Australia Resident Return Visa | Complete Guide

Are you an Australian permanent resident planning a trip abroad but are unsure about your travel rights in and out of the country? This blog post is for you.

A Resident Return Visa (RRV) allows you to go to other countries from Australia without losing your permanent status. To apply for this visa, you must first meet specific qualifying requirements and restrictions.

Continue reading this blog article for a thorough description of the Resident Return Visa, including eligibility requirements, a document checklist, and the application process.

What is the Resident Return Visa for Australia?

The Resident Return Visa (RRV) permits Australian permanent residents to travel in and out of the country while keeping their permanent residency status. This visa is applicable under the following conditions:

If an Australian permanent resident leaves Australia after their travel validity expires, or if the applicant is outside of Australia.

Under these circumstances, the applicant is not allowed to return to Australia as a permanent resident. The RRV visa can help here by allowing applicants to enter the nation as permanent residents.

The RRV visa in Australia is classified into two subclasses:

RRV Visa Subclass: 155 

Subclass 155 lasts approximately five years. This classification is offered to permanent residents who have strong ties to Australia or have spent extensive time there.

RRV Visa Subclass: 157 

Subclass 155 lasts approximately three months. This visa is awarded to permanent residents who wish to return to Australia for a short length of time and have compelling grounds for their past absences.

Cost of the Resident Return Visa (RRV) in Australia

If you apply online for an RRV visa, you must pay an application cost of AUD475.00.  However, for paper applications, you must submit AUD555. In addition, you may be required to pay additional fees for health exams, police clearance certificates, and biometrics. The Department of Home Affairs will notify you if this is necessary.

Use the Visa Pricing Estimator to calculate more accurate and precise visa fees. Remember, however, that the estimate does not take into account any other additional charges.

Processing time for an RRV visa in Australia

The processing time varies according to numerous factors. Some of these elements include the following:

• If you meet the residency requirements, we will complete your application within 5 business days.
• If you do not meet the residency criteria, your application may take 12 weeks or longer.

Furthermore, your application may take longer to process 

• You do not include all of the relevant documents.
• You don’t complete the application form correctly.
• The number of applications being received is high.

If you do not pay the proper application fee, your application will not be processed. Use the visa processing time guide tool to determine how long it will take to process this visa.

Eligibility Criteria for Applying for the Resident Return Visa Australia

To qualify for a Resident Return Visa, you must be:

• A permanent resident of Australia.
• A former permanent resident of Australia whose previous permanent visa was not canceled.
• A former citizen of Australia who has lost their citizenship.

Australian citizens are unable to apply for an RRV visa. Additionally, applicants must fulfill the following requirements:

Age requirement

There are no age restrictions while applying for a Resident Return Visa (RRV).

Residence Requirement

To apply for a resident return visa in Australia, you must first complete the following residence requirements:

• You will receive a five-year travel facility if you have lived in Australia for two years as a permanent resident or an Australian citizen.
• You will receive a 12-month travel facility if you leave Australia as a permanent resident or citizen and do not leave for more than five years in a row.
• You are now outside of Australia and have been a citizen or permanent resident for less than ten years before applying, with no absences of more than five years. Furthermore, in this case, you must be able to demonstrate strong ties to Australia.
• You are in Australia and can demonstrate strong ties to the country. Furthermore, you have not been absent from the country for five consecutive years.
• You are a family member of someone who already has an RRV or has applied for one and meets the eligibility standards.

Residence requirement calculation guidelines

To compute the aforementioned residence requirements, follow these guidelines:

• The two-year period equates to 730 days.
• The 5-year timeframe begins when the RRV application is lodged.
• The tally of days in Australia includes both the arrival and departure dates.
• If the applicant arrives and leaves on the same day, it counts as one day.
• If a visa expires and another is granted on the same day, it is regarded as a single day.
• Any part-day spent in Australia by a permanent visa holder is counted as one full day.

Significant Ties Requirement

If you do not meet the residence requirement for the subclass 155 visa, you must demonstrate strong ties to Australia. These can include professional, cultural, and personal ties.

Authorization to Return or Return Endorsement

You cannot apply for an RRV if you have a Transitional visa and were issued either:

• Authority to Return (granted between March 1, 1976 and August 31, 1979).
• Return Endorsement (given between September 1, 1979, and December 31, 1986).
• If you were issued one of these two, please check Overseas travel as a permanent resident.

