Resident Return Visa (RRV): Maintaining Your PR Travel Rights

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Your Australian Permanent Residency (PR) status grants you the right to live, work, and study in Australia indefinitely. However, it is crucial to understand that your right to travel outside Australia and return is usually limited to the first five years from the date your PR visa was granted.

The Resident Return Visa (RRV) is the mechanism used to renew your travel rights without compromising your permanent resident status.

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RRV Pathways

  1. SUBCLASS 155: The 5-Year RRV (Standard)

    This is the most straightforward pathway and grants a new five-year travel facility.

  • The Requirement: You must demonstrate that you have spent a total of at least two years (730 days) in the last five years in Australia as a permanent resident or Australian citizen.

  • Processing Time: Applications meeting this simple residence requirement are generally processed very quickly (often within a few days) as the Department can verify the dates easily.

B. Subclass 155: The 1-Year RRV (Substantial Ties)

If you have spent less than 730 days in Australia in the last five years, you may still be granted a one-year RRV if you can prove strong, substantial ties of benefit to Australia.

  • Substantial Ties Include:

    • Personal: Having close Australian citizen/permanent resident family members (spouse, children) living in Australia.

    • Business: Owning or managing an Australian business that employs Australian citizens.

    • Employment: Ongoing employment with an Australian company, even if working remotely overseas.

    • Cultural: Active involvement in Australian community or cultural organisations.

  • The Key: You must provide clear documentary evidence and a strong legal submission demonstrating that these ties benefit Australia.

Frequently Asked Questions

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  • No, you do not lose your permanent resident status. Your PR status (the right to live, work, and study in Australia indefinitely) is separate from the travel facility. When the initial five-year travel facility expires, you simply lose the right to re-enter Australia as a permanent resident if you travel overseas.

    If you are in Australia and don't plan to travel, you do not need an RRV.

  • You can check the exact expiry date of your travel facility using the Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) system. We recommend checking this well before booking any international travel.

    • If you lived in Australia 2 out of the last 5 years as a permanent resident/citizen → up to 5 years

    • If not, but you have substantial ties to Australia → usually 1 year

  • Yes, RRV applications can be lodged inside or outside Australia.

    However, if you are overseas and your travel facility has already expired, you must be granted the new RRV before you can board a flight back to Australia as a permanent resident.

  • You may still be eligible if you can show substantial ties that are in Australia’s interest (for example, family residing in Australia). You may also need to provide a statement explaining your long absence.

  • Processing times vary based on the complexity of your case:

    • If you meet the 2-in-5 rule: Applications are generally relatively fast.

    • If you rely on Substantial Ties: These applications take longer, as the Department must thoroughly assess your evidence and submission. Expect longer processing times.

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