Renewing your PR travel facility — Resident Return Visa (RRV 155/157)
Your permanent residency (PR) travel facility does not last forever. Learn how to check it before it expires and, if needed, renew it with an RRV (155/157).
What is an RRV — understanding the travel facility
An Australian permanent residency (PR) visa lets you stay in Australia indefinitely, but the travel facility is only valid for 5 years from the date the visa is granted. Even after it expires, your stay remains lawful while you are in Australia. However, once you leave, you cannot re-enter as a permanent resident. The Resident Return Visa (RRV, subclass 155/157) renews this travel facility and is an essential mechanism for long-term permanent residents who have not yet obtained citizenship.
Subclass 155 vs 157
Subclass 155 is the usual pathway: it grants a 5-year travel facility if you meet the residence requirement, or usually 1 year if you demonstrate substantial ties. Subclass 157 grants a short 3-month travel facility in limited situations, such as when you have spent less than 2 years in Australia in the last 5 years. Which one applies depends on your individual history, so check the detailed requirements on the official Home Affairs page.
Requirements and application process
The core requirement is whether you have lived in Australia as a permanent resident (or citizen) for a cumulative 2 years (730 days) or more within the 5 years immediately before your application date. If you meet it, you can receive a 5-year travel facility under subclass 155. If not, you can demonstrate substantial ties to Australia (business, employment, family, assets, etc.) that are of benefit to Australia to receive 1 year (155), or consider the 3-month (157) pathway depending on your circumstances.
Apply online via ImmiAccount
Applications are usually lodged online through ImmiAccount and can be made from inside or outside Australia. That said, applying and getting the grant before you depart is by far the safest option. If you apply after your travel facility has expired while overseas, your return date can become uncertain until the outcome is decided.
- Check your current travel facility expiry date ('Must not arrive after') on VEVO
- Add up your days of residence in Australia over the last 5 years using your movement records
Documents and supporting evidence
At a minimum you will need your passport, current visa details and travel history. If you are applying via the substantial ties pathway because you don't meet the residence requirement, prepare concrete evidence showing that your ties benefit Australia (running a business, employment, family living in Australia, assets such as property, cultural and community involvement, etc.). You may also be asked for compelling reasons for your extended absence, so organise supporting evidence for that as well.
- Passport bio page and the grant notice for your current permanent visa
- A summary of your travel history over the last 5 years (refer to flight tickets, passport stamps, your own records, etc.)
Which scenario applies to me — four cases
The length of the travel facility you receive with an RRV depends on your residence history and evidence of ties. Compare these four typical scenarios. The final determination rests with the Home Affairs assessment.
The simplest case. You can receive a 5-year travel facility under subclass 155, and the assessment is relatively straightforward.
If you demonstrate substantial ties that benefit Australia — business, employment, family, assets and the like — you may be granted a travel facility of usually 1 year under subclass 155.
In some situations, such as having spent less than 2 years in Australia in the last 5 years, only a short 3-month travel facility is granted under subclass 157. Check the detailed requirements officially.
You can still apply from overseas, but this is a risk zone where your return could be delayed depending on the assessment outcome. Prepare thorough evidence of your ties and, if needed, consult a registered migration agent.
Pre-departure checklist
The key with the RRV is to deal with it 'before you depart', not 'after a problem arises'. Whether it's a long trip, working overseas or visiting family, make these five checks a habit before every departure.
- Check VEVO before every departure — make sure your travel facility expiry date is comfortably later than your planned return date
- If you're planning a long stay overseas, apply for and secure an RRV before you depart
- Keep your own record of entry and exit dates so you can calculate your residence days for the last 5 years at any time
Warnings and common mistakes
There is often no expiry reminder for the travel facility, so if you don't keep track of it yourself, you may only discover the problem at the airport. Check these common mistakes in advance.
- Assuming 'PR = permanent right to travel in and out' — unlike your right to stay, the travel facility lasts only 5 years from the grant date
- Confusing the expiry date with your passport validity — what matters is your visa details in VEVO, not your passport
- Letting it expire during a long stay overseas — once your residence record lapses, the burden of proving substantial ties grows
Useful official links
- Home Affairs — Resident Return Visa (subclass 155/157)(opens in a new window)
Official Resident Return Visa (subclass 155/157) information — latest requirements, fees and processing times
- VEVO — 비자 조건·만료일 확인(opens in a new window)
VEVO — check your visa conditions and travel facility expiry date ('Must not arrive after') for free
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