Australia Resident Return Visa (RRV) – Frequently Asked Questions

A Resident Return Visa (RRV) lets Australian permanent residents travel in and out of Australia after their original travel facility has expired. Although permanent residence does not expire, the travel facility usually ends after five years. Therefore, if you want to leave Australia or return after time overseas, you must hold a valid RRV.

You need an RRV if you are an Australian permanent resident and want to travel while your PR travel facility has expired or is about to expire. However, if you stay in Australia and do not travel, you do not need an RRV.

Subclass 155 is the standard Resident Return Visa. In many cases, it allows travel for up to five years. Subclass 157 is a short-term visa. It usually allows travel for three months and applies when you do not meet the requirements for a longer RRV but still have acceptable reasons for time spent overseas.

The length of your RRV depends on your individual circumstances. You may receive: A 5-year travel facility, A 12-month travel facility or a 3-month travel facility. The Department considers your time spent in Australia, your ties, and your overall travel history.

To qualify for a 5-year RRV, you must have lived in Australia for at least two years in the last five years as a permanent resident or citizen. If you do not meet this requirement, you may still qualify for a shorter RRV. In that case, you must show substantial ties to Australia or compelling reasons for your absence.

Yes, it is still possible. However, the longer you have lived outside Australia, the more important your evidence becomes. You must clearly show either strong ongoing ties to Australia or acceptable reasons for your absence. Without this, refusal risk increases.

Most applicants apply online through ImmiAccount or let us do it all for you. You can apply: From inside Australia, or From outside Australia. Before applying, you should confirm which RRV pathway you are relying on, as this affects the evidence you must provide.

The evidence depends on how you qualify. If you meet the residence requirement, you usually provide passports and travel records.
However, if you rely on ties or compelling reasons, you must also provide supporting documents. Clear, relevant evidence improves decision-making and reduces delays.

No. If you are outside Australia and your RRV has expired, you cannot return as a permanent resident until a new RRV is granted. You must receive approval before travelling.

If your RRV expires overseas, your permanent residence does not end. However, you lose the ability to return to Australia as a permanent resident until a new RRV is granted.

No. Each family member must lodge their own RRV application and meet the criteria individually. This includes partners and children who hold permanent residence.

No. Applying for an RRV does not cancel or change your permanent residence. An RRV only affects your travel facility, not your PR status.

Yes, an RRV can be refused. This usually happens when: Residency requirements are not met, and substantial ties or compelling reasons are weak or poorly explained. Good preparation reduces this risk.

You should consider professional advice if: You have lived outside Australia for many years. You rely on ties or compelling reasons, previously received a short-term RRV or you are unsure which pathway applies. RRV decisions involve discretion, so strategy matters. Contact us here to discuss.

We assess your eligibility before you apply and explain which outcome is realistic. We also: Review travel history, Identify the strongest evidence, Prepare clear submissions, Reduce refusal risk and we provide honest advice, including when an RRV is unlikely. Contact us here to discuss

Substantial ties show an ongoing connection to Australia that benefits the country. These may include Employment or business activity in Australia, Immediate family members living in Australia, Property ownership or long-term commitments, Importantly, the ties must be current, not historic.

Compelling reasons explain why you were outside Australia and why you could not meet the normal residency requirement. They usually apply to short-term RRVs and focus on circumstances such as serious family illness, unavoidable overseas work, or other events that reasonably prevented your return. Strong evidence and a clear timeline are essential.