Processing times · Subclass 461
How long does the subclass 461 visa take? (November 2026)
Reviewed by a registered migration agent ·
MARN 1795282
Updated
As at 2 November 2026, Home Affairs reports that 75% of New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship visa (Subclass 461) applications were finalised within 6 months, and 90% within 7 months. In September 2026 the 75% figure was 5 months. These are official global processing times for applications decided in the previous month, not a promise for any individual case.
Subclass 461 processing times by stream
| Stream | 75% of applications | 90% of applications | 75% in September 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| All applications | 6 months | 7 months | 5 months |
What to expect when you apply for the subclass 461
How the application moves
- You lodge with evidence of your relationship to the New Zealand citizen and of their Special Category visa status in Australia, then health and character.
- Renewals follow the same path; the relationship and the New Zealand citizen's status are re-checked each time.
What most often slows a 461 application
- The New Zealand citizen has become an Australian citizen or permanent resident, which changes the eligible pathway and can lead to refusal rather than delay.
- De facto relationships with limited evidence of a shared life over the qualifying period.
What to have ready before lodging
- Relationship evidence (joint finances, lease, correspondence) and the New Zealand partner's passport and travel records showing time in Australia.
What the 75% and 90% figures mean
Home Affairs publishes the time within which it finalised 75% and 90% of the applications decided in the previous month. Three in four applicants got a decision faster than the 75% figure; one in ten waited longer than the 90% figure, almost always because the application was incomplete, needed health or character follow-up, or sat outside the current processing priorities. The figures move every month, which is why we keep a history on the processing-times tracker.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the 461 visa take to process in November 2026?
Home Affairs reports that 75% of New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship visa (subclass 461) applications were finalised within 6 months and 90% within 7 months, as at 2 November 2026.
What do the 75% and 90% figures mean?
They are the times within which Home Affairs finalised 75% and 90% of the applications it decided in the previous month. Three in four applications were decided faster than the 75% figure; one in ten took longer than the 90% figure, usually because the application was incomplete or needed extra checks.
Can a 461 visa be processed faster?
There is no paid priority service for the 461. The things that reliably shorten processing are lodging a complete, decision-ready application (identity, health, character and every eligibility document attached at lodgement), responding to any request for information quickly, and avoiding avoidable requests for further information.
Related visas: processing times and costs
- Partner visa (Subclasses 820/801 & 309/100): processing times · fees
- Visitor visa (Subclass 600): processing times · fees
Source: Department of Home Affairs — global visa processing times, as at 2 November 2026. Cost: subclass 461 visa fees. Eligibility and steps: 461 Visa: Family of New Zealand Citizens in Australia. General information only, not migration advice.