IMPORTANT UPDATE: Direct pathway to Australian Citizenship for New Zealanders
Features
This visa allows a non-New Zealand family member of a New Zealand citizen to live and work in Australia for up to five years.
Eligibility
You must:
- not be a New Zealand citizen
- be an eligible family member of a New Zealand citizen
- be an eligible family member of someone living in Australia on a Special Category visa (subclass 444) or be travelling to Australia with a family member who will be granted a Special Category visa (subclass 444) on arrival.
Length of stay
Five years
Cost
From AUD 1,330
Related: Changes ahead for New Zealand 189 visa (reduced financial criteria for PR)
Who could get this visa
You might be able to get this visa if:
- you are not a New Zealand citizen
- you are a member of the family unit of a New Zealand citizen
- your New Zealand citizen family member is not an Eligible New Zealand Citizen
- your New Zealand citizen family member is living in Australia on a Special Category visa (subclass 444) or will be travelling with you to Australia and will be granted a Special Category visa (subclass 444) on arrival.
You must be related to the New Zealand citizen as one of the following:
- their partner
- their child/step-child or their partner’s child/step-child
- the dependent child of you or your partner’s child/step-child.
Health
You must meet certain health requirements. The health examinations you need will depend on your personal circumstances, including your period of stay, country of citizenship, time spent in another country during the last five years and your intended activities in Australia. The results of your health examinations are generally valid for 12 months.
This applies to you and any members of your family unit included in your application.
You are able to organise your health examinations upfront before lodging a visa application.
Health Insurance
You are responsible for all your health costs while you are in Australia. You will not be covered by Australia’s national health scheme (Medicare) unless your country has a reciprocal health care agreement with Australia.
You might have to hold private health insurance with an Australian fund for the duration of your visa. Your case officer will advise you if you must do this.
Character
You must meet certain character requirements. You will need to provide a police certificate from each country you have lived in for 12 months or more during the past 10 years after you turned 16 years of age.
This also applies to all members of your family unit included in your application who are 16 years of age or older.
Debts
You must have no outstanding debts to the Australian Government or have arranged to repay any outstanding debts to the Australian Government before this visa can be granted.
About this visa
The New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship (Temporary) visa (subclass 461) allows someone who is not a New Zealand citizen to live in Australia with a family member who:
- is a New Zealand citizen, but not an Eligible New Zealand Citizen
- and either
- holds a Special Category visa (subclass 444) and is living in Australia, or
- is eligible to hold a Special Category visa (subclass 444) and is accompanying you to Australia.
What this visa lets you do
This visa allows you to:
- work and study in Australia
- travel to, enter and remain in Australia for five years from the date the visa is granted.
Cost
From AUD1,330
-
- You might have to pay additional costs for:
- additional applicant 18 and over ($675)
- additional applicant under 18 ($325)
Other costs
You could have to pay other costs, such as the costs of health assessments and police certificates, or any other certificates or tests. You are responsible for making the necessary arrangements.
Use the Visa pricing estimator to estimate the cost of your application.
Location
Applying in Australia:
Changes to legislation on 1 July 2022 allow the subclass 461 visa to be granted regardless of your location. Please ensure your details are correct and up to date with the Department.
Previously you had to be in Australia when the application is lodged and the visa is granted.
Applying outside Australia
Changes to legislation on 1 July 2022 allow the subclass 461 visa to be granted regardless of your location. Please ensure your details are correct and up to date with the Department.
Previously you had to be outside Australia when the visa is granted.
How long the visa lasts
This visa is valid for up to five years from the date it is granted.
Extend your stay
You can apply for another New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship (Temporary) visa (subclass 461).
Family
You can include your child/step-child or your partner’s child/step-child in you visa application at the time of lodgement.
These family members will need to provide evidence that they are members of the family unit of the New Zealand citizen. They must also be able to meet Australia’s health and character requirements.
Your obligations
You and your family must comply with all visa conditions and Australian laws.
Who Is a Member of the Family Unit?
The 461 visa is not open to every relative of a New Zealand citizen. You must be part of the New Zealand citizen’s family unit, which means you are one of the following:
- the New Zealand citizen’s spouse or de facto partner
- a child, stepchild or adopted child of the New Zealand citizen or their partner who is under 18
- such a child who is aged 18 to 22 and dependent on the New Zealand citizen or their partner for their basic needs
- such a child who is 23 or older and dependent because of a total or partial loss of physical or mental function
- a dependent child of one of these children
Parents, brothers and sisters of the New Zealand citizen are not members of the family unit for this visa and need to consider other visa options.
Partners: proving the relationship
If you are applying as a partner, you need to show that the relationship is genuine and continuing. Useful evidence includes your marriage certificate (if married), a shared address, joint bank accounts and bills, photos and travel together, and statements about your relationship. You must also declare any periods when you have lived apart.
Who does the New Zealand citizen need to be?
The New Zealand citizen must hold, or be eligible for, a Special Category visa (subclass 444). They must not be an Australian citizen and must not be an “eligible New Zealand citizen”. Eligible New Zealand citizens are mainly those linked to living in Australia before 26 February 2001, and they can sponsor family members for permanent visas instead. If you are unsure which category your partner or parent falls into, a VEVO check or advice from us can help.
