New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship visa (subclass 461)
New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship visa (subclass 461)
Visa Cost
AUD 445
The 2025-26 financial year (from 2025-07-01) primary applicant base Visa Application Charge (VAC). Accompanying secondary applicants are charged extra (about AUD 220 for those 18 and over, about AUD 105 for those under 18). Health examinations, police clearances, translation and notarisation are also at your own expense. Routinely increased each 1 July; estimate using the official Visa Pricing Estimator.
Processing Time
About 4-9 months (the 75%/90% figures fluctuate monthly; the official processing-times page is updated in real time)
Eligibility
- The applicant is not themselves a New Zealand citizen (a New Zealand citizen can enter directly on the 444 Special Category visa without needing 461).
- The applicant is a family unit member of a New Zealand citizen, usually their spouse/de facto partner or dependent child.
- The New Zealand citizen resides in Australia on a 444 Special Category Visa, or holds/has held a 461 visa.
- A genuine and continuing relationship with the New Zealand citizen: the spouse/de facto relationship must be genuine and long-term, and a de facto partner usually needs 12 months of cohabitation or a registered relationship.
- Meet health requirements: the primary applicant and accompanying family members must pass the designated examination.
- Meet character requirements: those aged 18 and over must provide police clearances for each country lived in for a cumulative 12 months (after age 16) within the past 10 years.
- No outstanding debt to the Australian government, and no visa refusal or cancellation record affecting grant.
- Those aged 18 and over must sign the Australian Values Statement.
Key Information
Validity / Stay / Residence
Temporary, valid for up to 5 years, allowing free entry to and exit from Australia; renewable (renewal usually requires at least 2 years cumulatively in Australia as a 461 holder in the past 5 years).
Eligible Dependants
Granted to a family unit member (spouse/de facto partner/dependent child) of a New Zealand citizen, who at application must hold or be eligible for an SCV (444).
PR / Permanent Residence Pathway
This visa is temporary (valid 5 years) with no direct PR pathway, but it can be renewed while you continue to be eligible. For permanent residence you usually take another visa category such as skilled migration, employer sponsorship or partner.
View provisional-to-permanent transition overview →Common Visa Conditions
Full explanations of condition codes are in the Visa Conditions Lookup
Application Steps
Confirm eligibility and relationship type
Confirm eligibility and relationship type
Verify that the relevant New Zealand citizen does live in Australia on a 444 visa, and confirm that you are a member of their family unit (spouse/de facto partner/dependent child).
- Prepare the New Zealand citizen's passport and entry records, proving they are in Australia on a 444 visa
- Determine the relationship category: spouse, de facto partner or dependent child
- For de facto relationships, it is advisable to register the relationship first or have 12 months of cohabitation evidence ready
Create ImmiAccount and apply online
Create ImmiAccount and apply online
461 is an online application lodged through ImmiAccount. It can be applied for onshore or offshore, but if you are offshore at grant you must enter before the visa takes effect.
- Register an ImmiAccount at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au
- Select New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship (subclass 461)
- Truthfully complete the primary applicant and accompanying family member details
Upload supporting documents
Upload supporting documents
Upload identity, relationship, New Zealand citizenship and 444 visa evidence, and character and health materials.
- Passport, notarial birth certificate, and relationship evidence
- The New Zealand citizen's passport and 444 visa/entry evidence
- Non-English materials must be NAATI-certified translated
Pay the visa application charge
Pay the visa application charge
Pay the primary applicant AUD 445 and any accompanying family member surcharges.
- Pay online by credit card/PayPal, etc.
- Keep the payment receipt
Complete health exam and police checks
Complete health exam and police checks
Have the health examination at a designated provider as directed by the system (a designated panel clinic in mainland China), and submit police clearances from each country.
- Use the HAP ID to book a health examination at a Bupa-designated clinic
- Submit a Chinese police clearance (notarised and translated) and clearances from other countries of residence
Await decision and grant
Await decision and grant
After providing any further documents, wait for the outcome; once 461 is granted you have unlimited travel within 5 years and can work and study freely.
