Five Year Temporary Visa, Paper Application
Subclass 461 NZ Family
Relationship Visa
The subclass 461 is a five year temporary visa for people who are not New Zealand citizens but are the partner or dependent child of a New Zealand citizen living in Australia on a Special Category visa (subclass 444). It grants full work and study rights and unlimited travel, and it can be applied for again before it expires.
Reviewed by Weiwei Zhang, Principal Lawyer Last updated 30 July 2026
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The subclass 461 exists to close a gap in the Trans-Tasman arrangement. A New Zealand citizen arriving in Australia is granted a Special Category visa (subclass 444) automatically, but their non New Zealand family members are not.
The 461 gives those family members a five year visa with full work and study rights and unlimited travel.
The 461 gives those family members a five year visa with full work and study rights and unlimited travel.
You can lodge from inside or outside Australia, there is no sponsorship requirement, and the application charge is a small fraction of a partner visa. It does not lead directly to permanent residency.
Eligibility
Who Is Eligible for the 461 Visa
Short answer
To be eligible for the subclass 461 you must not be a New Zealand citizen, and you must be the spouse, de facto partner or dependent child of a New Zealand citizen who holds a Special Category visa (subclass 444) in Australia or will be granted one on arrival. You must meet the health and character requirements.
To be eligible for the subclass 461 you must not be a New Zealand citizen, and you must be the spouse, de facto partner or dependent child of a New Zealand citizen who holds a Special Category visa (subclass 444) in Australia or will be granted one on arrival. You must meet the health and character requirements.
The Department of Home Affairs sets out the core criteria on its subclass 461 visa listing. If you are applying as a de facto partner you must show you have been living together with the New Zealand citizen. The cohabitation period for the 461 differs from the 12 months required on the partner visa pathways, and relationship registration with an Australian state or territory does not waive it, which is a departure from how partner visas work. Check the requirement against your own dates before lodging.
There is no sponsorship application on the 461. Your New Zealand family member does not lodge a sponsorship form and is not subject to the sponsorship limits that apply to partner visas. What matters is their own status: they must hold, or be eligible to hold, a Special Category visa, and they must not be an eligible New Zealand citizen for migration purposes.
There is no sponsorship application on the 461. Your New Zealand family member does not lodge a sponsorship form and is not subject to the sponsorship limits that apply to partner visas. What matters is their own status: they must hold, or be eligible to hold, a Special Category visa, and they must not be an eligible New Zealand citizen for migration purposes.
Eligibility at a Glance
You are not a New Zealand citizen
You are the spouse, de facto partner or dependent child of a New Zealand citizen
That New Zealand citizen holds a Special Category visa (subclass 444), or will be granted one on arrival
They are not an eligible New Zealand citizen for migration purposes
You can lodge from inside or outside Australia
You meet the health requirement
You meet the character requirement
You have no outstanding debts to the Australian Government
There is no sponsorship application and no sponsorship limit
Subclass 461 or a Partner Visa
Which One Applies to You
The 461 turns on who your partner is, not on where you are. If your partner is a New Zealand citizen on a Special Category visa, the 461 is usually the cheaper and faster option, but it is temporary and does not lead to permanent residency. If your partner is an Australian citizen or permanent resident, or an eligible New Zealand citizen, a partner visa is the pathway to permanent residency.
Subclass 461 compared with the partner visa pathways
Subclass 461
Partner Visa (820 or 309)
Your partner is
A New Zealand citizen on an SCV
An Australian citizen or permanent resident
Leads to permanent residency
No
Yes
Where you can lodge from
Inside or outside Australia
Depends on the subclass
Base application charge
Around AUD $1,330
AUD $11,710
Lodgement method
Paper, Form 147
Online, ImmiAccount
See also Partner Visa (820 Onshore) and Partner Visa (309 Offshore).
Not sure whether the 461 or a partner visa is the better long term option for you?
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No
Visa?
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Fee.
