Overview
Subclass 444 (Special Category visa) is the automatic arrangement for New Zealand citizens: granted on arrival, it allows indefinite living and working in Australia — and since the 2023 reforms it anchors a direct pathway to Australian citizenship.
Defining features:
- Granted at the border, free, no application.
- Indefinite stay + full work rights while you remain in Australia.
- Direct citizenship pathway: broadly 4 years’ residence as an SCV holder, then citizenship by conferral — no separate PR visa needed.
- Not itself PR — it ceases when you leave (and is re-granted on return).
Detailed legal content (residence calculations, family members’ options) needs verification against current rules. Book a consultation to confirm which route — direct citizenship or a PR visa — fits your situation.
Key eligibility
- New Zealand citizen with a valid NZ passport
- Meet health and character requirements at entry
- No tuberculosis; no criminal convictions resulting in imprisonment
Process
- 01
Arrive in Australia
The SCV is granted automatically at the border — no prior application.
- 02
Live and work indefinitely
Full work rights; the SCV continues while you remain in Australia.
- 03
Direct citizenship after 4 years
Since July 2023, SCV holders meeting the residence requirement (broadly 4 years) can apply directly for Australian citizenship — without a separate PR visa.
Estimated cost
| Department of Home Affairs fee (per immi.homeaffairs.gov.au) | Nil |
| VisaAffairs service fee | Quoted after initial consultation |
| Third-party costs (health, AFP check, translations, etc.) | Varies by case |
How VisaAffairs helps
Clear eligibility assessment
VisaAffairs reviews your full situation against current rules — no boilerplate templates.
Document set reviewed item-by-item
Every piece of evidence is checked before lodgement — minimising the risk of request for further information.
Case officer tracking
VisaAffairs monitors ImmiAccount and responds to case officer requests on time.