What is Resident Return Visa?
Resident Return Visas (Subclass 155 or 157) are special Australian visas which allow current or former permanent residents, or former Australian citizen, to travel outside Australia and return as permanent residents after their original travel document expires.
When you’re granted your permanent visa in Australia, you can travel in and out Australia for many times you want. However, each permanent visa only includes a five-year travel facility. Once that travel facility expires, you’ll need an RRV to re-enter as a permanent resident—unless you’ve become an Australian citizen.
There are two return resident visa subclasses, which are 155 visa (long-term) and 157 visa (short-term). Below is a short comparison between these two visas:
| Visa Subclass | Travel Duration | Key Eligibility Pathway |
| 155 (Long-Term) | Up to 5 years | You can apply for this subclass if you have at least 2 years’ residence in Australia within the last 5 years (730 days) |
| 157 (Short-Term) | 3–12 months | You can apply for a 157 visa if you don’t meet residence requirement but have compelling reasons or family ties |
Who are eligible for a resident return Australia visa?
To apply for either Subclass 155 or 157, you must meet the following criteria:
- Hold or have held a qualifying status
- Be a current Australian permanent resident,
- A former permanent resident whose last PR visa wasn’t cancelled, or
- A former Australian citizen who lost or renounced your citizenship
- Residency requirement
- Subclass 155: To qualify for this visa, you must spend at least 730 days in Australia during the last 5 years as a permanent resident or citizen.
- Substantial ties (Subclass 155): If you’ve spent less than 730 days, you may be still eligible for a 155 visa to return to Australia. However, you must demonstrate how you benefit Australia, such as strong business, employment, cultural or personal ties.
- Subclass 157: Alternatively, you can apply for a 157 visa to return Australia if you have stayed in Australia less than 730 days. However, under this visa, you can only travel in oud out Australia for 3-12 months only, and also, you need to provide compelling or compassionate circumstances for extended absence.
- Character requirement and have no cancelled visa record (e.g., no previous RRV refusals or cancellations of specified business-skills visas
What documentation must be included in the application?
You need to include the following documentation when applying for a RRV visa.
- Identity documents: Valid passport (bio page, previous passports showing travel history).
- Evidence of residence: Flight records, lease agreements, utility bills or school records showing at least 730 days in Australia (for Subclass 155).
- Substantial-ties evidence (if claiming):
- Business ties: Company reports, contracts, tax records.
- Employment ties: Employment contracts, pay slips, tax returns.
- Personal/cultural ties: Marriage or birth certificates of Australian citizen family, membership of cultural organisations, community-service letters.
- Resident Return Visa Application Form 1085 (if applying on paper) or an ImmiAccount application (online).
- Character documents: Police checks from every country you’ve lived in for 12 + months since age 16.
How to Apply for a 155 or 157 visa?
- You need to create or log into your ImmiAccount at the Department of Home Affairs website
- Complete the online application for Subclass 155 or 157.
- – Make sure to attach digital copies of all required documents.
- – Pay the application charge. Please note that your application only can be processed after the application fee is paid.
- Alternatively, you can download and lodge Form 1085 (Resident Return Visa) at your nearest Australian visa office or by post.
How much do you need to pay?
The application fee for online application is cheaper than paper one.
- Online: AUD 475
- Paper: AUD 555
Resident return visa Australia processing time
- Processing time for a Subclass 155 (long-term stay) is very fast
- 50 percent can be finalised in 1 day
- 90 percent can be finalised less than 23 days
- Processing time for a Subclass 157 (short-term stay) will take longer as the case officer needs to assess the reasons for your extended absence in Australia
- 50 percent can be finalised in 24 days
- 90 percent can be finalised in 71 days
Need visa and migration advice? Contact SOL Migration today at 07 3003 1899 or hello@solmigration.com. Our registered and experienced Migration Agent will provide you with smooth application process.