Resident Return Visa Eligibility

Visa Bureau is not affiliated with the Australian Government but is a website.

Eligibility for a Resident Return Visa (RRV) is relatively broad in comparison to other Australian visa streams.

Typical Requirements

In order to be eligible for a Resident Return Visa which will allow you to leave and re-enter Australia freely for five years, you must be:

A permanent resident of Australia
A former permanent resident of Australia whose last visa was not cancelled
A former Australian citizen who lost or renounced their citizenship

As well as one of the above requirements, you should have spent at least two years in Australia within the last five.

Exceptional Cases

If you have not spent two years in Australia within the last five, you may still be eligible for a Resident Return Visa. However, the Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) will judge each application on a case by case basis and this can also affect the validity period of an RRV.

Reasons why an RRV application may be granted include:

Being able to prove a compassionate and/or compelling reason why the residency requirement could not have been met
Having personal ties to Australia
Having employment or other business ties to Australia
Having a partner or family member in possession of a valid Resident Return Visa

Ineligible Visa Holders

If the last visa you were in Australia on was one of the following business visas, you are not eligible for a Resident Return Visa:

Business Owner visa (Subclasses 127 and 840)
Senior Executive visa (Subclasses 128 and 841)
State/Territory Sponsored Business Owner visa (Subclasses 129 and 842)
State/Territory Sponsored Senior Executive visa (Subclasses 130 and 843)
Investment-Linked visa (Subclasses 131 and 844)
Business Talent visa (Subclass 132)

If you are unsure of whether you meet the above requirements, or believe you may have a compelling reason to be granted a Resident Return Visa, please contact us to discuss your circumstances further.