Cancellation Action on Business Grounds

You cannot apply for this visa if your skills visas have been revoked for business reasons. Furthermore, you are not eligible for this visa if you hold any of the following:

• Class EA, subclass 132 visa
• Class BH subclass 840-846 visas (repealed).
• Class EB, subclass 188 visa
• Class UR subclass 160-165 visas
• Class EC subclass 888 visas.

In addition, you will be unable to apply for RRV Australia if:

• You’ve been awarded a category 155, 157, or 159 visa.
• Your subclass 155, 157, or 159 visas have been cancelled under the same business visa grounds.

Character requirement

You must meet the character requirements established by the Australian government. To demonstrate this, you must present a police clearance certificate from each nation where you have lived for one year or more in the last ten years. Furthermore, you must not have a significant criminal history.

Health requirement

You must meet specific health conditions. You may be asked to have a medical examination to confirm that you do not have a communicable condition that puts the Australian population at risk.

How to Apply for a Resident Return Visa in Australia

Applying for a Resident Return Visa (RRV) entails numerous processes. The steps include the following:

• Step 1: What to do before applying.
• Step 2: Gather your documents.
• Step 3: Apply for the RRV Australia.
• Step 4: Pay the application fees.
• Step 5: Wait for the Visa decision

Here is a detailed analysis of each of these steps.

Step 1: What to do before applying

Before applying for a Resident Return visa, confirm your existing visa status and travel arrangements. You can use the Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) software to determine if you need to apply for RRV or not. Keep in mind that you may not receive a refund after completing your application.

In addition, you must have a valid passport or other travel documents to apply for this visa. If you require a new passport, obtain one before applying for RRV Australia, and transmit the new information to the Department as soon as feasible.

Step 2: Gather your documents.

Before you begin your application, make sure you have all of the relevant paperwork. Here’s the paperwork checklist for RRV Australia:

• Identity documents such as a passport, birth certificate, NIC, or name change (where applicable).
• Proof of residency demonstrating your periods of residence in Australia.
• Evidence of significant relationships indicating your business, cultural, employment, or personal ties to Australia.
• Police clearance certificate.
• Medical exam certificate.
• Evidence of compelling grounds for any absences from Australia of 5 or more consecutive years or

The Department of Home Affairs may automatically handle your visa application if you meet the following requirements:

• You are a permanent resident in Australia.
• Before submitting your application, you must have lived in Australia for nearly two years as an Australian citizen or permanent resident.
• Your name and birthday have not changed since your last visa was granted.
• You meet the specified conditions.

Step 3: Apply for the RRV Australia.

You can apply online through the ImmiAccount website. You do not need to have an electronic visa record to use ImmiAccount. If you are unable to apply online due to a technical issue, please contact the support system.

However, if technical support is unable to resolve the issue, the Department may allow you to apply on paper. However, you will need to pay an additional non-internet application cost for this purpose.

To apply online, take the following steps:

• Create an account or sign in to your previous ImmiAccount.
• Download the application form for a Resident Return Visa.
• Complete the application form with correct and complete information.
• Attach scanned copies of all required documents.

Make sure you offer complete and accurate information. Otherwise, we will not process your application.

Step 4: Pay the application cost.

The application price for an RRV is AUD 475 if you apply online. However, applying on paper incurs a greater charge. Payment can be made using a variety of methods listed on the ImmiAccount portal.

After you have paid the application fee, examine your application to ensure that all information is correct and that all documents have been uploaded. After that, submit your application form.

Step 5: Wait for the Visa decision.

Following submission, your application will be processed by the Department of Home Affairs. You will be notified about the outcome of your application. If your application is approved, you will be issued an RRV, which allows you to travel in and out of Australia as a permanent resident. If your application is denied, the Department will explain why and whether you have the right to appeal the decision.

How long will the travel facility remain valid?

After receiving your visa, you are granted permission to travel for a set amount of time. After that time period, you will need a new RRV visa to return to Australia as a permanent resident. Consider becoming an Australian citizen, which will allow you to travel with an Australian passport.

Final Thoughts

So there you have it—a detailed guide to the Resident Return Visa (RRV). Undoubtedly, it is critical for Australian permanent residents who wish to travel overseas while keeping their residency status. You should have already grasped the eligibility conditions, document checklist, and application process. So, what comes next?

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