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New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship Temporary Visa Subclass 461 : What this New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship (Temporary) visa lets you do
This visa allows you to:
If you plan to get a new passport, you should do so before applying for your visa. In most cases, you and your family members must have valid passports to be granted this visa.
The visa application charges are listed in Fees and charges.
You might have to pay other costs, such as the costs of health assessments, police certificates, or any other certificates or tests. You are responsible for making the necessary arrangements.
You might be able to get this New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship (Temporary) visa if:
You must be related to the New Zealand citizen as one of the following:
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.
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.
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.
You must have no outstanding debts to the Australian Government or have arranged to repay any outstanding debts to the Australian Government before this New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship (Temporary) visa can be granted.
You might be asked to provide biometrics (a scientific form of identification) as part of the application. Countries and visa subclasses included in the biometrics program has more information.
You can include your child/step-child or your partner’s child/step-child in you visa application at the time of lodgement.
For detailed information regarding who you can include in your application see including family members in your application.
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.
This information explains what you need to do to apply for a New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship (Temporary) visa (subclass 461).
Applying in Australia: You must be in Australia when the application is lodged and the visa is granted.
Applying outside Australia: You must be outside Australia when the visa is granted.
You need to provide documents to prove the claims you make in the application. The documents are listed in the Document checklist.
Some documents could take some time to obtain. You should have them ready when you lodge the application to reduce any delays in processing.
To apply you must complete:
You must provide all relevant documents and pay the visa application charge when you apply.
In Australia:
If you are in Australia, lodge your application by post or courier to the Sydney office in New South Wales – attention NZ Family Relationship Visa Centre.
Outside Australia:
Lodge your application at one of the immigration offices outside Australia, which will tell you how you can pay. There is also information at Method of Payment Accepted at Australian Missions.
Please refer to preparing your application, for information on:
After you have applied
After you have lodged your application and documents, the department of immigration and border protection will acknowledge that the department of immigration and border protection have received your information.
We have visa processing times for each visa.
Your application could take longer if you need character or health checks (including x-rays), if you need to provide more information, or if your application is incomplete.
Outside Australia: If you apply for this New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship (Temporary) visa from outside Australia, do not make arrangements to travel to Australia until you are advised in writing that you have been granted a visa. Wait for a decision from the department of immigration and border protection before you leave your job, sell your home or book your travel.
In Australia: If you apply for this New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship (Temporary) visa in Australia, you could be eligible for a Bridging visa that allows you to stay in the country lawfully while your application is processed. If you are given a Bridging visa A, you can apply for a Bridging visa B (BVB) to travel outside Australia while you wait for a decision.
You can provide more information to us, at any time until a decision is made on the application. If you want to correct information you provided, use:
We could also ask you for more information. You will have to respond by a set date. After that date, the department of immigration and border protection can make a decision about your application using the information that the department of immigration and border protection have.
If another person gives the department of immigration and border protection information that could result in you being refused a visa, they will usually give you the opportunity to comment on the information.
You might also be interviewed. If you are asked to attend an interview in person, bring your passport or other identification and any requested documents to the interview.
You must tell the department of immigration and border protection if your circumstances change. This includes a new residential address, a new passport, or a pregnancy, birth, divorce, separation, marriage, de facto relationship or death in your family.
Please report changes in your circumstances via ImmiAccount. If you are not able to use ImmiAccount, you can use the following forms:
If you do not provide the department of immigration and border protection with the details of any new passport issued to you, you could experience significant delays at the airport and may be denied permission to board your plane.​​
​You can withdraw the application at any time before the department of immigration and border protection make a decision about it. To do this, send them a letter or email to ask for the withdrawal. Your request must include your full name and date of birth. You should also include your file reference number, client ID, or a Transaction Reference Number.
​​​All applicants 18 years of age or older, wishing to withdraw, must sign the request for withdrawal.​​​​​​
If the visa is granted, the department of immigration and border protection will let you know:
If the visa is not granted, the department of immigration and border protection will let you know:
You need to provide documents to support your application for this visa. The department of immigration and border protection can make a decision using the information you provide when you lodge your application. It is in your interest to provide as much information as possible with your application.
Provide certified copies of original documents. Do not include original documents unless the department of immigration and border protection specifically ask for them. Police certificates should be original documents. Documents not in English must be accompanied by accredited English translations.
Use this checklist to make sure your application is complete.
Form 147Application for a New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship (subclass 461) visa (254 kB PDF)
o Form 956 Advice by a migration agent/exempt person of providing immigration assistance (133KB PDF) (the agent or exempt person completes the form and you must sign it).
o Form 956a Appointment or withdrawal of an authorised recipient (116KB PDF) (the recipient completes the form and you must sign it).​
o These photographs should be of the head and shoulders only against a plain background.
o Print the name of the person on the back of each photograph.
o certified copies of official legal documents, such as a court-issued parental responsibility (custody), access or guardianship order
o a statutory declaration from each person with a legal responsibility to you, stating that they have no objection to your migration
o Form 1229Consent to grant an Australian visa to a child under the age of 18 years (125 kB PDF).
If you use Form 1229 or a statutory declaration, you will have to attach a certified copy of the other parent’s government-issued identification document (such as a passport or drivers licence) with their photograph and signature.
o an Australian National Police Check for anyone who has spent a cumulative total of 12 months or more in Australia since turning 16 years of age
o police certificates from each country in which anyone in your application has spent a cumulative total of 12 months or more in the past 10 years since turning 16 years of age.
Provide the original certificates and keep a copy for yourself.
o Form 80 – Personal particulars for assessment including character assessment (373KB PDF).
o certified copies of birth certificates for each person claiming to be a member of the family unit of the New Zealand citizen
o marriage certificates
o death certificates
o adoption certificates
o family status certificates or family books (if these documents are officially issued and maintained).
This visa is valid for up to five years from the date it is granted.
You can apply for another New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship (Temporary) visa (subclass 461) if:
o you hold a subclass 461 visa, or you are not the holder of a substantive visa and the last substantive visa you held was a subclass 461 visa
o you are no longer a member of the family unit of a person in relation to whom you were granted a subclass 461 visa
o you have not become a member of the family unit of any other person
o either you have been in Australia as the holder of a subclass 461 visa for at least two years in the past five years, or you have substantial business, cultural, employment or personal ties with Australia that are of benefit to Australia and you have not been absent from Australia for a continuous period of five years before applying for this New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship (Temporary) visa unless there are compelling reasons for the absence
o you held a subclass 461 visa when you last left Australia
o you are no longer a member of the family unit of the person in relation to whom you were granted a subclass 461 visa
o you have not become a member of the family unit of another person.
This visa allows you to:
You and your family must comply with all visa conditions and Australian laws.
You must tell the department of immigration and border protection if your circumstances change. This includes a new residential address, a new passport, or a pregnancy, birth, divorce, separation, marriage, de facto relationship or death in your family.
Please report changes in your circumstances via ImmiAccount. If you are not able to use ImmiAccount, you can use the following forms:
If you do not provide the department of immigration and border protection with the details of any new passport issued to you, you could experience significant delays at the airport and may be denied permission to board your plane.
Source: The Australian Department of Home Affairs (www.homeaffairs.gov.au). Please visit www.border.gov.au to get updated information.
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