Resident Return Visas
Only Australian citizens are free to travel in and out of Australia indefinitely. For those who do not seek Australian citizenship or are not yet eligible, permanent residence must be maintained through Resident Return visas (RRV).
The RRV is for current or former Australian permanent residents and former Australian citizens who want to travel overseas and return to Australia as permanent residents once the travel facility attached to their permanent visa has expired.
Permanent residency visas generally contain a five year travel facility from the date of visa grant allowing the visa holder to travel to depart and enter Australia. Once this travel facility expires or where it is about to cease, permanent residents should obtain a Resident Return visa to allow ongoing entry to Australia as a permanent resident.
Resident Return (subclass 155) visa
If you have been lawfully residing in Australia for 2 out of the last 5 years as the holder of a permanent visa, you may be eligible for the subclass 155 visa with a 5 year travel facility.
If you do not meet this residence requirement, you might be eligible for an RRV with a 12 month travel facility, if you can show you have substantial business, cultural, employment, or personal ties of benefit to Australia.
Additionally, if you have been outside Australia for more than 5 years, you will need to provide compelling reasons for your continuous absence.
Resident Return (subclass 157) visa
You may be eligible for this visa if you spent at least 1 day but less than 2 years out of the last 5 years in Australia as a permanent resident.
You will also need to show compelling reasons for departing Australia.
This RRV is granted with a travel facility of 3 months.
Whether you are a current or former permanent resident, our knowledgeable and experienced team at Migration Affairs can assist you to find the best pathway to maintain and/or reinstate your permanent residency.
Australian Citizenship
Australian citizenship can be acquired by automatic acquisition, by descent or by conferral.
Generally, you will be eligible for Australian citizenship by conferral if you:
- Are a permanent resident of Australia or an eligible New Zealand citizen
- Meet the general residence requirement, unless exempt
- At the time you apply you must have been:
- Living in Australia on a valid for the past 4 years
- A permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen for the past 12 months
- Away from Australia for no more than 12 months in total in the past 4 years, including no more than 90 days in total in the past 12 months
- For children 16 or 17 years old, if meeting this requirement would cause significant hardship or disadvantage, you will need to provide proof. Children under 16 do not need to meet the general residence requirement but must be permanent residents.
- At the time you apply you must have been:
- Must be of ‘good character’ if you are 18 years or over
- Must understand what it means to be an Australian citizen
- Have basic knowledge of the English language to become an Australian citizen
- Must intend to live in Australia or maintain a close and continuing association with Australia while overseas
Citizenship applications can be complicated by a multitude of factors, for example, if you have been convicted of a criminal offence (good character requirement) or if you are residing overseas (likely to reside or continue to reside in Australia requirement).
FAQs
Former permanent residents, i.e. those who used to hold an Australian permanent visa that have since expired (not cancelled) are often under the assumption that they have ‘lost’ their permanent residency and will need to apply for a new Australian visa to migrate to Australia.
However, this is not true!
You may be able to reinstate your permanent residency because former permanent residents of Australia are eligible for a Resident Return Visa if they meet the eligibility criteria.
