Family Migration program Latest news

From 1 July 2024, the Prospective Marriage (subclass 300) visa can be granted to applicants in or outside Australia. For more information see Subclass 300 Prospective Marriage visa.

The Government introduced a number of concessions for eligible family visa applicants impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic travel restrictions.

The COVID-19 concession period commenced on 1 February 2020 and ended on 25 November 2023.

For more information see COVID-19 visa concessions.

From 25 November 2023, the Partner (subclass 309) visa can be granted to applicants in or outside Australia. For more information see Subclass 309 Partner (Provisional) visa.

From 25 November 2023, the Partner (subclass 820) visa can be granted to applicants in or outside Australia. For more information see Subclass 820 Partner visa (temporary).

If you hold a Partner (subclass 309) or Partner (subclass 820) visa and two years have passed since you first applied for your Partner visa, you can now submit your information for the permanent stage of your Partner visa.

Partner (subclass 309) holders see: Subclass 100 Partner (Migrant) visa.

Partner (subclass 820) holders see: Subclass 801 Partner visa (Permanent).

Make sure you provide all required information with your application. Applications with all required information can be processed faster.

A list of common questions and answers for ‘Subclass 309 and Subclass 820 holders’ is available at Partner Program Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

On 22 April 2023, the Australian Government announced a direct pathway to Australian citizenship for New Zealand citizens living in Australia.

From 1 July 2023, New Zealand citizens who have been living in Australia for four years or more will be eligible to apply directly for Australian citizenship. They will no longer need to first apply for and be granted a permanent visa. This means all New Zealand citizens who hold a permanent visa or a Special Category (subclass 444) visa (SCV) are eligible to apply directly for citizenship (by conferral).

These changes only apply to citizenship applications submitted on or after 1 July 2023. If you are a New Zealand citizen, you can check on the day you want to apply to confirm your eligibility.

Withdrawing your application

New Zealand citizen SCV holders with a pending Partner, Parent, Child or Other Family type visa application, who on 1 July 2023 may be eligible to apply for citizenship by conferral under the new direct pathway for Australian citizenship for New Zealand citizens, may wish to consider withdrawing their application.

Applicants should consider:

• their individual circumstances
• impact on family members and their pending visa applications, visas they hold, and/or their future visa options in Australia
• the benefits of permanent residence
• the timeframes for processing citizenship applications.

Applicants would remain temporary residents during citizenship processing.

For further information see You want to withdraw an application.

Refunds

The direct pathway to citizenship for New Zealand citizens living in Australia does not entitle holders or applicants for any Partner, Parent, Child or Other Family type visa, who are holders or would otherwise hold an SCV, a refund of their Visa Application Charge (VAC). There are very limited circumstances in which we refund a VAC. For further information see Getting a refund.

Family members of New Zealand citizens

The backdating of permanent residence for SCV holders will 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.

Eligible family members of SCV holders will continue to be able to apply for, and be granted, a New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship (subclass 461) visa.

Family members who already hold a Subclass 461 visa will continue to hold this visa for the remaining period of its validity, which could be up to 5 years. See your visa conditions, including its expiry date, in your grant letter or in VEVO.

Family members of SCV holders who acquire Australian citizenship, however, will no longer be eligible to apply for a Subclass 461 visa from the citizenship acquisition date.

New Zealand citizens who obtain Australian citizenship through the new direct pathway can visit the Department’s website to explore visa options to sponsor their family members. Relevant visa options to remain in Australia may include Partner and Child visas.

Impacted family members of New Zealand citizens who get Australian citizenship through this pathway may also wish to explore their visa options.

Explore visa options

On 9 February 2023, the Australian Government revoked Ministerial Direction 80 - Order for considering and disposing of Family visa applications (Direction 80) and replaced it with Ministerial Direction 102 – Order for considering and disposing of Family visa applications (Direction 102). Direction 102 removes the lowest processing priority for applications where the sponsor is a permanent visa holder who entered Australia as an unlawful maritime arrival.

Applicants who were previously affected by Ministerial Direction 80 do not need to take any further action to ensure their visa is processed.

For further information see Direction 102.

Applicants from Afghanistan can visit Afghanistan update.