If your standard partner Visa application is refused, we refund our professional fees in full.
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This isn't a gimmick. We only accept matters we believe in. When we take your case on, we are invested in your outcome.
The MML GUARANTEE
Visa Refused? Full Professional fee refund.
Covers standard 820 partner visa applications
Covers standard 309 partner visa applications
Covers Prospective Marriage Visa 300 applications
Professional fees refunded in full if visa refused
Government fees paid to department -- non-refundable
Applies to standard applications
This guarantee applies to straightforward partner visa applications without Schedule 3 issues, character concerns, or health complications. Complex matters are assessed individually. Full terms provided at engagement.
Special Circumstances
What if You Do Not Meet the Standard 461 Requirements
Short answer
Four situations come up most often on the subclass 461: your New Zealand family member has become an eligible New Zealand citizen, your relationship with them has ended, you are now in a relationship with an Australian, and same sex couples. The first changes which visa you should be applying for entirely.
Four situations come up most often on the subclass 461: your New Zealand family member has become an eligible New Zealand citizen, your relationship with them has ended, you are now in a relationship with an Australian, and same sex couples. The first changes which visa you should be applying for entirely.
If Your Partner Is an Eligible New Zealand Citizen
The 461 is only available where the New Zealand citizen is not an eligible New Zealand citizen for migration purposes. If your partner holds protected Special Category visa status, or otherwise meets that definition, you are not eligible for a 461 and should be looking at the Partner Visa (820 Onshore) or the Partner Visa (309 Offshore), which lead to permanent residency. Check your partner status before lodging.
If Your Relationship With the New Zealand Citizen Has Ended
You may still be able to apply for a further subclass 461 after the relationship ends, provided you have maintained residence in Australia, generally at least two years within the last five, you continue to meet health and character requirements, and you are not in a new relationship. This is one of the more useful features of the 461 and it is frequently missed.
If You Are Now in a Relationship With an Australian
If your relationship with the New Zealand citizen has ended and you are now in a relationship with an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen, the partner visa pathways are likely the better option, because they lead to permanent residency and the 461 does not. See Partner Visa (820 Onshore).
Same Sex and LGBTI Couples
Same sex couples are eligible for the subclass 461 on exactly the same basis as any other couple, as married partners or as de facto partners. There is no separate visa and no additional test. Evidence can be harder to assemble where a couple has had reason to keep the relationship private, and that is worth addressing directly in the application. See Partner Visa LGBTI.
Schedule 3, sponsorship limits and family violence matters are assessed differently. Have yours reviewed first.
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What the visa allows
What Can You Do on a 461 Visa
Short answer
Once granted, the subclass 461 allows you to live anywhere in Australia, work without restriction, study, and travel in and out of the country as often as you like, for five years from the date of grant. It does not give you Medicare access, and it does not lead directly to permanent residency.
Once granted, the subclass 461 allows you to live anywhere in Australia, work without restriction, study, and travel in and out of the country as often as you like, for five years from the date of grant. It does not give you Medicare access, and it does not lead directly to permanent residency.
Live Anywhere in Australia for Five Years
Five years from the date of grant, with no location condition.
Work Without Restriction
Full work rights, with the same minimum wage protections as any other worker in Australia.
Study Without Restriction
Government tuition assistance is not available, and some institutions charge international student fees.
Unlimited Travel in and Out of Australia
Multiple entries for the full five years, with no further permission needed.
Include Your Dependent Children
Your children or your partner's children can be included as secondary applicants at lodgement.
Apply Again Before It Expires
The 461 can be applied for again, so long as you still meet the criteria at that time.
No Medicare, and Health Insurance May Be a Condition
Subclass 461 holders are generally not eligible for Medicare unless their country has a reciprocal health care agreement with Australia. Condition 8501 may be attached to the visa, which requires you to maintain adequate health insurance for the whole time you are in Australia. Breaching a visa condition has consequences, so treat cover as mandatory rather than optional and check your grant notice.
