Resident Return Visa (Subclasses 155 And 157)

Five Year RRV :

The fundamental need for obtaining a new five (5) year travel facility (known as a resident return visa, or RRV) is that you have spent at least two (2) years out of the past five (5) physically present in Australia as the bearer of a permanent visa.

One Year RRV :

If you do not fulfil the ‘2 in 5′ criteria, you may be eligible for a one-year resident return visa. As previously stated, if you remain in Australia after the one-year validity time has expired, your permanent residency does not expire; only your ability to leave and subsequently re-enter Australia as a permanent resident is affected.

To qualify for the one-year RRV, you must demonstrate that you have strong links to Australia that benefit Australia. Substantial connections can fall through any of the following categories:

• Business
• Employment
• Family
• Cultural

Three Month RRV :

Permanent residents who have been physically present in Australia for less than two years and have not yet developed strong links of benefit to Australia may be eligible for a three-month RRV. For example, you may have landed in Australia when your migrant travel facility was about to expire and need to travel overseas before you have formed strong links.

As previously stated, if you stay in Australia after the three-month validity period, your permanent residency does not expire; only your ability to leave and subsequently re-enter Australia as a permanent resident is affected.

The process

You may apply online right now, without submitting any papers, if you meet the following criteria:

• You are a lawful permanent resident.
• You have spent at least two years in Australia in the previous five years.
• Your name and date of birth have not changed since your last visa was issued.

Alternatively, you may learn more about:

• Eligibility Criteria
• The visa, including what happens if you don’t satisfy the two-in-five-year residency requirement.
• The application process, including any papers you may be required to give.

Processing time

Eligibility

Residence status

You must be:

• A permanent resident of Australia.
• A former permanent resident of Australia whose final permanent visa was not revoked.
• A former Australian citizen who has lost or renounced citizenship.

Passport

You must have a current passport.

Character

You must fulfil our character standards.

Limitations

If your previous permanent visa was revoked, you are ineligible for this visa.

If you have received notification that your permanent business visa may be terminated, we will not accept your application.

If you have any of the following documents, you should not apply for this visa:

• An Authority To Return (ATR) given between March 1, 1976 and August 31, 1979.
• A Return Endorsement (RE) dated between September 1979 and December 31, 1986.
• A BF-111

What you can do

The 155 and 157 visa are both permanent visa. They allow you to do anything that your initial permanent visa allowed you to do:

• Continue to reside in Australia forever.
• In Australia, you may work and study.
• Enroll in Medicare, Australia’s health-care insurance programme.
• Sponsor qualified family members for permanent residency.
• You may travel to and from Australia as many times as you like while the travel facility is in effect.
• If you are eligible, apply for Australian citizenship.

How the visa differ

The duration of the travel facility is what distinguishes the visa:

• Subclass 155 – for a period of up to five years from the date of award.
• Subclass 157 – 3 months from award date.

Which visa you will get

The type of visa you receive is determined on the information you submit in your application.

Subclass 155 visa

If you meet the following criteria, you may be awarded a subclass 155 visa:

• fulfil the residency requirement (5 year travel facility)
• have beneficial links to Australia (1 year travel facility)
• are a family member of someone who has a Resident Return visa or has filed for one and meets the requirements for grant (up to 1 year travel facility).

Subclass 157 visa

If you meet all of the following requirements, you may be awarded a subclass 157 visa:

• You must have spent at least one day but no more than two years in Australia in the five years before your application for this visa.
• You were either an Australian permanent resident or an Australian citizen for your whole stay in Australia.
• There is a strong and humane motive to go from Australia.

If you are outside Australia when you apply

If you have been away from Australia for more than three months before applying, you must have a compelling and humanitarian explanation for your absence.

Cost

AUD 405.

You must pay an extra $80 if you apply on paper.

While they are uncommon, if any additional expenditures are incurred as a result of this visa, you are liable for them.

Estimate the cost of your application

The visa pricing calculator is a web-based application that computes the overall cost of your visa.

Location

If you are in Australia and your existing visa’s travel facility has expired or is about to expire, you must apply for and be granted an RRV before leaving the country.

You can apply for the visa outside of Australia, but it must be approved before you can enter.

How long the visa last

The subclass 155 and 157 visa are perpetual visa, however this does not always indicate that the visa will be valid eternally.

• If you do not go outside of Australia, your visa will remain valid eternally (it will not expire) and you will not become illegal when the travel facility expires.
• If you travel outside of Australia after the visa’s travel facility expires, the visa will expire when you depart Australia. As a result, it is recommended to apply for another Resident Return visa before departing Australia. You can even apply from outside the country.

How long the travel facility lasts

The length of your visa’s travel facility is determined by the information in your application and the visa subclass you are given. What to do when the travel facility is no longer available. Important information is available for New Zealand passport holders.

Family

You are not permitted to include family members in your application. Each member of the family must submit their own application.

Your obligations

You and your family must abide by Australian laws.