Resident Return Visas

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Resident Return Visas

The Resident Return visa (RRV) in Australia is for current or former Australian permanent residents, and former Australian citizens, who wish to re-enter Australia as permanent residents. While a permanent residency visa allows you to stay in Australia indefinitely, the travel facility, which permits you to leave and re-enter the country, usually expires after five years. To renew this travel facility, you need to apply for a Resident Return Visa.

There are two main subclasses of Resident Return visas, Subclass 155 and Subclass 157.

Navigate the Resident Return Australian visa minefield with confidence with our expert-led guidance, powered by a former Immigration case officer turned Registered Practitioner.

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Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for a Resident Return visa, you generally need to be one of the following:

Current Resident A current Australian permanent resident.

Former Resident A former Australian permanent resident whose last permanent visa was not cancelled.

Former Citizen A former Australian citizen who lost or renounced their citizenship.

Subclass 155 Visa With A 5-Year Travel Facility

		For this visa, you generally need to have been present in Australia for at least two years (730 days) in the last five years as a permanent resident or an Australian citizen. This period does not need to be continuous.		
	

		If you do not meet the two-year residence requirement, you may still be eligible for a Subclass 155 visa with a 1-year travel facility if you can demonstrate substantial ties to Australia that are of benefit to Australia.		
	

Visa Submissions

1 %

Visa Approvals

1 +

Years of Experience

1 %

Client Satisfaction

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Common Questions To Return Resident Visas

Considering whether a Return Resident Visa is right for you can be a daunting task.  Here are some of the more common questions we get asked.

What are the prerequisites for a Return Resident Visa?

There are two subclasses assessed together — 155 (preferred, longer validity) and 157 (fallback, 3 months only). To qualify for the stronger 155:
• Easy path: You've lived in Australia as a permanent resident or citizen for at least 2 out of the last 5 years (730 days total)
• Harder path: You haven't met the 2-year rule but can demonstrate substantial ties to Australia — employment, business ownership, property, close family, or cultural involvement
• Last resort (157): You have compelling and compassionate reasons for your absence and limited ties

How difficult is the process for a Return Resident Visa?

If you meet the 2-year residency rule — the best.
If you're relying on substantial ties, it becomes genuinely challenging.

Contact Us to discuss your particular case to and map out a plan to achieve your immigration goals.

How much does a Return Resident Visa Cost?

Government fees vary every year. Please check the department site for up to date fees.
Professional fees dependents on the complexity.

Contact Us to discuss your particular case to get an estimation of costs involved for you.

How do I begin?

Contact Us If your situation involves long absences or borderline ties our assistance and submission will be invaluable.

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HOW CAN RELIABLE IMMIGRATION SERVICE HELP YOU

Service Options

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As a starting point, we can offer you advice on your immigration legal matter so you can make an informed decision.

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For a more comprehensive plan, book a time to develop a immigration strategy to achieve your goals.

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For your peace of mind, we can take care of your visa matter from start to finish and expertly guide you through the entire process.

Document Review

If you have already prepared documents we can review and provide recommendations on how best to improve your visa submission.

DIY Products

We offer templates, step-by-step guides and other supporting tools for people who prefer to do their own submissions.

Visa Refusal / Appeals

We offer expert review and counsel on visa refusals and advice on options and appeal options.

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We can provide advice, strategic planning, document review, DIY templates and guides, as well as end-to-end management of your visa matter.

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 13 August 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Michelle was very professional and a pleasure to deal with. I highly recommend her services.
  
 
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   Charlie Mazauric 
 30 July 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I am extremely satisfied with the service from Michelle. Quick replies by emails, texts and phones calls. Michelle has made my life less stressful, has been patient when I was busy and I got my visa smoothly. I strongly recommend the service!
  
 
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   Col Grieves 
 26 July 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Professional, helpful, and fully reliable worth every cent. Thank you!
  
 
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   SRIKANTH BATHINI 
 1 May 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Reliable Immigration Services, the name itself says how reliable and dependable their services are. Michelle Brewty is an exceptional Immigration Consultant. She guided my Family Visa right from the first day and made my application successful. I am very grateful for her guidance and support in making my application. I recommend Reliable Immigration Services highly for your Visa Services. If you want your application should be successful then Reliable Immigration Services is your gateway for the success 👏👏 Srikanth Bathini
  
 
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   Vinutha Eligar 
 27 April 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I had a great experience with Ms. Michelle. Mine and my daughters Partner Visa was very much challenging. Michelle was always there to support and guide us. We are very much thankful to her. She is superb and knowledgeable. I am happy to feel that we were at right hands. Thank you Michelle.
  
 
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   Jackson Smith 
 23 April 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Thank you to Michelle for helping us throughout the immigration process. We couldn't have done it without her knowledge and understanding of the process, and I think she saved us from a lot of heartache in the end because of that. She knew exactly what we needed, when to get it, and what would help our case. My only critique, and it is very minor, but one of the adobe forms we were given required that I download a very old version of adobe in order to edit. I think the version might have been from the early 2010's? I'm not sure why we had to use that file, it might have been for some automated input program? It was very confusing to use. But like I said, very minor, not sure how resolvable. All that really mattered was that we got the help we needed, and she provided exactly that.
  
 
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   Kaveesha Wijerathna 
 15 April 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Not to mention, the support we received from Michelle throughout the visa process was outstanding. Her professionalism, responsiveness, and ease of communication made the entire experience smooth and stress free. I would highly appreciate her work and confidently recommend her to anyone looking for reliable assistance with their visa process.
  
 
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   Shiva Bhat 
 24 January 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I had an excellent experience with Michelle during my visa process. She was extremely professional, knowledgeable, and always quick to respond to any questions or concerns. Her communication was clear, timely, and very reassuring throughout the entire process. Michelle guided me at every step, paid great attention to detail, and genuinely cared about my case. Thanks to her expertise and prompt support, I successfully received my visa grant. I couldn’t  have asked for a more supportive and reliable person during such an important time. Without hesitation,I recommend Michelle to anyone looking for reliable and efficient immigration assistance.
  
 
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   Chandan Reddy 
 7 January 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I am deeply grateful to Michelle for supporting me through one of the most stressful and emotional journeys of my life. My visa process was lengthy and involved complex S56 requests, which made the experience extremely challenging, especially while being away from my family for several years. Throughout the entire process, Michelle remained calm, patient, and highly professional. She provided clear and practical guidance, reassured me during difficult periods, and ensured that every submission was accurate and timely. Her commitment and exceptional attention to detail played a crucial role in the successful outcome of my case. She reviewed the documentation with incredible thoroughness, anticipating how a case officer would assess the application and presenting everything in a way that was clear, logical, and easy to process, ultimately avoiding any further S56 requests. I cannot thank Michelle enough for helping me finally secure my permanent residency and move forward with my life. I highly recommend Reliable Immigration Services to anyone seeking an immigration lawyer who genuinely cares about their clients. My journey with Reliable Immigration Services began with a 482 visa and concluded with Permanent Residency. Once again, thank you so much, Michelle 😊 On behalf of my wife and son, thank you so much, Michelle, for bringing our family together