How Long It Stays Valid
The 461 runs for five years from grant, not from first entry. Tell the Department if your circumstances change, including your address, your relationship status, or the birth of a child. If you want to stay beyond five years you need to lodge again before it expires, so start three to six months out rather than in the final weeks.
Want to confirm what the 461 allows, and what it will not give you long term?
Cost
How Much Does the 461 Visa Cost
Short answer
The subclass 461 is one of the cheapest family visas Australia offers. The most recently published base application charge is around AUD $1,330 for the main applicant, with a smaller additional charge per accompanying family member. Confirm the current figure before lodging, because charges usually rise on 1 July.
The subclass 461 is one of the cheapest family visas Australia offers. The most recently published base application charge is around AUD $1,330 for the main applicant, with a smaller additional charge per accompanying family member. Confirm the current figure before lodging, because charges usually rise on 1 July.
Main applicant
$
1,330
Most recently published figure. Confirm on the Department pricing table before lodging.
Visa Validity
5
years
From the date of grant, with unlimited travel in and out of Australia.
Sponsorship charge
$
NIL
Reduced charge, because the main charge was paid at the earlier stage.
Subclass 461 cost breakdown
Item
Amount
Base charge, main applicant
Around AUD $1,330
Additional family member
Smaller charge per person
Sponsorship charge
Nil, no sponsorship required
Health insurance for 5 years
Usually the largest real cost
Health examinations
$400 to $600 per adult
Police clearances
$50 to $200 per country
NAATI translation
$30 to $80 per page
Professional fees
Quoted in writing
Because the 461 is a paper application, the charge is paid separately through the My Payments section of ImmiAccount using the Pre-Pay Paper Service, then the receipt goes in with the posted application. The application is invalid if the correct amount is not paid, and the Department does not accept split payments.
Budget separately for health insurance. Since 461 holders are generally not Medicare eligible and condition 8501 may apply, five years of cover is usually the largest real cost of this visa, well above the application charge itself.
The Department applies a 1.4% surcharge to online card payments, which adds approximately $164 to an $11,710 charge.
Department charges are set by the Department of Home Affairs and typically increase on 1 July each year. Use the Department's visa pricing estimator or the current visa pricing table to confirm the exact charge for your circumstances.
Budget separately for health insurance. Since 461 holders are generally not Medicare eligible and condition 8501 may apply, five years of cover is usually the largest real cost of this visa, well above the application charge itself.
The Department applies a 1.4% surcharge to online card payments, which adds approximately $164 to an $11,710 charge.
Department charges are set by the Department of Home Affairs and typically increase on 1 July each year. Use the Department's visa pricing estimator or the current visa pricing table to confirm the exact charge for your circumstances.
Get a written quote for professional fees before you commit to anything.
Processing Time
How Long Does the 461 Visa Take
Short answer
Reported subclass 461 processing has commonly run beyond six months, with longer cases extending considerably further. The Department publishes indicative figures in its processing times guide, and because the 461 is paper based an incomplete application costs far more time than it would online.
Reported subclass 461 processing has commonly run beyond six months, with longer cases extending considerably further. The Department publishes indicative figures in its processing times guide, and because the 461 is paper based an incomplete application costs far more time than it would online.
Subclass 461 timing reference
Measure
Time from lodgement
Commonly reported processing
Beyond 6 months
Longer reported cases
Up to around 2 years
Visa validity once granted
5 years from grant
Processing time is not a queue position. A complete application lodged today can be decided before an older application that is missing documents. The factors that most affect timing are the completeness of your evidence at lodgement, the strength of your relationship evidence, health and character checks, and whether the Department needs to request further information.
Some case officers issue only one request for further information before deciding the application on the material in front of them. That is the practical reason to lodge with your evidence complete rather than intending to supply it later.
The paper process is the difference. There is no online form validating your entries, no upload prompts and no dashboard telling you what is outstanding. An incomplete Form 147, uncertified copies or the wrong charge can add months, and the Department will write to you by post to ask.
