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Special Category visa (SCV) (Subclass 444)

AustraliaFree movement

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

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Explore pathways in Australia Read the five questions ↓

Which citizenship, status or regional agreement creates the person's right to move/reside?

The person's right to move to and reside in Australia derives from being a New Zealand citizen holding a valid New Zealand passport, who continues to meet the character requirement, under the Special Category visa (Subclass 444) route.

See recorded sources

Under which circumstances can the person reside: worker, self-employed, student, jobseeker, self-funded person or another recognised basis?

The visa lets the person reside on essentially any basis while it is in effect: it covers visiting, working and studying in Australia, without a separate residence category for worker, self-employed, student or jobseeker status.

See recorded sources

What entry, registration or residence-document formalities remain?

The SCV is usually applied for and granted automatically each time the person enters Australia (typically processed on arrival at the airport or seaport, though an in-Australia application can take longer). It is free of charge, remains in effect only until the holder leaves Australia, and a new SCV must be applied for on each re-entry; it will also be refused to holders of another visa carrying a 'no further stay' condition.

See recorded sources

Which non-member-country family members can accompany or join, and what broad rights do they receive?

Each family member needs to make their own SCV application, which is possible only for New Zealand citizens; family members who are not New Zealand citizens need to apply for another visa. A child born in Australia to an SCV-holding parent on or after 1 July 2022 may have acquired Australian citizenship automatically at birth. The official source does not state what rights non-New-Zealand family members receive.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The official source does not state what rights non-New-Zealand family members receive.

When do permanent/long-term rights arise and what continuity, absence or retention conditions matter?

The SCV itself is temporary and ceases on departure from Australia; it is not a permanent status. The holder can apply for a permanent visa if eligible, and the SCV ceases if a permanent visa is granted; the official source does not detail the conditions, continuity or absence rules that would make a holder eligible for that permanent visa.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The page does not detail the conditions, continuity or absence rules under which an SCV holder becomes eligible for a permanent visa; it only confirms that applying for one is possible and that grant of one ends the SCV.

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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