If your Australian permanent residency has expired, or is about to, you may be wondering whether you can still return to Australia without losing your legal residency status. The answer is yes, in many cases, you can. This is possible through the Resident Return Visa (RRV).
It’s a specific type of permanent residency visa designed to support former or current permanent residents who want to regain or retain their ability to return to Australia after being away for an extended period. Whether you once lived in Australia and left, or you were granted PR but never moved, the RRV may allow you to re-enter Australia and resume (or begin) your life there.
Many people mistakenly believe that once their permanent residency expires, they have no recourse to return to Australia. But this is not true. The RRV, commonly referred to by its subclass number 155, is intended to preserve continuity for those who already hold PR status.
It is not a new or separate immigration pathway, but rather a specialised PR visa that restores or extends your travel rights as a permanent resident. If your original visa’s travel facility has expired, or you’ve been outside of Australia for too long, applying for an RRV could be your way back in.
If your Australian permanent residency has expired, or is about to, you may still be able to return to Australia by applying for a Resident Return Visa (RRV). While many people assume that an expired visa means their opportunity has passed, this isn’t necessarily true.
The Resident Return Visa (subclass 155) allows former or current permanent residents to re-enter Australia and maintain or regain their residency status, even if they never lived in the country after receiving their PR.
As long as your permanent residency hasn’t been cancelled and you meet specific eligibility requirements, such as demonstrating substantial ties to Australia and providing compelling reasons for your absence (in some cases), you may still qualify for an RRV.
Hitchcock & Associates, a trusted migration agency, can assist you in navigating the process and understanding your eligibility. If you’re unsure of your options, professional guidance can make a significant difference.
The Resident Return Visa (RRV) is technically a type of permanent residency visa (specifically subclass 155) but it functions quite differently from other permanent residency (PR) visas issued through skilled, family, or employer-sponsored migration programs.
Unlike general PR visas which typically grant a 5-year travel facility upon grant and allow you to settle in Australia, the RRV is used to preserve or restore your permanent residency status by restoring your travel facility if it has expired or is about to expire.
Most PR holders lose their ability to enter or re-enter Australia as a permanent resident once the travel facility tied to their visa expires. This does not mean their PR has been cancelled, but without a valid travel facility or RRV, they cannot enter or return to Australia as a permanent resident.
The RRV resolves this by reactivating the right to travel in and out of Australia as a PR, provided the visa holder meets eligibility criteria such as close personal, business or cultural ties to Australia or compelling reasons for extended absence.
In short: the RRV doesn’t create a new PR status. Instead, it re-establishes the travel privileges linked to your existing permanent residency. This distinction is important, especially for individuals who may have never entered Australia after receiving PR but still hold legal residency rights.
Hitchcock & Associates helps applicants understand this often misunderstood difference and assists with determining eligibility and compiling supporting evidence.
To be eligible for a Resident Return Visa (RRV) subclass 155, you must already hold Australian permanent residency that has not been cancelled. This includes individuals who were granted PR in the past but never moved to Australia, as well as former residents who lived in Australia and then left. If you have permanent residency in Australia but the travel facility attached to it has expired, you may still qualify for an RRV if you meet certain requirements.
1. You have spent at least two years (730 days) lawfully in Australia as a permanent resident within the last five years. If you meet this requirement, you are typically granted an RRV with a five-year travel facility.
2. If you do not meet the residency requirement, you may still qualify for a one-year RRV if you can demonstrate either:
- substantial and ongoing personal, business, employment or cultural ties to Australia, and/or
- compelling reasons for your absence from Australia.
Importantly, even if you never entered Australia after your original PR was granted, you may still be eligible for an RRV, especially if you can show strong family connections, long-term business interests, or valid reasons for not relocating earlier (such as illness, financial hardship, or family responsibilities).
However, each application is assessed on a case-by-case basis by the Department of Home Affairs.
Hitchcock & Associates works closely with clients to evaluate their circumstances, compile supporting evidence, and present a clear and persuasive case that aligns with RRV eligibility guidelines.