If you are in Australia on another visa when you lodge, a bridging visa may be granted to keep you lawful while the 461 is decided. If you are offshore, the 461 must be granted before you can travel on it.
Some case officers issue only one request for further information before deciding the application on the material in front of them. That is the practical reason to lodge with your evidence complete rather than intending to supply it later.
The paper process is the difference. There is no online form validating your entries, no upload prompts and no dashboard telling you what is outstanding. An incomplete Form 147, uncertified copies or the wrong charge can add months, and the Department will write to you by post to ask.
If you are in Australia on another visa when you lodge, a bridging visa may be granted to keep you lawful while the 461 is decided. If you are offshore, the 461 must be granted before you can travel on it.
A complete application at lodgement is the one factor you control. We can check yours before it goes in.
Relationship Evidence
What Evidence Do You Need for the 461 Visa
Short answer
The 461 needs two things documented: that you are a member of the family unit of the New Zealand citizen, and that the New Zealand citizen holds or is eligible for a Special Category visa. Where you apply as a de facto partner, the relationship itself is assessed on much the same footing as a partner visa.
The 461 needs two things documented: that you are a member of the family unit of the New Zealand citizen, and that the New Zealand citizen holds or is eligible for a Special Category visa. Where you apply as a de facto partner, the relationship itself is assessed on much the same footing as a partner visa.
Your Family Relationship
A marriage certificate, or evidence of living together as de facto partners, or birth certificates and custody documents where you are applying as a dependent child. This is the core of the application and it must establish you are a member of the family unit.
Your New Zealand Family Member Status
A copy of their New Zealand passport, evidence of their Special Category visa or their arrival in Australia, and evidence of their residence here. If they are travelling with you rather than already in Australia, evidence of the intended travel.
Social Context
Evidence that others recognise the relationship: photographs across the span of the relationship, joint travel, correspondence addressed to you as a couple, and statutory declarations from people who know you both.
Nature of the Commitment
Evidence of the duration and permanence of the relationship: how long you have been together, joint finances or shared liabilities where they exist, periods apart and how you maintained the relationship, and your own written statements about how it developed.
Documents Commonly Required
Completed and signed Form 147, and Form 80 where required
Certified copies of your passport and identity documents
Two recent passport-sized photographs of each person in the application
Certified copy of the New Zealand citizen passport
Evidence of their Special Category visa, arrival in Australia or intended travel
Marriage certificate, or evidence of living together as de facto partners
Birth certificates and custody documents where a child is included
Police certificates where required for character
Health examination results, which can be completed through ImmiAccount before lodgement
Evidence of health insurance arrangements
Receipt for the visa application charge, paid through ImmiAccount Pre-Pay Paper Service
Have your Form 147 and supporting documents checked before you post them.
Refusals
Why Are 461 Visa Applications Refused
Short answer
Most subclass 461 problems are procedural rather than substantive. An invalid application because the charge was wrong or Form 147 was incomplete, insufficient evidence of the family relationship, or a New Zealand family member who does not actually meet the Special Category visa requirement are the recurring causes.
Most subclass 461 problems are procedural rather than substantive. An invalid application because the charge was wrong or Form 147 was incomplete, insufficient evidence of the family relationship, or a New Zealand family member who does not actually meet the Special Category visa requirement are the recurring causes.
Common Refusal Grounds
The application was invalid because the correct charge was not paid
Form 147 incomplete, unsigned, or missing required attachments
Uncertified copies where certified copies were required
Insufficient evidence that you are a member of the family unit
The New Zealand citizen does not hold, or is not eligible for, a Special Category visa
The New Zealand citizen is an eligible New Zealand citizen, which puts the applicant outside the 461
De facto cohabitation not established for the required period
Health or character requirements not met
Outstanding debts to the Australian Government not repaid or arranged
A posted request for further information answered late or answered incompletely
If Your 461 Has Been Refused
Review rights to the Administrative Review Tribunal generally apply, and strict time limits run from the date you are taken to have received the decision. Those limits cannot be extended, and because the 461 process runs by post, allow for the time a decision takes to reach you.
