A Comprehensive Guide to Resident Return Visa Australia

Are you an Australian permanent resident who plans to travel overseas but not sure about your rights to travel in and out of country? This blog post is for you!

 

You can travel to other countries from Australia without losing permanent residency via a Resident Return Visa (RRV). However, you are required to meet certain eligibility requirements and conditions to avail this visa.

 

Continue reading this blog post as it provides a comprehensive overview of the Resident Return Visa, its eligibility criteria, document checklist and application process. 

 

What is a Resident Return Visa Australia?

The Resident Return Visa (RRV) allows Australian permanent residents to travel in and out of Australia while maintaining their permanent resident status. This visa is applicable under the following circumstances:

  

• If an Australian permanent resident leaves Australia after his travel validity expires, or
• If it expires when the applicant (permanent resident) is outside Australia.

 

Under these conditions, the applicant is not eligible to return to Australia as a permanent resident. The RRV visa can serve the purpose here by allowing candidates to enter the country as permanent residents. 

 

The RRV visa Australia is further divided into two subclasses:

 

• RRV Visa Subclass 155 

The duration for subclass 155 is approximately five years. This subclass is granted to a permanent resident who has substantial ties to Australia or has spent a significant amount of time there.

 

• RRV Visa Subclass 157 

The duration for subclass 155 is approximately three months.  This visa is granted to permanent residents who want to return to Australia for short periods and have compelling reasons for their previous absences.

 

What is the Fee Cost of Resident Return Visa (RRV) Australia?

If you are applying online for an RRV visa, you will have to submit an application fee of AUD475.00.  However, for paper applications, you are required to submit AUD555. In addition to this, you may be asked to submit additional charges for health examinations, police clearance certificates and biometrics. The Department of Home Affairs will notify you if this is required.

 

To check more accurate and precise visa costs, use the Visa Pricing Estimator. However, remember that the estimator does not consider other additional costs.

 

What is the Processing Time of an RRV Visa in Australia?

The processing time varies depending on several factors. Some of these factors include the following:

• Your application will be processed within 5 business days if you meet the residence requirements.
• Your application can take 12 weeks or more if you do not meet the residence requirements. 

 

Additionally, your application may take longer to process if: 

• You don’t include all the necessary documents.
• You don’t fill out the application form correctly.
• The volume of applications being received is high.

 

If you fail to pay the appropriate application fee, your application will not be processed. Use the visa processing time guidance tool to see how long it will take to process this visa. 

 

What is the Eligibility Criteria to Apply for the Resident Return Visa Australia?

 

 

To be eligible for the Resident Return Visa, you must be:

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

 

Australian citizens cannot apply for an RRV visa. In addition to this, applicants must meet the following requirements:

 

Age Requirement

There are no age restrictions to submit applications for Resident Return Visa (RRV). 

 

Residence Requirement

You have to meet the following residence requirements in order to apply for a resident return visa in Australia:

 

You will get a 5-year travel facility if:

You have been living in Australia for 2 years as a permanent resident or as an Australian citizen.

You will get a 12-month travel facility if: 

You left Australia as a permanent resident or citizen and were not absent for consecutive five years from the country. 

OR

You are outside of Australia and left the country as a citizen or permanent resident less than 10 years before you applied and were not absent from Australia for more than 5 years. Moreover, in this situation, you must be able to demonstrate substantial ties to Australia. 

OR

You are in Australia and able to demonstrate substantial ties to the country. Moreover, you have not been absent from the country for consecutive five years.

OR

You are the member of a family of someone who already has an RRV or has applied for it and satisfies the application requirements. 

 

Residence requirement calculation guidelines

To calculate the residence requirements above mentioned, follow these guidelines:

• The 2-year period is equivalent to 730 days.
• The 5-year period is counted back from the date the RRV application is lodged.
• Both the date of arrival and the date of departure are included in the count of days in Australia.
• If the applicant arrives and departs on the same day, it is counted as one day.
• If a visa expires and another one is granted on the same day, it is counted as one day. 
• Any part-day spent in Australia by a permanent visa holder is counted as a full day.

 

Substantial Ties Requirement

If you do not meet the residence requirement for the subclass 155 visa, you must demonstrate substantial ties to Australia. These can be business, cultural, employment and personal ties. 

 

Authority to Return or Return Endorsement

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

 

• Authority to Return (issued between 1 March 1976 to 31 August 1979)
• Return Endorsement (issued between 1 September 1979 and 31 December 1986)

 

If you were issued any one of these two, see Overseas travel as a permanent resident.

 

Cancellation Action on Business Grounds

You cannot apply for this visa if your skills visas have been canceled on business grounds. Moreover, you are not eligible for this visa if you hold one of these:

 

• 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 to this, you will not be able to apply for RRV Australia if:

• You have been granted a subclass 155, 157 or 159 visa. 
• Your subclass 155, 157 or 159 visas have been subjectioed to action cancellation on the same business visa grounds.

