The New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship (Temporary) visa (subclass 461) is a temporary pathway for family members of a New Zealand citizen — or a Special Category visa (subclass 444) holder — who want to live in Australia alongside them.
Importantly, this visa is aimed at people who are not themselves New Zealand citizens but who have an eligible family relationship with one.
You may be eligible if you're a member of the family unit of an eligible New Zealand citizen, including as their:
For de facto relationships, the Department generally expects around 12 months of cohabitation before applying, unless the relationship is registered with an Australian state or territory. You must not yourself hold New Zealand citizenship to apply under this pathway.
The subclass 461 is generally granted for a five-year period, during which you can:
It's worth being clear-eyed that this is a temporary visa — it doesn't itself lead to permanent residence, though it can be renewed if you continue to meet the requirements.
You'll need to provide identity documents and clear evidence of your family relationship with the New Zealand citizen — relationship history, cohabitation evidence for de facto relationships, and any other documentation relevant to your specific family connection. Non-English documents need to be translated, and this visa is generally lodged as a paper application rather than online, with certified copies required for supporting documents.
Processing for this visa can take a considerable amount of time — often well over a year — so it's worth applying with plenty of buffer before your current visa expires.
If the relationship with the New Zealand citizen changes or ends, this can affect your ongoing eligibility, but it doesn't automatically prevent you from ever applying again or necessarily end your current visa depending on timing and circumstances. If your relationship has broken down, it's worth getting advice on your specific situation before deciding how to proceed.
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The information on this page is provided for general information purposes only and does not constitute migration advice for your individual circumstances.
Visa requirements, processing arrangements and Departmental policy can change. Meeting the general requirements described above does not guarantee that a visa application will be approved.
Professional advice should be obtained based on your individual circumstances before lodging an application.