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The Process
How to Apply for the 461 Visa
Short answer
The subclass 461 cannot be lodged online. You complete paper Form 147, pay the charge separately through ImmiAccount, attach certified copies of your documents, and post the application to the Department. You can lodge from inside or outside Australia. There is no sponsorship form.
The subclass 461 cannot be lodged online. You complete paper Form 147, pay the charge separately through ImmiAccount, attach certified copies of your documents, and post the application to the Department. You can lodge from inside or outside Australia. There is no sponsorship form.
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4
5
6
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01
Confirm Your NZ Family Member Qualifies
Check they hold or are eligible for a Special Category visa (subclass 444) and are not an eligible New Zealand citizen for migration purposes.
02
Download and Complete Form 147
The application form for the subclass 461. Complete every field and sign it. Form 80 is usually required as well.
03
Assemble Certified Copies
Your passport and identity documents, their New Zealand passport, evidence of their status in Australia, and your relationship evidence.
04
Add Photographs
Two recent passport-sized photographs, 45mm by 35mm, of each person included in the application.
05
Complete Health Examinations
These can be arranged through ImmiAccount before you lodge, which saves time later.
06
Pay the Charge Through ImmiAccount
Use My Payments, then Manage Payments, then Pre-Pay Paper Service. Keep the receipt. Do not write card details on the form.
07
Post the Application
Send the completed form, receipt and certified copies to the address in the Form 147 instructions. Use tracked post.
08
Arrange Health Insurance
Condition 8501 may be attached to the visa. Have cover in place, because 461 holders are generally not Medicare eligible.
Form 147 is available at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au. There is no physical visa label. Once granted, the subclass 461 is recorded digitally against your passport and confirmed by a grant notice, which states the expiry date and any conditions.
Have your Form 147 and documents reviewed before you post them.
Renewal
Can You Renew a 461 Visa
Short answer
Yes. There is no formal renewal, but you can apply for another subclass 461 before your current one expires, and there is no limit on how many times. You must still meet the criteria at the time you apply, including health, character and your relationship to the New Zealand citizen.
Because processing has commonly run beyond six months, lodge the next application three to six months before the current visa expires. Leaving it to the final weeks risks a gap in your status, and a gap can affect your work rights and your ability to remain lawfully in Australia.
A further 461 may still be available if your relationship with the New Zealand citizen has ended. The usual requirements are that you have maintained residence in Australia, generally at least two years within the last five, that you continue to meet health and character requirements, and that you are not in a new relationship.
If you are in a new relationship with an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen, the partner visa pathways are usually the better option, because they lead to permanent residency. See Partner Visa (820 Onshore).
Yes. There is no formal renewal, but you can apply for another subclass 461 before your current one expires, and there is no limit on how many times. You must still meet the criteria at the time you apply, including health, character and your relationship to the New Zealand citizen.
Because processing has commonly run beyond six months, lodge the next application three to six months before the current visa expires. Leaving it to the final weeks risks a gap in your status, and a gap can affect your work rights and your ability to remain lawfully in Australia.
A further 461 may still be available if your relationship with the New Zealand citizen has ended. The usual requirements are that you have maintained residence in Australia, generally at least two years within the last five, that you continue to meet health and character requirements, and that you are not in a new relationship.
If you are in a new relationship with an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen, the partner visa pathways are usually the better option, because they lead to permanent residency. See Partner Visa (820 Onshore).
Visa expiring in the next six months, or relationship circumstances changed? Get the timing right.
After the Grant
Does the 461 Lead to Permanent Residency
Short answer
No. The subclass 461 is temporary only and there is no permanent stage attached to it. You can hold it and apply for it again indefinitely, but permanent residency requires qualifying for a separate visa in your own right. Plan that pathway early rather than in the final year.