- Watch for requests for further documents/interview notices in ImmiAccount
- Check the visa validity and conditions after grant
- Those granted offshore must make a first entry before the effective date to activate
Required Documents
| Document Name | English Name | Required | Description | Tips |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valid passport (bio-data page) | Valid passport (bio-data page) | The passport bio-data pages of the primary applicant and each accompanying family member, to verify identity and nationality. | Ensure the passport is valid long enough; scan a colour copy of the bio-data page. | |
| NZ citizen's passport and SCV (subclass 444) evidence | NZ citizen's passport and SCV (subclass 444) evidence | The core material proving that the family member you rely on is a New Zealand citizen residing in Australia on the 444 Special Category visa. | Provide the New Zealand passport bio-data page + Australian entry records/VEVO records showing a 444 visa. | |
| Evidence of marriage or de facto relationship | Evidence of marriage or de facto relationship | If applying as a spouse/de facto partner, prove the relationship is genuine and continuing. | Marriage certificate (notarised and translated); de facto partners need a registered-relationship certificate or 12 months of cohabitation evidence (joint lease, joint accounts, photos together, correspondence). | |
| Birth certificate (notarised) | Birth certificate (notarised) | Prove identity and the family relationship (especially for dependent child applicants). | For birth in China, obtain a notarial birth certificate and have it NAATI-translated. | |
| Evidence of dependency (for dependent child applicants) | Evidence of dependency (for dependent child applicants) | If applying as the dependent child of a New Zealand citizen, prove a financial or physical dependency relationship. | Provide financial support records and cohabitation evidence; children aged 18 and over must prove dependency due to study or disability. | |
| Chinese Police Clearance Certificate | Chinese Police Clearance Certificate | Meet character requirements; required of those aged 18 and over. | Issued by the public security authority of your registered residence, notarised by a notary office and NAATI-translated; usually valid within 6 months. | |
| Police certificates from other countries | Police certificates from other countries | Where you have lived in any country for a cumulative 12 months after age 16, a police clearance from that country must be provided. | If you have lived long-term in Australia/another country, a police check from that country is required (such as the Australian AFP). | |
| Health examination via HAP ID | Health examination via HAP ID | The primary applicant and accompanying family members must complete the designated health examination and meet Australian health standards. | Use the system-generated HAP ID to book a Bupa/designated panel clinic; do not have the examination on your own beforehand. | |
| Australian Values Statement | Australian Values Statement | Those aged 18 and over must sign, undertaking to respect the Australian way of life and obey the law. | Simply tick to sign within the online application form. | |
| Change of name / marital status evidence | Change of name / marital status evidence | If you have changed your name or divorced and remarried, provide the relevant legal documents to link your identity. | Provide the divorce certificate/court documents, notarised and translated. | |
| Dependent family member documents | Dependent family member documents | Provide identity, relationship and dependency evidence for accompanying spouse/children. | Family members aged 18 and over may need to complete Form 47A; children provide notarised birth certificates. | |
| Recent passport-style photographs | Recent passport-style photographs | For visa and identity verification. | A white-background passport photo taken within the last 6 months, uploaded to specifications. |
FAQ
What is the difference between the 461 visa and holding the New Zealand 444 visa directly?
Can the 461 visa be renewed? What happens at expiry?
Can 461 lead to permanent residence (PR)?
Must you be in Australia to apply for 461?
What conditions must a de facto relationship meet?
Common Refusal Reasons
- The relevant New Zealand citizen did not hold a valid SCV (444) at application and decision, or has become a citizen/an eligible NZ citizen
- Unable to adequately prove the family relationship with the New Zealand citizen
- Health or character requirements not met
- Missing paper application materials or the wrong postal address
- Incomplete identity/relationship documents
Can you appeal after a refusal? See the Visa Refusal & Review (ART) Guide.