(Subclass 151) Former Resident visa
This permanent visa allows former permanent residents and certain people who served in the Australian Defence Force to live in Australia.
With this visa, you can
- stay in Australia permanently
- work and study in Australia
- enrol in Australia’s public health care scheme, Medicare
You must
- meet our age and long residence requirement or defence service requirement
- apply on paper
(Subclasses 155 and 157 ) Resident Return visa
If you leave Australia after your travel validity expires, or it expires when you are outside Australia, you will not be able to return to Australia as a permanent resident. This visa allows you to return as a permanent resident.
Stay – Permanently
With this visa, you can
- travel in and out of Australia as many times as you want until the travel validity expires
- the validity varies depending on your circumstances.
How long this visa lasts
Travel validity will vary depending in your circumstances:
- If you have lived in Australia for 2 years (730 days) in the last 5 years as a permanent resident, former citizen or former permanent resident, then you meet what is known as the residence requirement and might be given a 5 year travel validity on your visa.
- If you have not lived in Australia for 2 years in the last 5 years as a permanent resident or former citizen or former permanent resident, then you might be given a maximum of 12 months travel validity on your visa if you can demonstrate substantial ties that benefit Australia. Check the substantial ties documents that you need to provide under Step by step, Gather your documents.
- If you meet the requirements only because you are a member of family unit of a person who holds this visa, then you can only be given a maximum of 12 months travel validity on your visa.
- If you don’t meet the requirement, but have compelling and compassionate reasons for departure, then you might only be given 3 months travel validity on your visa.
If you hold a Resident Return Visa (RRV), you should be aware of your travel validity’s expiry date. If you need to travel, you should apply for a new RRV before your existing travel validity expires in order to avoid delays.
If you return to Australia without a permanent visa and a valid travel facility (for example, a visitor visa), this might impact your:
- entitlements as a permanent resident
- ability to satisfy the permanent residence requirements when applying for Australian citizenship or another Resident Return visa.
If your travel validity has expired and you do not wish to travel, you do not need to apply for a Resident Return visa.
You must be either
- an Australian permanent resident
- a former Australian permanent resident whose last permanent visa was not cancelled
- a former Australian citizen who lost or renounced Australian citizenship
