================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                              --------------------

                                    FORM 8-A

                FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES
                    PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(B) OR 12(G) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                              --------------------

            NUVEEN INSURED NEW YORK TAX-FREE ADVANTAGE MUNICIPAL FUND
            ---------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

       MASSACHUSETTS                                         TO BE APPLIED FOR
  (State of Incorporation                                    (I.R.S. Employer
      or Organization)                                       Identification No.)

                              333 West Wacker Drive
                             Chicago, Illinois 60606
                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)
                -------------------------------------------------

         If this form relates to the registration of a class of securities
pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to
General Instruction A.(c), check the following box. [X]

         If this form relates to the registration of a class of securities
pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to
General Instruction A.(d), check the following box. [_]

         Securities Act registration statement file number to which this form
relates:  333-100324.

         Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title Of Each Class                               Name Of Each Exchange On Which
To Be So Registered                               Each Class Is To Be Registered
-------------------                               ------------------------------
Share of beneficial interest                       American Stock Exchange, Inc.
$0.01 par value per share

         Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

                                      NONE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                (Title of Class)

================================================================================




Item 1.       Description of Registrant's Securities to be Registered.
-------       --------------------------------------------------------

         The shares (the "Shares") to be registered hereunder are shares of
beneficial interest, $0.01 par value per share of Nuveen Insured New York
Tax-Free Advantage Municipal Fund (the "Registrant"). A description of the
Shares is contained under the heading "Description of Shares" in the prospectus
included in the Registrant's registration statement on Form N-2 and under the
heading "Description of Shares" in the statement of additional information
included therein, each filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and
the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, on October 4, 2002 (Registration
Nos. 333-100324 and 811-21211, respectively), which description is incorporated
herein by reference.

Item 2.       Exhibits.
-------       ---------

         Pursuant to the Instructions as to Exhibits, no exhibits are filed
herewith or incorporated herein by reference.

                                   SIGNATURES
                                   ----------

         Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.

Dated:   October 17, 2002



                                                    NUVEEN INSURED NEW YORK
                                                    TAX-FREE ADVANTAGE
                                                    MUNICIPAL FUND



                                                    By: /s/ Gifford R. Zimmerman
                                                        ------------------------
                                                        Gifford R. Zimmerman
                                                        Vice President and
                                                         Secretary