NZ Citizen Family Relationship Visa (Subclass 461)
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Overview
The Subclass 461 Visa in Australia is designed for individuals who are not New Zealand citizens but have family connections with a citizen of the country. This visa grants the holder the ability to reside and work in Australia for a span of 5 years. With this visa, you can not only live in Australia for this duration but also pursue your studies. Moreover, during the validity of the visa, you can freely travel to your home country as many times as you wish.
If you are in a relationship with a New Zealand citizen, you might qualify for a temporary visa lasting five years. This visa allows you to reside in Australia alongside your New Zealand citizen family member who currently holds or is eligible for a Special Category (subclass 444) visa.
Moreover, this visa category is open to other family members who meet the eligibility criteria set for New Zealand citizens. The Special Category (subclass 444) visa enables New Zealand citizens who arrived in Australia after February 26, 2001, to live and work in Australia without time limitations.
Those New Zealand citizens who were already residing in Australia on February 26, 2001, or had spent a minimum of one year in Australia within the two years preceding that date are termed as ‘Eligible New Zealand Citizens.’
Eligible New Zealand citizens possess the same rights and privileges as Australian citizens. If you are an ‘Eligible New Zealand Citizen’ and you wish to have your partner accompany you in Australia, you should explore the available Partner visa options.
For those partners of New Zealand citizens who don’t currently hold an Australian visa, or whose Australian visa is nearing expiration, this visa alternative serves as an effective avenue to remain in Australia with your family member.
The visa is initially granted for five years, and it can be extended while residing in Australia.
NZ CITIZEN FAMILY RELATIONSHIP Visa Requirements:
The Subclass 461 Visa has specific requirements that must be met for the successful granting of the visa. Any omission of these criteria could lead to the denial of the Visa 461 application. To prevent this, it’s important to adhere to the Visa Subclass 461 requirements outlined below:
You should be a qualified family member of a New Zealand citizen who resides in Australia under a Special Category visa (subclass 444), or you are traveling to Australia with a family member who will be given a Special Category visa (subclass 444) upon their arrival.
Eligible family members encompass partners, children/step-children, or the partners’ children/step-children. Additionally, dependent children of either you or your partner’s children/step-children are also considered eligible family members.
- The visa should not be revoked or withdrawn during the stay in the country.
- There should be no outstanding debts owed to the Australian government.
- When applying, the applicant must sign documents affirming their commitment to abide by the country’s laws and regulations.
- The applicant and any accompanying family members should meet the character and health criteria set by the Australian government.
- The responsibility of health expenses lies with the applicant in case of any health issues.
- The relationship with the New Zealand citizen family member needs to be in accordance with the stipulated terms.
Subclass 461 Visa Eligibility Criteria:
The Visa Subclass 461 has specific requirements that must be met when considering an application for this visa. Failure to meet these requirements could result in the visa application being rejected or dismissed. The Eligibility criteria for Subclass 461 are outlined below:
- Relationship with a New Zealand Citizen: To be eligible for this visa, you must not be a citizen of New Zealand. Additionally, you should be a family member of a New Zealand citizen residing in Australia under a special category visa, or your family member is traveling with you to Australia and will be granted a special category visa upon arrival.
- Visa Holder: If you are applying for the visa while outside the country, you can do so without holding any other visa. However, if you are applying from within the country, you need to have a valid substantive visa.
- Character and Health Requirements: Both you and any accompanying family members must meet the character and health requirements as set by the Australian government.
- Health Expenses: You are responsible for your own healthcare costs while living in the country. Once your visa is approved, you can access various healthcare schemes to help reduce your financial burden.
- Document Obligations: You must sign documents indicating your commitment to abide by the laws and regulations of the country.
- No Outstanding Debts: Any outstanding debts owed to the Australian government must be repaid before applying for the visa. No outstanding debts should be registered under your name during the application process.
- Visa Status: Your current visa status should not be under dismissal or withdrawal while residing in the country.
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The Subclass 461 Visa offers the opportunity to live in the country for a duration of 5 years starting from the date of visa approval. This visa allows holders to freely travel to their home country as frequently as desired. Furthermore, it’s possible to include family members who wish to visit Australia. If you wish to extend your stay beyond the initial period, you have the option to apply for the visa again.
Creating a checklist for the New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship Visa 461 does not follow a specific structure. The checklist depends on several factors outlined below:
- Review your passport and assess whether you require any assistance, including undergoing a health examination.
- Gather essential documents, including proof of relationship with the New Zealand citizen, identity card, and other necessary paperwork.
- If your current visa is close to expiration and you are applying for Visa Subclass 461, complete the application form.
- Choose your preferred application method—online or offline.
- For online applications, log in to the department’s website and provide the required details in the application form.
- For offline applications, download the form, complete all necessary fields, and submit it.
- After submitting the application, await confirmation indicating receipt and commencement of processing. This communication may also request additional information if needed.
- Remain in the location from which you applied for the visa and avoid relocating during processing.
- Upon approval, you will receive a letter detailing your visa’s duration, grant number, and related information.
- In case of rejection, you will also receive a letter outlining the reasons for denial.
Estimating the processing time for Subclass 461 can be challenging, as it is influenced by various factors, including accurate completion of the application form and provision of necessary details. The following table offers an approximate overview of the Visa 461 processing time:
| Name of the Visa | Processing Time | |
| New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship Visa 461 | 75% Applications | 90% Applications |
| 30 Months | 43 Months | |
More Visas
You might also be interested in these Visas
Prospective Marriage Visa (Subclass 300)
Partner Visa (Subclass 820 & 801) - onshore
Partner Visa (Subclass 309 & 100) – Offshore
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