Frequently Asked Questions

Thank you for checking the Frequently Asked Questions page in relation to Australian Immigration and Visas. This information is provided for Australian visa applications being processed for New Zealand citizens, or people currently in New Zealand.

Please find the answers to the most frequently asked questions below. You should check this information thoroughly before making further contact with the Department.

1)  I am a NZ Citizen - do I need a visa to enter Australia?

2)  I am a NZ Citizen and have a criminal conviction history. What forms do I complete?

3)  I am a NZ Citizen - can I become an Australian Citizen?

4)  Do NZ Citizens require a Maritime Crew Visa (MCV) if travelling to Australia as crew on a non-military ship?

5)  I am a NZ Citizen and my partner is not. Which visa (s) can my partner apply for?

6)  If I am a citizen of another country (not New Zealand) which visa(s) can I apply for?

7)  Can I apply online?

8)  I have technical problems with ImmiAccount used for online applications. Who can help?

9)  How long will it take to process my application?

10)  Can my application be processed faster?

11)  Do I need a visa label in my passport?

12)  Do I need to a return ticket to travel to Australia?

13) Do I need a migration agent?

14)  How many months validity do I need on my passport to travel to Australia?

1)  I am a NZ Citizen - do I need a visa to enter Australia?

Most New Zealand citizens who enter Australia on a New Zealand passport do so under the Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement. New Zealand citizens who enter Australia under this arrangement do not have to apply for a visa before travelling. They are granted a Special Category Visa (subclass 444) (SCV) on arrival in Australia, subject to meeting certain health and character requirements. An SCV allows the holder to remain and work in Australia indefinitely.

Health Concern Non-Citizen (HCNC)
If you are a New Zealand citizen and you have untreated tuberculosis - you may be considered HCNC. You will be asked whether you have tuberculosis on your incoming passenger card when you enter Australia. If you declare that you have tuberculosis, an Australian Border Force Officer will ask you for more information.

Behaviour Concern Non-Citizen (BCNC)
If you are a New Zealand citizen and you have had any criminal convictions in your lifetime, or you have been deported, excluded or removed from any country, including Australia, you may be considered BCNC. For New Zealand citizens with convictions in New Zealand, please see information at Question 2. If you have criminal convictions in any other country (including Australia), when you arrive in Australia you must declare your criminal convictions, regardless of which country or how long ago the convictions occurred. This declaration is made on your incoming passenger card as part of the immigration clearance process. Your declaration will be assessed by an Australian Border Force Officer.

2)  I am a NZ Citizen and have a criminal conviction history. What forms do I complete?

If you have criminal convictions in New Zealand, no matter how long ago your convictions were, or whether they have been removed from government records, you are encouraged to complete the New Zealand passport holders travelling with a criminal conviction - online enquiry form on the Department of Home Affairs Website.

Convictions in New Zealand

Please complete the New Zealand passport holders travelling with a criminal conviction - online enquiry form.

Use this form if you are a New Zealand passport holder with criminal convictions, seeking to travel to Australia. This form will provide guidance on whether you may be considered a “behaviour concern non-citizen”, which impacts your eligibility for a Special Category (subclass 444) visa (SCV).

Note that the decision whether to grant a SCV is made at the Australian border, by an Australian Border Force Officer, at the time of your entry into the country. Any pre-travel assessment regarding your eligibility for a SCV, or any advice included in the below information is guidance only and does not guarantee a particular outcome at the border.

Please note that due to privacy legislation, the Department is required to communicate only with the subject of the criminal conviction history report regarding our assessment. If you are contacting us on behalf of someone else, we are only able to provide general information.

Please be aware the Australian High Commission will no longer be accepting forms submitted via email or post.

If I am required to apply for a visa to travel to Australia what can I expect?

You will need to apply for a visa using ImmiAccount.  

Initial processing of visa applications begins at the Australian High Commission in Suva however it will be sent to the Visa Application Character Consideration Unit (VACCU) in Melbourne, Australia for a Section 501 Character assessment.

The time frame for a character assessment by VACCU will vary depending upon the specifics of your circumstances, but can take six months or more.

More information on character is available here: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/meeting-our-requirements/character

Convictions in any other country (that is not in New Zealand)

If you have criminal convictions in any other country (including Australia), when you arrive in Australia you must declare your criminal convictions, regardless of which country or how long ago the convictions occurred. This declaration is made on your incoming passenger card as part of the immigration clearance process. Your declaration will be assessed by an Australian Border Force Officer.

3)  I am a NZ Citizen - can I become an Australian Citizen?

From 1 July 2023 changes to citizenship eligibility for some New Zealand citizens holding a Special Category (subclass 444) visa will apply. See Direct pathway to Australian citizenship for New Zealand citizens.

These changes only apply to citizenship applications submitted on or after 1 July 2023. Check on the day you apply to confirm your eligibility.

With effect from 1 July 2023:

• All New Zealand citizens holding an SCV will be considered permanent residents for citizenship purposes.
• New Zealand citizens granted an SCV before 1 July 2022 will have their period of permanent residence for citizenship purposes backdated to 1 July 2022.
• New Zealand citizens granted an SCV for the first time on or after 1 July 2022 will be considered a permanent resident for citizenship purposes from the date of their SCV grant.

The general residence requirement for Australian citizenship by conferral is set out in the Australian Citizenship Act 2007. To meet the general residence requirement an applicant must be lawfully present in Australia for four years, including 12 months as a permanent resident, immediately before the date of application. Further the general residence requirement includes that you cannot have been away from Australia for no more than 12 months in total in the past 4 years, including no more than 90 days in total in the past 12 months.

