Resident Return Visas

Most Australian permanent visas include a travel facility that allows you to travel to and from Australia for a set period, commonly five years from the date the permanent visa was granted.

If your travel facility expires while you are outside Australia, or you plan to travel after it has expired, you may need a Resident Return Visa before returning to Australia as a permanent resident.

If you are in Australia and do not intend to travel overseas, you generally do not need to apply for a Resident Return Visa simply because your travel facility has expired.

The Resident Return Visa (Subclass 155) may be available to current Australian permanent residents, certain former permanent residents and certain former Australian citizens who need to travel and return to Australia as permanent residents.

The length of the travel facility granted depends on your individual circumstances. Eligible applicants may be granted a five-year travel facility, while others may receive a shorter travel facility of up to 12 months.

A Subclass 155 Resident Return Visa allows you to travel to and from Australia as a permanent resident until the travel facility expires.

You may be eligible for a five-year travel facility if you have spent a total of at least two years in Australia during the five years immediately before lodging your application.

Time in Australia generally needs to have been spent as an Australian permanent resident or Australian citizen. The two years do not need to be continuous.

We can help review your travel history and residency records to determine whether you meet this requirement before an application is lodged.

If you do not meet the two-year residence requirement, you may still be eligible for a Resident Return Visa if you can demonstrate substantial ties to Australia that are of benefit to Australia.

Depending on your circumstances, relevant ties may include:

• Personal and family ties in Australia
• Employment or professional connections
• Business interests or investments
• Cultural and community involvement

Applications relying on substantial ties require strong supporting evidence and may only be granted with a shorter travel facility.

The Resident Return Visa (Subclass 157) is a shorter-term pathway that may be available where an applicant does not meet the Subclass 155 requirements but has compelling and compassionate reasons relating to their absence from Australia or need to travel.

The maximum travel facility that can be granted with a Subclass 157 Resident Return Visa is three months.

This pathway can be particularly important where travel is urgent and a person needs to return to Australia to re-establish their permanent residency arrangements.

You can apply for a Resident Return Visa while you are in Australia or overseas, provided you are not in immigration clearance.

It is important to check your travel facility before making overseas travel plans. If you are already outside Australia and your travel facility has expired, an approved Resident Return Visa may be required before you can travel back to Australia as a permanent resident.

Where possible, it is best to allow sufficient time for your application to be assessed before booking non-refundable travel.

A Resident Return Visa is different from Australian citizenship. It allows eligible permanent residents to travel and return to Australia as permanent residents while the travel facility remains valid.

If you are considering Australian citizenship, your overseas travel history and permanent residency status can be important factors. We can help you understand how your circumstances may relate to both a Resident Return Visa application and future citizenship eligibility.