​WHAT THIS VISA LETS YOU DO

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The Special Category Visa (Subclass 444) allows you to:

• enter and stay in Australia as long as you remain a New Zealand citizen

• work and study in Australia

• apply for a permanent visa if eligible

• This is a single entry visa however another can be granted when you next arrive in Australia.

• You can include family with this visa.

• There is no application cost for this visa.

• You usually apply for this visa upon arrival to Australia. In some cases, you may be able to apply for this visa once you are in Australia. This might be the case if you: became a New Zealand citizen after you arrived in Australia or entered on a passport that is not a New Zealand passport, or entered on a temporary visa

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ELIGIBILITY FOR THE SPECIAL PURPOSE VISA

To be eligible for the Special Category Visa (Subclass 444), you will need to demonstrate that you:

• Have a valid New Zealand passport or a New Zealand emergency travel document.

• You must not have a "no further stay condition" on your current Australian visa if you have one.

• You must NOT be a "behaviour concern non citizen". If the department assess you are a Behaviour-concern non-citizen (BCNC), you can't be granted a Special Category visa. You might be refused entry into Australia. You could be assessed as a Behaviour-concern non-citizen in some circumstances, including where if you have been:

  • convicted of a crime that has resulted in a sentence of death or imprisonment for at least one year, or

  • convicted of two or more crimes that have resulted in sentences of imprisonment that add up to at least one year in some circumstances, or previously removed from Australia, or

  • previously removed or deported from another country

• NOT be a "health concern non citizen". You can't be granted this visa if you are assessed as a "Health-concern non-citizen". You will  be assessed as a Health concern non-citizen if you:

  • have TB, are not carrying and taking appropriate medication, and

  • if you refuse to sign an undertaking to visit a Commonwealth Medical Officer within 7 days of your entry.

  • Or if you declare you have TB.