The backdating of permanent residence for SCV holders will also impact children born to SCV holders. From 1 July 2023, any child born in Australia on or after 1 July 2022 to an SCV holder may automatically acquire Australian citizenship at birth. From 1 July 2023, children who meet these circumstances can apply for​ evidence of citizenship.

Note: These changes apply to New Zealand citizens holding a Special Category (subclass 444) visa (SCV) who arrived in Australia after 26 February 2001. Protected SCV holders will continue to be eligible to apply directly for Australian citizenship.

4) Do NZ Citizens require a Maritime Crew Visa (MCV) if travelling to Australia as crew on a non-military ship?

A Maritime Crew Visa (MCV) is not required by those New Zealand citizens who would be eligible for a Special Category visa (subclass 444) on arrival. For more details about the Special Category visa please see Question 1.

If a New Zealand citizen enters Australia on a non-military ship at an excised offshore place, they will need to obtain a MCV.

In accordance with Australia's Migration Legislation, an excised offshore place includes the following islands; the Coral Sea Islands Territory, any Australian island from the latitude vicinity of Mackay in Queensland through to the latitude vicinity of Exmouth, Western Australia, including the Australian islands of the Torres Strait, Christmas Island and the Cocos-Keeling Islands.

Click here for more information on the Maritime Crew visa and how to apply:  https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/maritime-crew-988

5)  I am a NZ Citizen and my partner is not. Which visa (s) can my partner apply for?

The New Zealand citizen family relationship (temporary) visa (subclass 461) allows family of a Special Category Visa holder to live, work and study in Australia temporarily. More information on this visa is available here: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/new-zealand-citizen-family-relationship-temporary-461. You can explore other visa options using the visa finder tool here:  https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-finder.

6)  If I am a citizen of another country (not New Zealand) which visa(s) can I apply for?

You will find detailed information about visa options for Australia on the Department’s website at: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-finder.

The website includes a Find a visa tool that provides you with appropriate visa options based on information you provide including visitors, transit, work, study and permanent migration options. Supporting documents required for a visa application may vary depending on your country of residence. Please check the individual website of the Australian mission where you intend to lodge your visa application to identify these requirements.

7)  Can I apply online?

The Department is committed to building more efficient and effective ways of delivering accessible services through the use of digital channels as the default form of delivery.

As such, you can complete a number of services online without needing to contact the department directly. Please see Online Services for eligible nationalities and other online services. Documents can be attached through the ImmiAccount until the application has been finalised.

There are limits on the number of files which can be uploaded for each application. However, you may incorporate multiple documents in each file to minimise the total number of files you upload. Please note that files must not exceed 5MB in size.

8) I have technical problems with ImmiAccount used for online applications. Who can help?

If you are experiencing technical issues with ImmiAccount, please first check the Frequently Asked Questions and Quick Reference Guides available on the Department's website:  https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/Trav/Visa/Immi

If you still require support for technical or account related issues, complete the ImmiAccount Technical Support Form: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/departmental-forms/online-forms/immiaccount-technical-support-form

9) How long will it take to process my application?

The Department publishes processing time service standards for all visa and citizenship products. Service standard processing times are aspirational and are not a guarantee that your application will be processed in the time listed. Actual processing times may vary depending on a range of factors.

Visa processing service standards

We aim to process 75% of complete applications within visa service standard processing times. Complete applications are considered those that include all supporting documents and information requested on individual visa application pages.

For information on service standards, please see: https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/about/access-accountability/service-standards

Citizenship processing service standards

We aim to process 80% of complete applications within citizenship service standard processing times. Complete applications are considered those that include all supporting documents and information requested on individual application pages.

10)  Can my application be processed faster?

Applications are processed in date and there is little scope to process applications earlier. In very rare cases, processing can be brought forward on the basis of compelling and compassionate circumstances. This is only done when there are circumstances which are significantly more compelling than those which would generally be encountered within the usual cohort applying for visas.

If you have compelling or compassionate reasons to support your request to process your application faster, please provide a written statement and evidence to your case officer outlining those circumstances. As a general rule, the following circumstances are not considered to be compelling or compassionate;

• Imminent travel or purchase of flights
• employment in Australia
• schooling for children
• pregnancy
• selling your house
• separation from your partner

Submitting a request for expedited process will be considered on a case-by-case basis and there is no guarantee that your application will be prioritised.

11)  Do I need a visa label in my passport?

No.  Australian visas are recorded electronically.  You can provide evidence that you have authority to travel to, enter, and/or remain in Australia by showing your passport that is linked to your electronic visa record.  You can use Visa Entitlement Certification Online (VEVO) or the myVEVO app free to check your visa details and conditions.  For more information see:  https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/already-have-a-visa/check-visa-details-and-conditions/overview

12)  Do I need to have a return ticket to travel to Australia?

There is no requirement to have a return ticket when you arrive in Australia. However, officers at the Australian border need to be satisfied that visitors, working holiday makers and temporary residents are intending to and have the means to depart Australia before their visa expires. While not a mandatory requirement, you may wish to carry a copy of your bank statement to demonstrate you have sufficient funds to purchase an airline ticket to depart Australia.

13)  Do I need a migration agent?

You do not need to use a migration agent to apply for an Australian visa. A migration agent cannot influence nor predetermine the outcome of your application, nor can they fast-track its processing. If you wish to engage a migration agent, the Department recommends using an agent registered with the office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA), or where this is not possible, one that is accredited in your country. Further information on MARA and contact details is available at https://www.mara.gov.au.

14) How many months validity do I need on my passport to travel to Australia?

Passports need to be valid to cover immediate travel arrangements only.  Where a visa is required, the validity of the passport is taken into consideration when deciding the validity or length of the visa.