Subclass 444 · New Zealand citizens
Special Category Visa (Subclass 444) for New Zealand Citizens
New Zealand citizens can visit, study, stay and work in Australia on a Special Category visa, usually granted on arrival when you present your New Zealand passport. Free.
About the Special Category Visa (Subclass 444)
The Special Category visa (SCV) lets New Zealand citizens visit, study, stay and work in Australia. It is usually applied for each time you arrive, by presenting a valid New Zealand passport, and lasts until you leave Australia unless it ends for another reason.
For citizenship purposes, many SCV holders are treated as permanent residents. Read our guide to Australian citizenship for the special rules for New Zealanders.
With this visa you can
- Visit, study, stay and work in Australia
- Stay for as long as you remain in Australia
You must
- Hold a valid New Zealand passport
- Not be assessed as a behaviour concern or health concern non-citizen
- Not hold a visa with a "no further stay" condition
Based on Department of Home Affairs information (October 2026). Costs shown are the starting visa application charge for the main applicant. Always confirm current details on the Department of Home Affairs website or ask our team. This page is general information, not migration advice.
Special Category Visa (Subclass 444): Full Details
Everything about this visa, from eligibility to what happens after grant.
About this visa
Key facts from Home Affairs, in plain English.
Free.
From grant until you leave Australia, unless it ends earlier, for example if you are granted a permanent visa, become a citizen or the visa is cancelled. Apply again each time you enter.
Eligibility
What you need.
You must present a valid New Zealand passport.
You may be refused if assessed as a behaviour concern non-citizen (for example, with certain criminal convictions) or a health concern non-citizen.
You cannot apply while holding a visa with a no further stay condition.
Step by step
How it works.
Arrive in Australia
Present your New Zealand passport and complete your Incoming Passenger Card.
Not sure this is the right visa for you? Contact Outlook Immigration and our registered migration agent will confirm the best pathway.
Visa granted
Your SCV is usually granted at the airport or seaport.
When you have this visa
What happens next.
Live, study and work in Australia while you stay.
Many SCV holders can apply for Australian citizenship once they meet the residence requirement.
Special Category Visa (Subclass 444) FAQs
Straight answers to the questions we hear most.
Still have questions?
Book an appointment with a registered migration agent and get clear answers about your visa options.
Book Appointment- MARA Registered
- QEAC Certified
Usually automatically on arrival, by presenting a valid New Zealand passport.
Yes. You can visit, study, stay and work in Australia.
Many can, with special rules on when residence starts.
Yes.
Need Help With Your Visa?
Book a consultation with a MARA registered migration agent.
