Australia Resident Return Visa (RRV visa)-Subclass 155 visa and 157

Posted by admin on August 31, 2023

A permanent resident return visa (RRV) (Subclass 155 and Subclass 157) is a type of travel authorisation that enables long-term permanent residents of Australia to leave and return while maintaining their permanent residency status. For this visa, you must be a permanent resident.

Even though a permanent visa is perpetual, the initial one comes with a five-year travel allowance. In the initial five years following the visa’s issuance, you can travel without restrictions to and from Australia. You must apply for a Resident Return visa if you are currently a resident of Australia and need to travel outside of this five-year window or learn that you are now abroad.

If you are within the five-year window, don’t want to travel, or are an Australian citizen, you don’t need to apply for an RRV. You can apply for citizenship after four years in Australia, including a year as a permanent resident. You can do it from within or outside Australia.

Eligibility for Resident Return Visa Subclass 155 and 157 Resident Return Visas

If you want to obtain a Resident Return Visa (Subclass 155 & 157), you must:

• Be one of:

• The permanent resident of Australia
• A former permanent resident of Australia whose final permanent visa was not revoked or
• A former Australian citizen who has given up or lost their nationality

• There are no age limits for visa subclass 155 and 157.
• Meet the standards for residency or strong relationships. You must choose between

• Possess a permanent visa (or entry permission) and have resided in Australia for two years (730 days) in the last five years or are an Australian citizen.
• Be able to prove significant ties to Australia that are advantageous to Australia. 

• Not possess a return endorsement or authority to return. If you have either of the following documents, you cannot obtain this visa:

• Authorisation (Issued between the first of March 1976 and the last day of August 1979)

• Return Endorsement (published from September 1, 1979, to December 31, 1986)

• If you are a permanent resident having one of these, find out what you can do.

• You might not qualify for this visa if your business skills visa has been cancelled for a reason.
• Satisfy all character restrictions.
• You don’t have previously had a visa revoked or rejected.

If you’re not in Australia:

• Before the date of application, you can’t have spent more than five years abroad from Australia.
• You must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident who owns a valid visa.

Privileges From A RRV

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

• Travel to and from Australia until the time your visa’s travel validity ends as a permanent resident. 
• Not return to Australia as a permanent resident if you leave the country after the expiration of your visa’s travel validity. If you intend to stay in Australia permanently, you must apply for and be granted this visa before travelling there.
• 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.
• Submit as many applications for resident return visas as you like.

Substantial Ties

Four factors will be taken into consideration by the Department of Home Affairs (Department) when evaluating your ties to Australia:

1. Business Ties

If they have significant ownership interests and are actively involved in management, people engaged in business operations can show significant ties to Australia. “Business activity” refers to consistent, ongoing action that:

• Has a commercial bent;
• Has a profit-making objective and
• Has a system in place for managing and keeping records.

2. Cultural Ties

Intellectual, artistic, athletic, and religious pursuits are examples of activities that have cultural ties to Australia. These links are strengthened if the person engages in these cultural pursuits professionally or with some amount of public prominence. Examples consist of:

• obtaining membership in an Australian cultural group and participating actively in its events;
• active on a professional level in the arts;
• a member of an Australian religious group or
• a member of an Australian sporting association who is a professional athlete or a support staff member.

3. Employment Ties

Australia frequently views employment as a significant connection that benefits the nation. If you currently have a job offer, you can assert considerable ties. The degree to which you are connected to Australia because of a job offer will depend on the following factors, for instance:

• whether the job matches your skills and experience;
• the very beginning of employment;
• lodging arrangements in Australia and
• registering your kids for school.

4. Personal Ties

Australia typically sees employment as a crucial link that helps the country. You can make a strong case if you already have a job offer. You will be more or less connected to Australia as a result of a job offer depending on many circumstances, such as:

• whether the position corresponds to your qualifications;
• the initial stages of employment;
• accommodations in Australia and
• enrolling your children in school.

The Department will consider all of your connections to see if they collectively show links significant and advantageous to Australia.

Process of getting Resident Return Visa ( subclass 155 & 157)

To apply for a resident return visa (subclass 155, 157), follow these stages:

1. Assess eligibility.
2. Assemble the necessary paperwork.
3. Payment of the application fees.
4. Make a visa application.
5. After submission of the application

Step 1: Assess eligibility

Before applying for a subclass 155 visa or 157 visa, confirm your visa eligibility. To be granted this visa, you must fulfil the prerequisite requirements previously satisfied.

Step 2: Assemble the necessary paperwork

You must acquire some key papers for your resident return visa application. It includes documents like a current passport, national ID card, birth certificates, etc. If you get a new travel permit while your visa application is still being processed, you must inform the Department of Foreign Affairs.

