New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship (Temporary) Visa (Subclass 461)
New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship (Temporary) Visa (Subclass 461)
The New Zealand Family Relationship (Temporary) Visa under Subclass 461 is a temporary visa that allows you to stay for up to 5 years in Australia with your New Zealand family member or partner. To be able to apply for this visa, your New Zealand family member or partner must either hold a Subclass 444 visa or be eligible to hold this visa. This visa is for a person who is not a New Zealand citizen but is a member of a family unit of a New Zealand citizen. It lets you live and work in Australia for five years.
Eligibility criteria for a NZ Citizen Family Relationship (Temporary) Visa (Subclass 461)
- You must not be a New Zealand citizen.
- You must have a New Zealand Family Member or Partner hold or be eligible for the subclass 444 visa.
- You must be the partner, child or step child, their partner’s child or stepchild, the dependent child of you or your partner’s child or stepchild of the New Zealand citizen.
- You must have health insurance.
- You must meet all health and character requirements.
- You must sign the Australian values statement.
- You must not have had a previous visa canceled or refused.
Privileges linked with the NZ Citizen Family Relationship (Temporary) Visa (Subclass 461)
- Entitlement to stay in Australia for 5 years.
- Right to work and study in Australia for the stay period.
- Allowed to travel in and out of Australia as many times as you like.
Processing time and cost for the 461 visa
Average processing time
The time period for eligible applications to be processed varies under each stream and although a guaranteed processing time cannot be determined, an average standard time taken to process these applications can be determined. The average processing period the New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship (Temporary) Visa under Subclass 461 comes to 75% in 9 months globally.
The time to successfully process an application may vary depending on each case. External agencies and governmental bodies may take some time to conduct checks and verify the data presented in your application. To avoid any delays that may arise from your side, you must ensure that a complete and fully-checked application is filed on your behalf and any additional requests by the department must be handled promptly.
Average estimated cost
The fees associated with applying for the 4 61 Visa are prescribed by the Department of Home Affairs and are updated from time to time which can be easily checked in the department’s online portal as well. The relevant fees are payable on the lodgment of your visa application depending upon the pathway that you are choosing. The primary application fee of an individual applying for the 461 Visa is from AU$ 420 as of now.
However, these fees are only a general primary fee quoted by the department as of now and changes in the amount are made as per requirement by the department itself. Additional fees are applicable for individuals who are looking to include their spouse or children in their application. The amount of additional fees varies according to the age and relationship of the included individual with the applicant. This is also constantly being updated by the Department of Home Affairs and can easily be checked from their online portal as well.
Steps to apply for the NZ Citizen Family Relationship (Temporary) Visa (Subclass 461)
We have a very straightforward and principled process of visa appeal which ensures you the best results. Our agents and lawyers are always with you throughout the process of your application and they will make sure that your personal application is up-to-date with all the constantly changing policies and figures. You can go through these steps in order to apply for your desired visa type:
- Schedule a free consultation with our team through our portal where we shall go over your case briefly to provide you with the necessary recommendations.
- After your consultation, our agents shall begin the process of preparing for your appeal. We will gather and prepare all of the documentation and perform any additional checks that are necessary to lodge a visa application.
- We will proceed towards preparing an attractive application for your case once all documentation is checked and verified.
- The application will be lodged on your behalf in a timely manner.
If you are an onshore applicant, you will be granted a bridging visa until your current visa expires. This will entitle you to working rights until the outcome of your 461 visa is decided.
- We will then notify you of the result promptly when received.
FAQs regarding the 461 visa
Can I apply for permanent residency with a 461 visa?
Although the 461 visa itself is a temporary visa, visa holders may apply for permanent visa unless you meet the criteria of another type of visa stream, such as a skilled visa and/or employer sponsored visa.
Can I include my family members on my application?
Yes, you may include your child, step-child or your partner’s child or step-child on your application. If granted, your family members will receive the same rights and obligations as you. Like you, these family members will need to provide evidence that they are related to the New Zealand citizen.
Can I extend my 461 visa after it has expired?
Yes, the 461 visa can be renewed for a further five year period after its expiry. You can even renew visa 461 if you are no longer in relationship with your family member when you initially applied for the visa-provided that you are not in a new relationship or a part of a new family unit.
Where do I have to be when applying for my application and when it is granted?
You may be inside or outside of Australia when you apply for a 461 visa. If you are an onshore applicant, you must also be inside Australia when your visa is granted, and if you are an offshore applicant, you must be outside of the country when it is granted.