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444 — Special Category visa (SCV)

Updated 22 July 2026

This is general information, not migration advice. Visa rules, fees and eligibility change often — always confirm on the Department of Home Affairs website, and speak to a registered migration agent about your own situation.

Overview

The Special Category visa (SCV), subclass 444, is a temporary visa for New Zealand citizens. It lets you enter and stay in Australia for as long as you are and continue to remain a New Zealand citizen, visit, work and study in Australia, and apply for a permanent visa if eligible. You usually apply for it when you enter Australia by showing a valid New Zealand passport and a completed incoming passenger card to an officer, or by answering the health and character questions at SmartGate. There is no application charge. How long you can stay: From the time you are granted the visa until you leave Australia, unless it ceases because of other reasons. These may include if we grant you a permanent visa, you become an Australian citizen, or we cancel the visa. When you leave Australia your visa will cease. You must apply for a new SCV if you want to enter Australia again. You cannot travel outside Australia and return on this visa.

Step by step

  1. Step 1: Step 1 - Before you apply: make sure you have a valid New Zealand passport before you travel to Australia, and check your current visa details and status using VEVO. You can't apply for this visa on entry to Australia if you already hold another temporary visa (you can apply for an SCV after you have entered), and you can't apply if you hold a permanent visa or a visa with a 'no further stay' condition.

  2. Step 2: Step 2 - Gather your documents: have your valid New Zealand passport with you; if you were born in Australia on or before 30 June 2022 and have not departed, provide a copy of your Australian Birth Certificate with your onshore application plus evidence of your New Zealand citizenship. Provide accurate documents and have all non-English documents translated into English.

  3. Step 3: Step 3 - Apply for the visa: when you enter Australia, show your completed incoming passenger card with your valid New Zealand passport to an officer, or answer the health and character questions at SmartGate. If you are applying after you have entered Australia, apply online to request an SCV appointment.

  4. Step 4: Step 4 - After you apply: applications are usually processed at the airport or seaport you use to enter Australia. If you applied after entering Australia, wait for the Department to contact you with an appointment date and time, stay lawful (consider a Bridging visa A or C if your current visa will expire), and tell the Department if things change.

  5. Step 5: Step 5 - Visa outcome: the Department will tell you if the visa is granted; how you are told depends on how and where you applied. If you applied on entry to Australia and you meet all visa and immigration requirements, you will be granted the visa and immigration cleared.

Eligibility & requirements

  • Have a valid New Zealand passport.
  • Not be a behaviour concern non-citizen - you may be assessed as one if, for example, you have been convicted of a crime resulting in a sentence of death or imprisonment for at least one year, convicted of two or more crimes with sentences totalling at least one year, found guilty of a crime while of unsound mind, or removed, deported or excluded from Australia or another country in the past.
  • Not be a health concern non-citizen - you may be assessed as one if you declare when you enter Australia that you have tuberculosis (TB).
  • Not have a 'no further stay' visa condition - you can't apply for this visa if you currently hold a visa with a 'no further stay' condition.
  • You must remain a New Zealand citizen while you hold this visa - if you are no longer a New Zealand citizen, your SCV will cease.
  • You must continue to meet the character requirements and obey Australian laws.

Costs

ItemIndicative cost
Application chargeFree - there is no application charge for this visa.

Key links

Contacts

Registered migration agent (MARA)
For advice about your own circumstances, use a registered migration agent or a legal service. This page is general information only.