New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship Visa (Subclass 461)

Last updated on September 6th, 2025

Introduction

The New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship Visa (Subclass 461) is a temporary visa that lets eligible non-New Zealand citizens live in Australia for up to five years as family members of New Zealand citizens holding a Special Category visa (subclass 444).

Whether you are a spouse, de facto partner, dependent child, or another close relative, Subclass 461 allows you to join your New Zealand citizen family members in Australia.

Key Benefits of Subclass 461 Visa

This visa entitles holders to:

Live in Australia for up to five years.
Work in Australia during the visa validity period.
Travel freely to and from Australia with multiple entry rights.
Study at Australian universities and other approved institutions.
Include eligible family members in their application.

Eligibility Requirements for Subclass 461 Visa

Applicants for the New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship Visa (Subclass 461) must satisfy the following eligibility criteria:

Citizenship & Relationship

I) Citizenship

You cannot hold an Australian or New Zealand citizenship for this visa.

II) Relationship with a New Zealand Citizen

You may be eligible for this visa if you meet the requirements under one of the following three categories:

1. Be a member of the family unit of a New Zealand citizen who:

Lives in Australia with Subclass 444 visa.
Will travel with you to Australia and be granted a Subclass 444.

2. Be onshore and meet all of the followings:

A) Hold a Subclass 461 Visa

You currently hold a Subclass 461 visa, or
You do not hold a substantive visa, and the last substantive visa you held was a Subclass 461.

B) No Longer Be a Member of the Previous Family Unit

You must not remain a member of the family unit of the person associated with your previous subclass 461.

C) Not Be a Member of Another Family Unit

You must not become a member of another person’s family unit, even if you continue to live with or remain connected to that person.

3. Be offshore and meet all of the following criteria:

You held a Subclass 461 visa when you last departed Australia.
You are no longer a member of the family unit of the person associated with your earlier Subclass 461 visa.
You must not become a member of another person’s family unit, even if you still live with or remain connected to that person.

If you are offshore, you must also meet one of the followings:

You must have lived in Australia as the holder of a Subclass 461 visa for at least 2 years within the past 5 years immediately before lodging the visa application.
You must demonstrate substantial business, cultural, employment or personal ties with Australia. You must also not be absent from Australia for a continuous 5-year period immediately before lodging the application.

Immigration Status & No Further Stay Condition

Immigration Status

1. Offshore Applicants

Offshore applicants can apply directly for Subclass 461 visa without needing to hold another visa.

2. Onshore Applicants

If you are applying from inside Australia, you must either:

Hold a substantive temporary visa (but not a Subclass 403 visa in the Domestic Worker – Diplomatic or Consular stream), OR
If you do not currently hold a substantive visa, your last substantive visa must not have been that Subclass 403 visa, and you must also satisfy additional “Schedule 3” requirements (for people who are unlawful or only on bridging visas).

No Further Stay Condition

You may not be eligible to apply for this visa if you have a No Further Stay condition unless you can receive a waiver using the No Further Stay waiver request form.

Health and Character Requirements

All applicants must:

Meet health requirements including medical and health examinations.
Meet character requirements, generally assessed through police certificates from countries you have lived in.

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Visa Fee

Base Application Charge: AUD 445
Additional applicant charge 18 and over: AUD 225
Additional applicant charge under 18: AUD 110

Application Processing Time

The application process for this visa generally ranges from 3 to 5 months.

Required Documents

Identity Documents

National Identity Card
Proof of name change including marriage or divorce certificate
Proof of name change issued by the Australian government

Character Documents

Police Certificate
Completed Form 80
Completed Form 1221

If you have lived in New Zealand for 12 months or more over the past 10 years, you must provide a New Zealand police certificate.

Evidence of Relationships to a New Zealand Citizen

Birth certificates for each applicant proving to be a member of the family unit of the New Zealand citizen
Adoption certificates (for dependents under 18)
Birth certificate and passport of a New Zealand citizen holding or eligible for the Subclass 444
Marriage certificate or evidences of de facto relationship with your partner
Evidence of the genuine relationship with your partner
Joint bank account statement
Joint lease agreement

FAQs on Subclass 461

1. Can New Zealand citizens themselves apply for the 461 visa?

No. The 461 visa is strictly for non-New Zealand family members of certain New Zealand citizens. New Zealand citizens are not eligible to apply.

2. Can I apply if my New Zealand partner is not yet in Australia?

Yes. If your partner is offshore but intends to travel with you (or before/shortly after you) and will be granted a Subclass 444 visa upon arrival, you may apply as their family member.

3. Does the visa cover parents or fiancés of New Zealand citizens?

No. The “member of the family unit” definition excludes parents and fiancés. Only partners (spouse/de facto) and dependent children are covered.

4. What happens if my relationship with the New Zealand citizen ends?

If you already hold a Subclass 461, you may still apply for a further 461 visa provided you have not since become a member of another person’s family unit. The reason the relationship ended—such as separation, family violence, or independence—is not relevant.

5. If my New Zealand partner later becomes an Australian citizen, can I still stay on the 461 visa?

No. Once your family head acquires Australian citizenship, you cannot apply for or be granted a further 461 visa on that basis. You may need to consider visa options.

6. Can I reapply for a 461 visa if I have been living overseas for a long time?

Yes, but if you’ve been offshore for more than 5 continuous years, you must show substantial ties to Australia and provide compelling reasons for your long absence.