 

Character Requirement

You must meet the character requirements set by the Australian government. To demonstrate this, you must provide a police clearance certificate from each country you have lived in for one year or more in the last 10 years. Moreover, you must not have been involved in a substantial criminal record.

 

Health Requirement

You must meet certain health requirements. You may be required to undergo a medical examination to ensure that you are not suffering from a contagious disease that could put Australian community at danger. 

 

How to Apply for a Resident Return Visa Australia?

 

Applying for a Resident Return Visa (RRV) involves several steps. These steps include the following: 

 

• Step 1: Things to do before applying

• Step 2: Gather your documents

• Step 3: Apply for the RRV Australia

• Step 4: Pay the application fee.

• Step 5: Wait for the visa outcome

 

Here is the in-depth analysis of each of these steps.

 

Step 1: Things to do before applying

Before applying for a Resident Return visa, check your current visa status and travel facility. You can use Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) program to verify whether you need to apply for RRV or not. Keep in mind that you  might not receive a refund after submitting your application.

 

Moreover, you must have a valid passport or other travel documents to apply for this visa. In case you need a new passport, get it before submitting application for RRV Australia and provide the new details to the Department as soon as possible. 

 

Step 2: Gather your documents

Before you start your application, ensure you have all the necessary documents. Here is the document checklist for RRV Australia:

 

• Identity documents including passport, birth certificate, NIC or change of name (if applicable).
• Evidence of residency showing your periods of residency in Australia.
• Proof of substantial ties demonstrating your business, cultural, employment, or personal ties to Australia.
• Police clearance certificate.
• Medical examination certificate.
• Evidence of compelling reasons for any absences from Australia of 5 or more continuous years or

 

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

• You are a permanent resident of Australia.
• Before submitting your application, you must have lived in Australia for almost two years as an Australian citizen or permanent resident.
• Since your last visa was granted, neither your name nor your birthdate have changed.
• You meet the set requirements.

 

Step 3: Apply for the RRV Australia

You can apply online via ImmiAccount website. You do not need to have an electronic visa record in order to utilise ImmiAccount. If you are unable to apply online because of a technical problem, contact support system. 

 

But if technical assistance is unable to fix the problem, the Department may allow you to apply on paper. But you will have to pay an extra non-internet application fee for this purpose. 

To apply online, follow these steps:

• Create an account or log in to your previous ImmiAccount.
• Download the application form for Resident Return Visa.
• Fill out the application form with accurate and detailed information. 
• Attach scanned copies of all the required documents.

 

Make sure you provide the complete and accurate information. Otherwise, your application will not be processed. 

 

Step 4: Pay the application fee

The application fee for an RRV is AUD 475if you apply online. But if you apply on paper, the fee is higher. Payment can be made through various methods available on the ImmiAccount portal.

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

 

Step 5: Wait for the visa outcome

After submission, the Department of Home Affairs will process your application. You will be notified of the outcome of your application. If your application is approved, you will receive your RRV, allowing you to travel in and out of Australia as a permanent resident. In case your application is refused, the Department will tell you about the reasons and whether you have right to review the decision or not. 

 

How long will the travel facility be valid?

After your visa is issued, you are allowed to travel for a specified time period. After that time period, you will require a new RRV visa in order to return to Australia as a permanent resident. Alternatively, think about becoming an Australian citizen so that you can use an Australian passport for travelling.

 

Final Thoughts

So, there you have it- a comprehensive guide to the Resident Return Visa (RRV). Undoubtedly it is crucial for Australian permanent residents who want to travel abroad while maintaining their residency status. By now, you must have understood its eligibility requirements, document checklist, and the application process. So, what’s next?

Apply for Resident Return Visa (RRV) without worrying about your residency status!

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is a Resident Return visa in Australia?

A Resident Return Visa (RRV) allows Australian permanent residents to travel in and out of Australia while keeping their permanent resident status.

 

What is the difference between Resident Return visa 155 and 157?

The subclass 155 is usually valid for up to 5 years and is for those who have substantial ties to Australia or have spent significant time in the country. While subclass 157 is valid for up to 3 months and is for those who need to return to Australia for short periods and have compelling reasons for their previous absences.

 

How much does an Australian Resident Return visa cost?

The application fee for an RRV is AUD 475 if you apply online. However, if you apply on paper, you will have to pay a fee of AUD 555.

 

How long does it take to renew Resident Return visa in Australia?

The processing time can vary depending upon several factors. If you meet the residence requirements, it usually takes about 5 business days. If you do not meet the residence requirements, it can take 12 weeks or more.