Resident Return Visa — Subclass 155 and 157
Resident Return Visa (RRV)
The Resident Return Visa allows Australian permanent residents whose travel facility has expired to re-enter Australia as a permanent resident. The subclass 155 is available where the residence requirement is met. The subclass 157 applies where compelling circumstances justify a grant despite a shortfall in residence.
Subclass 155 vs subclass 157
The subclass 155 requires the applicant to have been present in Australia as a permanent resident or Australian citizen for at least two years in the five years immediately preceding the application. Where this threshold is met, the application is generally straightforward and a five-year travel facility is granted.
The subclass 157 is available where the two-year residence requirement cannot be met. It requires the applicant to demonstrate substantial ties to Australia of benefit to Australia, such as business interests, professional relationships, family ties, or cultural connections. The subclass 157 is discretionary and the outcome is not guaranteed.
Both subclasses may be applied for offshore or onshore. An applicant who is outside Australia with an expired travel facility must apply offshore. Prompt action is important — the longer the absence, the more difficult it becomes to demonstrate the required connection to Australia.
Eligibility requirements
Subclass 155 — two-year residence
The applicant must have been in Australia as a permanent resident or citizen for at least two of the five years before applying. Time spent as a temporary visa holder does not count.
Subclass 157 — substantial ties
Where the residence threshold is not met, the applicant must demonstrate substantial ties to Australia of benefit to the country. This is assessed on the totality of the circumstances and is discretionary.
Current permanent resident status
The applicant must currently hold Australian permanent residence. A person who has lost permanent resident status cannot apply for an RRV and must consider the Former Resident visa instead.
Health and character
Health and character requirements must be met. These are the same requirements that apply to most Australian visa applications.
155
Residence-based subclass
157
Compelling circumstances subclass
2 of 5 years
Residence threshold for 155
5 years
Travel facility on grant
Why instruct Visa Plan?
Residence calculation
Two years in five sounds straightforward. In practice, gaps, periods as a temporary resident, and periods as a citizen versus permanent resident all affect the calculation. We confirm the position precisely.
Subclass 157 submissions
A subclass 157 submission requires a carefully constructed case around the nature and depth of the applicant's ties to Australia. We prepare submissions that address the criteria the Department weighs most heavily.
Offshore applications
Applicants outside Australia with an expired travel facility are in a time-sensitive position. We manage the application process from overseas and advise on the expected timeline before any travel is planned.
Resident Return Visa information is sourced from the Department of Home Affairs and is current as at 2 June 2026. Eligibility criteria and conditions are subject to change. This page provides general information only and does not constitute legal advice.