If you submit your Visa 157 and subclass 155 application form Online, you can amend information using your ImmiAccount; however, if you submit it on paper, You must fill out the passport change form 929 and return it to the Department. Any required documentation must be in English or have been translated into English by a reputable translator.

There may be no need for you to submit any more paperwork if

• You are authorised to live permanently in Australia.
• You must have lived in Australia for at least two of the previous five years before applying for an RRV.
• Since you obtained your previous visa, your name and birthdate have remained unchanged.
• You have the necessary character qualities.

Step 3: Payment of the Resident return visa fees

When you apply for a visa, you must include your resident return visa cost. Your visa processing can’t begin till the payment of your money. As you complete the application procedure for online applications, you can do this. Depending on the country, you might have to pay the cost with your paper application if you use that method.

Whether you apply online or on paper, the cost for a resident return visa varies:

• Online applications for resident return visas cost: AUD405
• Fee for paper applications for a resident return visa: AUD485

Step 4: Make a visa application

You can submit your application as soon as all documentation is prepared. There are two different mode of application:

Online Submission

 Applying online is possible with ImmiAccount. There, you can choose the type of visa, submit your online application, provide a scanned copy of your passport, and more. Through the ImmiAccount, you may effortlessly change your personal information.

On manual basis 

A Resident Return Visa Application Form on paper is also an option. If you are abroad or in Australia, you can do this. If you want to apply for a visa while you are abroad, get in touch with the nearest Australian representative office. A paper application can necessitate additional expenses, so keep that in mind.

Step 5: After submission of the application

The Department will start reviewing your visa application the moment you submit it. You may keep track of the progress of your application with your ImmiAccount. Ensure you have a current visa for your return to Australia if you want to travel while your visa application is being considered. You must wait outside of Australia until your resident return visa expires if you applied on paper while outside Australia.

You will get a notification from the Department through email for a resident return visa refused, along with information on how to request a review of the decision.

Resident return visa processing time

If everything goes smoothly, you should receive a resident return visa within five days of submitting your application.

However, if you need a resident return visa, it may take 83 days to three months. Aspects considered are:

• Incorrectly complete the application form.
• Don’t send in the paperwork.
• You take more time to provide details.
• The Department of Foreign Affairs has not verified your data for a prolonged period.

Frequently asked questions

Q. Do I require a return resident visa for Australia?

You must have this visa if:

• You hold a substantive visa for an indefinite stay in Australia.
• You used to be a permanent resident of Australia, and your previous visa is still in force.
• You once held Australian citizenship, but you no longer do.

• If you are already in Australia on a permanent visa and have no plans to leave, you do not need to apply for visas 155 and 157.

Q. What is the Duration of a Resident Return subclass 155 and 157?

A resident return visa is available if you meet the five-year residency criteria. The residence criterion states that you must have spent the last five years (as a permanent resident) living in Australia for at least two years.

The granting of a one-year resident return visa depends on:

• Despite not meeting the residency criterion, you are close to Australia.
• You submitted your application on behalf of a family unit that has either recently applied for or had an RRV visa.
• If you don’t meet these requirements but still need the visa for a compelling cause, you could get granted a resident return visa with a three-month validity.

Q. How Do I Renew My Return Visa for Residents?

If you wish to extend your resident return visa, you must do so when requesting a new RRV visa. You must start over from the beginning. As indicated, if you match the standards, you may not need to send any further paperwork with your application. The number of times you can apply for a resident return visa is unrestricted. Please be aware that you must apply for a fresh resident return visa before your resident return visa expired.

Q. How Do Visa Numbers 155 and 157 Differ?

In contrast to 155 visas valid for up to 5 years, visa 157 is typically only issued for a brief time, up to three months.

Q. How to calculate the period of residency requirement? 

The following determines how long you will be a resident:

• Seven hundred thirty days make up two years.
• You get back five years starting from the day of submission of your resident return visa application.
• Dates of arrival and departure are counted as days. It counts as one day if you arrive and depart on the same day.

Q. Can I bring a family member along?

Family members can’t be listed on your application. Family members must apply separately, but if you declare them in your application, all your applications can be processed.

Conclusion

A permanent visa has a five (5) year initial validity period when it is granted. This period of validity is simply a travel convenience.  Your right to remain in Australia after the five years have passed will not affect your capacity to leave and return as a permanent resident.

The primary requirement for obtaining a new five-year travel permit, known as a resident return visa 155 and 157 (RRV), You must have physically resided in Australia for at least two (2) of the most recent five years while holding a permanent visa.

You can use a resident return visa to renew your Australian Permanent Residency.

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 return visa and how to do so because those with an Australian permanent one can travel for a certain amount of time. A migration agent or visa consultant will help you obtain it.