have been outside Australia continuously for five years or more, unless compelling reasons explain the absence.

Immigration status

If applying in Australia, you must generally:

• Hold a substantive temporary visa, excluding the Subclass 403 Domestic Worker stream; or
• Have held such a visa within the previous 12 months.

Otherwise, additional criteria may apply to unlawful non-citizens and certain bridging visa holders.

Other requirements

You and applicable family members must:

• Meet health requirements.
• Meet character requirements.
• Sign the Australian Values Statement if aged 18 or over, unless exempted.
• Have arrangements to repay Australian Government debts.
• Meet any requirements relating to previous visa refusals or cancellations.
• Not be affected by a No Further Stay condition.

For applicants under 18, the Department may refuse the visa if grant is not in the child’s best interests.

Health Insurance and Healthcare

Health insurance is recommended. You remain personally liable for healthcare costs in Australia.

Some countries have reciprocal healthcare agreements with Australia. Check eligibility through Services Australia.

Family Members

You may include members of your family unit when lodging the application.

• All applicants are assessed individually.
• Included family members must meet health and character requirements.
• You cannot add family members after lodgement.
• A child born after application requires separate notification and action.

For dependent children aged 18 or over, evidence of dependency is required. Usually, a child or step-child must be under 23 at application and grant. A person over 23 may be included if unable to support themselves because of physical or cognitive limitations.

Required Evidence

Provide certified copies with the paper application.

Identity and travel documents

For each applicant, provide:

• Passport pages showing photo, personal details, issue and expiry dates.
• National identity card, if available.
• Name-change evidence, if applicable.
• Two recent passport-size photographs per applicant.

Provide documents showing previous marriages, divorce, separation or widowhood where applicable.

Relationship evidence

Provide evidence that you are the New Zealand citizen’s partner, child or step-child, such as:

• Birth, marriage, adoption or death certificates.
• Official family status certificates or family books.
• Evidence of family membership.
• The New Zealand citizen’s passport or birth certificate.
• Evidence that the New Zealand citizen holds or is eligible for Subclass 444.

Partners must provide evidence of a genuine and ongoing relationship, such as joint finances, shared residence, joint travel, photographs, statements and joint leases or bills.

Character documents

Applicants aged 16 or over may need:

• An Australian Federal Police complete disclosure National Police Certificate, if they spent 12 months or more in Australia during the last 10 years.
• Overseas police certificates for each country where they spent 12 months or more during the last 10 years.
• Military records or discharge papers, if applicable.
• Form 80 and Form 1221.

If you spent 12 months or more in New Zealand in the last 10 years, the Department will initiate a New Zealand criminal record check. You must complete the Consent to Exchange of Criminal Record Check Information — Jan 2024 form.

Children under 18

For children or step-children, provide:

• Identity and relationship documents.
• Adoption documents or court orders, where applicable.
• Consent from anyone with legal authority over where the child lives, if they are not migrating with the child.
• Form 1229 or a statutory declaration of consent, where required.

If a child will not stay with a relative or legal guardian, provide Form 1257 Undertaking declaration.

Translations

All non-English documents must be translated into English.

• Include original-language documents and translations.
• Australian translators must be NAATI-accredited.
• Overseas translators must state their name, contact details, qualifications and experience in English.

How to Apply

You cannot lodge this visa application online. Apply on paper before any current visa ceases.

1. Pay the visa application charge.

2. Complete Form 147 — Application for a New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship visa (subclass 461).

3. Attach the payment receipt, certified identity documents, travel documents and supporting evidence.

4. Post the application to:

   New Zealand Family Relationship visa office
   GPO Box 9984
   SYDNEY NSW 2001
   Australia

Do not submit the application in person. Do not send original documents.

An incomplete application may be invalid and will not be processed.

After Lodgement

After receiving an acknowledgement letter, you may import the paper application into ImmiAccount. This allows you to:

• Attach documents.
• View messages and application status.
• Update details.
• Apply for a bridging visa.
• Withdraw the application.

You may be asked for health examinations, biometrics or further information.

If you make an error, submit Form 1023 — Notification of incorrect answers.

Tell the Department about changes to your:

• Address, phone number, email or passport.
• Marital or de facto relationship status.
• Family composition, including a child’s birth.
• Representative or authorised recipient.

Processing

Processing-time information is available through the visa processing time guide. It is indicative only and not specific to an application.

Processing may take longer if forms are incorrect, documents are missing, more information is needed, or information requires verification. The Department will not process an application unless the correct charge is paid.

Visa Conditions and Obligations

You and accompanying family members must:

• Comply with all visa conditions.
• Follow Australian laws.
• Remain lawful while an application is being processed.
• Check visa conditions and expiry through VEVO.

If you applied in Australia while holding a substantive visa, you may be eligible for a Bridging Visa A after your current visa ceases.

Visa Record

The visa is digitally linked to your passport. You will not receive a visa label.

Use VEVO to check visa status, conditions, work and study entitlements.