Australia New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship Subclass 461

To be eligible for this visa, you must

• not be a New Zealand citizen
• be one of the Members of the family unit of a New Zealand citizen or their partner
• make sure if the New Zealand citizen is in Australia that they are on a Special Category visa (subclass 444)(they check in VEVO) or they will travel with you to Australia and will be the holder of a Special Category visa (subclass 444) on arrival (check eligibility).
• make sure your New Zealand citizen family member is not an Eligible New Zealand citizen
• meet certain eligibility criteria if you are no longer one of the Members of the family unit of a New Zealand citizen

Step 1 – Before you apply

Check your passport. If you need help with your application, get someone to act on your behalf. You might need to organise health examinations.

Step 2 – Apply for the visa

Arrange your documents carefully before you plan to lodge your visa application. You can’t apply for this visa online through the ImmiAccount.  You must apply on paper.

Submit a valid application before any existing visa expires.

1. Pay the application charge. See how to pay.
2. CompleteForm 147 Application for a New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship visa (subclass 461) (465KB PDF).
3. Attach:

• the payment receipt (we will not process your application until we see this)
• copies of identity and travel documents for all applicants and your New Zealand citizen family member
• copies of all other relevant supporting documents
• If your passport has expired, provide details and a copy of this passport and evidence that you have applied for a new passport.

4. Post or courier your application:

Applying in Australia:

Postal address
New Zealand Family Relationship visa office
GPO Box 9984
SYDNEY NSW 2001

Ensure you pay the correct postage amount.

Courier address
New Zealand Family Relationship visa office
26 Lee St
SYDNEY NSW 2000

You can’t submit this application in person. 

Step 3 – After you apply

Department of Home Affairs (DHA) will let you know when the visa officer has received your application and documents.

Step 4 – Visa outcome

You and your New Zealand family member must be outside Australia at the time of visa grant.

You must provide documents proving your identity and connection to a New Zealand citizen, along with documents about family members lodging visa application with you.

If your current visa is expiring soon, you can lodge a valid 461 visa application by submitting the application form and the identity documents for all applicants and the New Zealand family member.

You visa application must include following documents:

• Identity documents
• Evidence of relationship to a New Zealand citizen: You must be the partner of a New Zealand citizen, or the child or stepchild of a New Zealand citizen or their partner.
• Evidence of your relationship to a New Zealand citizen can include:
• birth certificates for each person claiming to be a member of the family unit of the New Zealand citizen
• marriage certificates
• death certificates
• adoption certificates
• family status certificates or family books (if these documents are officially issued and maintained)
• a family tree or diagram of your relationship to the New Zealand citizen

You must be able to provide additional documents as per the requirements set by Department of Home Affairs.

From AUD 370