461 Visa Cost: Worked Example
The 461 visa is one combined application for the whole family. From 1 July 2026 the government charges are:
| Applicant | Charge |
| Main applicant | $1,330 |
| Each additional applicant aged 18 or over | $675 |
| Each additional applicant under 18 | $325 |
For example, a non New Zealander partner applying with two children aged 8 and 12 who are not New Zealand citizens would pay $1,330 + $325 + $325 = $1,980 in government charges. Health examinations, police certificates and translations are extra. Fees are usually indexed on 1 July each year, so check our fee increases page before you lodge.
How to Apply for the 461 Visa: Step by Step
- Check eligibility. Confirm the New Zealand citizen’s status and that each applicant is a member of their family unit.
- Include everyone at the start. List all members of your family unit on the application, including those who are not coming to Australia. Family members generally cannot be added once the application has been lodged.
- Collect documents. See the checklist below.
- Pay the visa application charge online. The charge is paid in advance through ImmiAccount and the printed receipt goes with your application. An application without the correct charge is not valid.
- Lodge the paper application. The 461 is lodged by post using the paper application form. Do not send original documents unless asked.
- Bridging visa. If you apply in Australia, the same form is also treated as an application for a bridging visa. Contact Home Affairs before travelling overseas while your application is being processed.
- Respond to requests. Complete health examinations and provide any further information Home Affairs asks for.
Document Checklist
- passport bio page for each applicant and two passport photos for each person
- evidence that the New Zealand citizen holds or is eligible for a Special Category visa, such as their New Zealand passport
- marriage certificate or evidence of your de facto relationship
- birth certificates for children showing both parents, and adoption papers where relevant
- divorce, separation or death documents for previous relationships, where relevant
- evidence of dependence for children aged 18 or older
- consent from anyone else with legal custody rights, or a court order, for children under 18
- character information for applicants aged 16 or over, and police certificates where required
- evidence of any change of name
Documents not in English must be translated by an accredited translator.
Visa Conditions
The 461 has no work or study restrictions. It may include the following conditions:
- 8303: you must not become involved in activities that are disruptive to, or threaten violence against, the Australian community.
- 8501: you must hold adequate health insurance while you are in Australia. The insurance does not have to be with an Australian insurer.
Check your grant letter or VEVO to see which conditions apply to you.
461 Visa vs Partner Visa
| 461 visa | Partner visa (820/801 or 309/100) | |
| Who sponsors | No sponsorship, but the New Zealand citizen must hold or be eligible for a 444 visa | An Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen |
| Visa type | Temporary, up to 5 years at a time | Temporary stage, then permanent residence |
| Main applicant charge from 1 July 2026 | $1,330 | $11,710 |
The 461 is a lower cost way for the family to live in Australia, but it does not lead to permanent residence on its own. See our Partner visa guide and Partner visa fees.
Pathways to Permanent Residence for 461 Holders
Many families use the 461 while they work towards a permanent outcome. Common pathways include:
- Your New Zealand partner becomes an Australian citizen. Since 1 July 2023, Special Category visa holders can apply directly for Australian citizenship once they meet the residence and other requirements, without first becoming permanent residents. Read about the direct pathway to citizenship for New Zealanders. As an Australian citizen, your partner can then sponsor you for a Partner visa.
- Your own skilled or employer sponsored visa. Because the 461 has no work restrictions, you may be able to build the work experience needed for a skilled or employer sponsored visa in your own right.
- Children’s visas. Once the New Zealand parent is an Australian citizen or permanent resident, dependent children may be able to apply for a Child visa.
Note that once the New Zealand citizen becomes an Australian citizen, no new 461 application can be made based on that relationship. Plan the timing of your next visa before the 461 expires.
Children born in Australia
A child born in Australia on or after 1 July 2022 to a parent who holds a Special Category visa may be an Australian citizen by birth. In that case the child does not need a 461 visa. You can apply for evidence of the child’s Australian citizenship.
Applying for Another 461 Visa
You can apply for a further 461 visa before your current one expires, as long as you still meet the criteria. If your relationship with the New Zealand citizen has ended, you may still be able to apply for a further 461 in some cases, provided you have not joined another person’s family unit. Read our guide to the 461 visa and relationship breakdown.
Timing matters. Apply before your current 461 expires. If you are in Australia and your last substantive visa has already ceased, strict time limits apply: after more than 12 months you will generally not qualify, and within 12 months you will need to show circumstances beyond your control. If you are applying from outside Australia after the relationship has ended, you will need to show substantial personal, work, business or cultural ties to Australia.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Assuming the 461 leads to permanent residence. It is a temporary visa.
- Leaving a child out of the application and trying to add them later.
- Letting the 461 expire without applying for a further visa in time.
- Not holding adequate health insurance when condition 8501 applies.
- Applying for a 461 when the New Zealand citizen is an eligible New Zealand citizen or an Australian citizen, in which case a Partner or Child visa is usually the right option.
- Underpaying the charge or sending the form without the payment receipt.
461 Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Does my New Zealand partner need to sponsor me?
No. There is no formal sponsorship. You do need to show that you are a member of their family unit and that they hold, or are eligible for, a Special Category visa.
Does time outside Australia extend my 461?
No. The visa runs for up to five years from the date of grant, regardless of how much time you spend overseas.
Can my parents come on a 461?
No. Parents of the New Zealand citizen are not members of the family unit for this visa. They may be able to visit on a Visitor visa (subclass 600).
Can I get Medicare on a 461?
Generally not, unless you are from a country with a reciprocal health care agreement with Australia. Most 461 holders arrange private health insurance.
How can VisaEnvoy help?
We can confirm whether you are eligible, prepare your application, and map out the best path to permanent residence for your family. Book a consultation to get started.