This is the single most important thing to understand about the 461. Five years feels like a long runway, and people use it as one, but it ends. The routes to permanent residency usually run through skilled migration, employer sponsorship, or a partner visa if your circumstances change. Each has its own timing, and skilled and employer sponsored pathways in particular need years of preparation rather than months. If your New Zealand family member later becomes eligible for permanent residency or citizenship themselves, that can also change your options.
No. The subclass 461 is temporary only and there is no permanent stage attached to it. You can hold it and apply for it again indefinitely, but permanent residency requires qualifying for a separate visa in your own right. Plan that pathway early rather than in the final year.
This is the single most important thing to understand about the 461. Five years feels like a long runway, and people use it as one, but it ends. The routes to permanent residency usually run through skilled migration, employer sponsorship, or a partner visa if your circumstances change. Each has its own timing, and skilled and employer sponsored pathways in particular need years of preparation rather than months. If your New Zealand family member later becomes eligible for permanent residency or citizenship themselves, that can also change your options.
The 461 does not lead to permanent residency. We can map the pathways that do.
Questions
Subclass 461 Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the questions Indonesians applicants ask most often. See also our 30 protection visa FAQs and 30 LGBT protection visa FAQs.
Can I Apply for the 461 Visa From Inside Australia
Yes. Unlike the partner visas, the subclass 461 can be lodged from inside or outside Australia. If you are here on another visa when you lodge, a bridging visa may be granted to keep you lawful while it is decided.
Can I Apply for the 461 Online
No. The subclass 461 is a paper application. You complete Form 147, pay the charge through the Pre-Pay Paper Service in ImmiAccount, and post the application with certified copies of your documents.
How Long Is the 461 Visa Valid For
Five years from the date of grant, not from your first entry to Australia. You can travel in and out of Australia as often as you like during that period.
Can I Work on a 461 Visa
Yes. The subclass 461 carries full work rights with no restrictions on employer or hours, and full study rights, for the whole five years.
Am I Eligible for Medicare on a 461 Visa
Generally no, unless your country has a reciprocal health care agreement with Australia. Condition 8501 may be attached to your visa, requiring you to maintain adequate health insurance for the whole time you are here.
Does My Partner Have to Sponsor Me
No. There is no sponsorship application on the subclass 461 and no sponsorship charge. Your New Zealand family member does not lodge a form, and the partner visa sponsorship limits do not apply.
Does the 461 Lead to Permanent Residency
No. The subclass 461 is temporary only and has no permanent stage. Permanent residency requires qualifying for a separate visa, usually through skilled migration, employer sponsorship, or a partner visa if your circumstances change.
Can I Get Another 461 When Mine Expires
Yes. There is no limit on how many times you can apply, provided you still meet the criteria. Lodge three to six months before expiry, because processing has commonly run beyond six months.
What Happens if My Relationship With the NZ Citizen Ends
You may still be eligible for a further subclass 461, provided you have maintained residence in Australia, generally at least two years within the last five, you meet health and character requirements, and you are not in a new relationship.
Can I Include My Children in My 461 Application
Yes. Your children or stepchildren, or your partner's children or stepchildren, can be included as secondary applicants at lodgement. Each must be a member of the family unit and meet health and character requirements.
About the Reviewer
Who Reviewed This Page
Weiwei Zhang is an Australian lawyer practising exclusively in Australian migration law and is the Principal Lawyer at My Migration Lawyers. She reviews the firm's published legal guidance for accuracy.
Weiwei Zhang
Managing Director and Principal Lawyer, My Migration Lawyers
Weiwei Zhang
Principal Lawyer
Weiwei Zhang is an Australian lawyer practising exclusively in Australian migration law and is the Principal Lawyer at My Migration Lawyers. She reviews the firm's published legal guidance for accuracy.
Last Reviewed
16 September 2026
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