Resident Return Visas
The purpose of a Resident Return Visa (RRV) is to facilitate the re-entry into Australia of non-citizen permanent residents; to ensure that only those people who have a genuine commitment to residing in Australia, or who are contributing to Australia's well-being, retain the right to return to Australia and remain permanently.
Visa Requirements:
The applicant must be:
- a permanent resident holding a valid permanent visa
- a former permanent resident whose last permanent visa was not cancelled, or
- a former Australian citizen who has lost or renounced his or her Australian citizenship
For a five- year RRV, applicants must have spent two years out of the last five years in Australia as a permanent resident or have substantial and beneficial ties to Australia. Applicants who have been absent from Australia for more than five years must also have compelling reasons for their absence of more than five years.
A three-month RRV may be granted to persons who don't yet qualify for a five-year RRV but have strong reasons to go overseas, such as the severe illness of a family member. Applicants must have spent at least one day in Australia in the last five years as a permanent resident, and have compelling and compassionate reasons for departing Australia.
Spouses and family members of an RRV holder who are or have been permanent residents may be granted RRVs on the basis that their family head holds an RRV.
An RRV granted on this basis will have the same validity period as the family head's, whether the family member applies for an RRV at the same time as the family head or later. If the family member meets one of the other criteria for an RRV in their own right, they will be granted an RRV with the full five-year validity.
RRVs are usually issued with a validity of 5 years or 3 months. An RRV allows Australian permanent residents to travel from, and return to Australia as often as they wish within the validity of the visa, whilst maintaining their status as permanent residents.
Do I need a Resident Return Visa (RRV)?
Everybody, except Australian citizens and New Zealand citizens travelling on their New Zealand passport, must have a visa to travel to Australia. If you are a permanent resident of Australia and intend to travel away from Australia, you should ensure that you have a visa, which is valid for re-entry, on your return to Australia.
This visa can be your original permanent resident visa, or a Resident Return Visa, as long as it authorises travel to Australia on the date you return.
The visa can be in your current passport or in an expired passport that you also carry with you while you travel.
Can I continue to use my permanent residence visa when my passport expires?
When your passport with a valid Australia permanent residence visa expires, the visa does not become invalid. You may choose to have your existing visa reprinted into your new passport (processing fee applies), or you may merely carry your old passport (with valid visa) and your new passport together, whenever travelling in or out of Australia.
|
