Resident Return Visas

Visa Criteria

To be eligible for a Resident Return Visa, you must be:
- an Australian permanent resident, or
- a former Australian citizen who has renounced or lost their citizenship, or
- a former permanent resident who hasn't had their most recent permanent visa cancelled.

You must fit into 1 of 5 situations.

1. You have been lawfully present in Australia:
   - for no less than 2 years in the 5 years before the application is made, and
   - during that time you were an Australian citizen or the holder of a permanent visa, and
   - during that time you were not the holder or a temporary visa or bridging visa

2. If you are outside Australia, you can show that you:
   - have substantial business, cultural, employment or personal ties with Australia which are of benefit to Australia, and
   - have not been absent from Australia for a continuous period of 5 years or more before the application is made unless there are compelling reasons, and
   - hold a permanent visa, or last left Australia as a permanent resident or citizen.

3. If outside Australia, you can show that you:
   - have substantial business, cultural, employment or personal ties with Australia which are of benefit to Australia, and
   - were an Australian citizen or permanent resident less than 10 years before the application; and
   - have not been absent from Australia for a cumulative period of more than 5 years since you last left Australia, unless there are compelling reasons for the absence.

4. If inside Australia, you can show that you:
   - have substantial business, cultural, employment or personal ties with Australia which are of benefit to Australia, and
   - not have been absent from Australia for a continuous period of more than 5 years since the grant of the visa, unless there are compelling reasons for the absence.

5. You are the member of a family unit (ie spouse or child) of a person who eligible for or has been granted a Resident Return Visa

Current and former Australian residents and citizens also have the option of applying for a 3 month resident return visa. This would be available if the applicant had been present in Australia for less than 2 years over the last 5 years, and had compelling reasons to return to Australia.

You might also consider applying for Australian Citizenship.

Duration and Conditions

Do I apply in Australia or Overseas?