461 Visa New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship
Visa overview
The New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship Visa Subclass 461 is a temporary visa that allows an applicant to live, work and study in Australia for up to five years. This visa is for people who are in a relationship with a New Zealand Citizen who either holds or are eligible to hold a Special Category Subclass 444 Visa.
Benefits
The 461 visa holders can:
Applicants can stay in Australia for 5 years
Applicants can work in Australia
Applicants can study in Australia
Applicants can travel to and from Australia regardless of how many times as long as the visa is valid
Eligibility
You must:
Not be a New Zealand Citizen
Be an eligible family member (married to, in a long-term de facto relationship with, a dependent child of, a dependent grandchild of a dependent relative) of a New Zealand Citizen
Have a New Zealand Citizen family member who is living in Australia on a Special Category Visa (Subclass 444) or will be travelling with the applicant to Australia and will be granted a Subclass 444 Visa on arrival
Be living with their New Zealand Family member while in Australia
Meet the character and health requirements set by the Australian Department of Immigration
Supply evidence of a relationship with their New Zealand Citizen who holds a Special Category Visa (Subclass 444) or will be travelling with the applicant to Australia and will be granted a Subclass 444 Visa on arrival
Process
Step 1: Before you apply
Applicant/s must prepare their passports. If the applicant/s is/are still planning to get their passports, it must be sorted first before applying
Step 2: Gather your documents
Prepare the documents/proof of the applicant’s identity and relationship to a New Zealand citizen. If there are other family members applying, their documents must be prepared as well
Step 3: Apply for the visa
Apply by paper since applying online is not an option, and must follow Department’s guidance
Step 4: Visa Outcome
If the applicant applied onshore and wants to travel outside Australia while waiting for the visa grant, Department needs to be informed because they can't grant the visa if the applicant is still offshore during the visa grant. (Applicant needs to also have a valid visa upon return to Australia)
The applicant will be informed by writing the visa application result. If the application has been refused, information such as the reason why it was refused and if there’s a chance for a review of the decision will be included in the letter
Processing Time:
75% of applications: 28 months
90% of applications: 31 months
Our Services
We are well-known to have an extremely high success rate when it comes to partner visa applications by providing these services:
Upon signing up, we will be with you every step of the way by sending you the instructions and providing sample documents
Guiding you in gathering evidence and reviewing your documents needed to prove the 4 aspects – social, financial, nature of household and nature of commitment
We will also prepare a legal submission detailing the nature of your relationship and how you would meet the legal requirements for the visa application
We will make sure that the lodgment of the visa will not have any issues and liaise with the department of immigration for any of their request until the visa grant
We can also extend our assistance with complex issues such as visa refusals and AAT appeals etc.
Costs
Departmental Application Fee (Main Applicant) $370
Departmental Application Fee (Additional Applicant 18 years and over) $190
Departmental Application Fee (Additional Applicant under 18 years old) $90
Other relevant information
Accreditation
Words from our clients
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Expert lawyers, just a click away.
Let us solve your migration problems. We provide:
Trusted legal advice with peace of mind for your migration journey
Prepare, lodge and liaise with the Department on behalf of you and your family
Project-manage the application until the visa is granted and bring you to Australia