A Comprehensive Guide to Resident Return Visas in Australia

Australian permanent residents who want to travel freely without jeopardising their permanent visa status must have a resident return visa for Australia. It’s critical to understand who can apply for a resident’s return visa in Australia with how to do so because those with Australian permanent access are only permitted to travel for a certain amount of time.

Resident Return Visa Australia 

A resident return visa (RRV) makes it easier for permanent residents who are not Australian citizens to enter the country again. The RRV ensure that only those people retain the right to return and reside permanently in Australia who have a sincere commitment to doing so or who are making a positive contribution to Australia’s well-being.

An RRV enables Australian citizens and permanent residents to leave and return to Australia as often as they like throughout the visa’s term to maintain their status as permanent residents. 

You can travel unrestrictedly to and from Australia for up to another five years as long as you have a Resident Return visa. It only extends your legal status to travel; you continue to have the same privileges as before as a permanent resident. You can apply for a new resident return visa when the travel facility on your current one expires. 

Using the Resident Return Visa Australia (Subclass 155 & 157), you can:

• Travel to and from Australia till the time your visa’s travel validity ends as a permanent resident. 
• You won’t be allowed to return to Australia as a permanent resident if you leave the country after the expiration of your visa’s travel validity. Before arriving in Australia, you must apply for and be granted this visa if you intend to stay there permanently.
• If you do not intend to travel, you do not need to apply for this visa if you are already a permanent resident of Australia.
• You may apply for as many Resident Return visas as you’d like.

Resident Return Visa Eligibility Criteria

The requirements for a resident return visa eligibility are as follows:

• You must be an Australian permanent resident, a former Australian permanent resident, or an Australian citizen who has lost or renounced their citizenship.
• The following prerequisites must all be met:

• Possess a permanent visa or Australian citizenship and must have lived legally in Australia for at least one day but no more than two years in the previous five years. Furthermore, you must have humanitarian and strong justifications for leaving or already being out of the country.
• You must meet the requirements and have submitted an application for this visa, or you are a family member of someone having a Subclass 157 resident return visa or who meets the conditions.

• If you are offshore, unless there are compelling and compassionate grounds for the absence, you must not have been away from Australia for a continuous time more than three months before filing the visa application.
• You must meet specific public interest requirements.
• If you apply abroad, you must meet specific Special Return requirements.

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Resident Return Visa Australia Document Checklist

Certainly! If you’re looking to apply for a Resident Return Visa (RRV) in Australia, you’ll need to provide certain documents to support your application. Here’s a general document checklist for the RRV:

1. Personal Documents:

• Passport: A copy of the bio-data page of your current passport.
• Recent passport-sized photographs: Typically, two recent passport-sized photos that meet the Australian visa photo requirements.
• Birth certificate: A copy of your birth certificate showing both parents’ names.

2. Visa Status:

• Visa Grant Notice: If you have it, a copy of the visa grant notice for your current or previous visa.
• VEVO (Visa Entitlement Verification Online) printout: This shows your current visa status.

3. Travel Documents:

• Travel records: If you’ve traveled outside of Australia, provide details of your travel, including dates, destinations, and reasons for travel.

4. Ties to Australia:

• Evidence of substantial ties: This can include employment contracts, property ownership or lease agreements, evidence of business activities or investments in Australia, and more.
• Personal ties: Documents that prove your personal ties to Australia, such as marriage certificates, children’s birth certificates, or evidence of your close family living in Australia.
• Cultural ties: Evidence of any cultural ties, like involvement in cultural or social activities in Australia.

5. Character Documents (if applicable):

• Police clearance: If you’ve lived in any country for 12 months or more (cumulatively) in the last 10 years, you might need a police clearance from that country.
• Military service record: If you’ve served in the military of any country.

6. If you’re claiming a relationship with an Australian citizen or permanent resident:

• Evidence of relationship: This can be marriage certificates, joint bank account statements, joint utility bills, photographs, or any other evidence that proves the genuineness of your relationship.

7. If you’re claiming an exemption based on compelling and compassionate reasons:

• Supporting documents: Any evidence that supports your claim, such as medical reports, death certificates, or letters of support.

8. Payment:

• Receipt or proof of payment: Ensure you’ve paid the visa application charge and have a receipt or other proof of payment.

Remember, the exact documents you’ll need can vary based on your individual circumstances. Always refer to the official website of the Department of Home Affairs or consult with a registered migration agent to ensure you have the most up-to-date and relevant information for your situation.

Resident Return Visa Application Process

Step 1: 

Make sure your passport is current and scan the pages in colour that contain your photo, name, contact information, and the issue and expiration dates. Gather any relevant documentation to support evidence of strong ties to Australia. The resident return visa Australia document checklist contains a current passport, national ID card, birth certificate, etc. While your visa application is still pending, you must notify the Department of Foreign Affairs if you obtain a new passport.

If you apply online, you can amend information using your ImmiAccount; however, if you submit it on paper, you must complete the passport change form 929 and send it to the Department. Any required documentation must be in English or translated into English by a reputable translator.

You might not be required to submit any further paperwork if

• You hold a visa to stay in Australia permanently.
• Before requesting an RRV, you must have spent the previous five years residing in Australia for at least two of those years.
• Your name and birthdate have not changed since you received your prior visa.
• You have the necessary character qualities.

Step 2: 

Apply online by logging in with your ImmiAccount already set up or registering for one. Additionally, you can submit a paper application using Form 1085 by mailing it to the provided address.

Step 3: 

You can make applications for every family member and include the papers with each application.

Step 4: 

Pay the fee associated with each application. You must pay the visa fee before you can have your application processed.

Step 5: 

Submit your resident return visa application.

The Department of Home Affairs will inform you if your request for a resident return visa is approved or denied. Your application will only be turned down if reimbursement is turned down.

There is no limit on the number of Resident Return Visas that may be issued to you as long as you are qualified at the time of application, so submit as many as you need.

The processing time for 90% of requests for a resident return visa is 3–4 months. However, the Department of Home Affairs has emphasised that if your application is complete and meets the residence requirements, you may receive a response within five working days of submission.

Resident Return Visa Cost

If you apply online, a Resident Return Visa costs A$405 for each applicant. If you submit a paper application, it costs A$485 per time for each candidate. 

To determine your visa expenses, utilise the Department of Home Affairs Visa Pricing Estimator. Remember that this excludes any additional incidental charges incurred when a health check, police verification, or biometrics are required.

Resident Return Visa Australia Validity

A 5-year travel Resident Return Visa may be granted to you if you are a permanent resident, a former Australian citizen, or a previous permanent resident who meets the residence conditions.

A Resident Return Visa for former citizens will receive a visa if they have spent less than 730 days in Australia as a current or former permanent resident over the previous five years. However, you must provide proof of powerful connections.

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Conclusion 

A permanent resident of Australia must invest time, money, and effort. It’s equally crucial to make sure you can increase your PR. A resident return visa subclass 155 & 157 can help you with this. 

If your request for a Resident Return visa is approved, then permanent resident status be restored. If your application for a resident return visa is refused, you should consider reapplying for a permanent visa—perhaps one for a former resident, a relative, or a skilled worker.

You will receive information on your eligibility for any merits review processes. A migration consultant Perth can help you while lodging the visa application.