Resident Return Visas
These visas are for:
- an Australian permanent resident
- a former Australian permanent resident whose last permanent visa was not cancelled.
- a former Australian citizen who lost or renounced Australian citizenship
What can I do on these visas?
Both the 155 and 157 visas are permanent visas. These visas let you undertake all of the activities that your original permanent visa let you undertake:
- stay in Australia indefinitely
- work and study in Australia
- enrol in Medicare, Australia’s scheme for health-related care and expenses
- sponsor eligible relatives for permanent residence
- travel to and from Australia as many times as you want while the travel facility is valid
- apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible.
- There are no limits on the number of Resident Return visas (RRV) you can apply for.
- Travel to and from Australia as a permanent resident until the travel facility expires.
- Travel facility will range from 3 months to 1-5 years
- If you leave Australia after your permanent visa travel facility has expired, you will not be able to return to Australia as a permanent resident. If you wish to return to Australia as a permanent resident, you must apply for and be granted this visa before your arrival in Australia.
- If you are already in Australia as a permanent resident, you do not need to apply for this visa if you do not wish to travel.
How is the travel facility on the RRVÂ determined:
- If you have lived in Australia for a total of 2 years in the last 5 years as a permanent resident or Australian citizen, then you meet what is known as the ‘residence requirement’ and will be given a 5 year travel facility on your RRV.
- If you do not met the ‘residence requirement’ but have demonstrated you have substantial ties with Australia that benefit Australia, then you can only be given a maximum of 12 months travel facility on your RRV.
- Applied as a member of family unit of a person who already holds an RRV, or who has lodged a separate application for an RRV and meets the time of application criteria for grant, then you can only be given a maximum of 12 months travel facility on your RRV.
- If you do not meet any of the above requirements, but have compelling and compassionate reasons for departure, then you can only be given 3 months travel facility on your RRV (subclass 157).
