Many Australian permanent residents believe that permanent residency automatically allows them to travel in and out of Australia forever. This is one of the most common misunderstandings.

Permanent residence gives you the right to live in Australia permanently, but your travel facility can expire.

If your travel facility has expired and you leave Australia, you may need a Resident Return Visa 155/157, also called an RRV, to return to Australia as a permanent resident.

What is the Resident Return Visa?

The Resident Return Visa includes subclasses 155 and 157. The Department of Home Affairs advises permanent residents to check visa details and conditions and travel facility before applying, to determine whether they need a Resident Return Visa.

This visa is mainly about travel rights, not whether you are still a permanent resident inside Australia.

What is a travel facility?

When many permanent visas are granted, they include a travel facility for a limited period, commonly five years. During that period, the person can leave and re-enter Australia while the travel facility remains valid.

After the travel facility expires, the person may still remain a permanent resident while in Australia, but re-entering Australia after overseas travel may require an RRV.

Home Affairs states that for permanent residents, the relevant date in VEVO can show when the travel facility ends, and if the person departs Australia after that date, they will need a Resident Return Visa subclass 155 or 157 to re-enter Australia.

Who should check this?

You should check your travel facility if you are:

• An Australian permanent resident
• Planning overseas travel
• Living overseas as an Australian PR
• Unsure when your PR was granted
• Holding an old permanent visa
• Returning to Australia after several years
• Applying for Australian Citizenship After PR later
• Renewing your passport

If your pathway to permanent residence was through Skilled Migration Australia or a Partner Visa Australia, the same travel-facility check still applies.

For broader Australian PR Pathway planning, check your current visa status before you travel.

Common mistakes

Permanent residents often make these mistakes:

• Assuming PR and travel rights are the same thing
• Leaving Australia after the travel facility expires
• Not checking VEVO before travel
• Forgetting to update passport details
• Applying for an RRV at the last minute
• Assuming airline boarding means immigration clearance is guaranteed
• Not checking residence history before applying

When should you apply?

Ideally, check your travel facility before booking overseas tickets.

If your travel facility has already expired or will expire while you are overseas, you should review your RRV options before departure.

Final Word

A Resident Return Visa is an important travel planning tool for permanent residents. It can protect your ability to return to Australia as a permanent resident after international travel.

Do not discover the issue at the airport or after leaving Australia.

Need Help?

Are you an Australian permanent resident planning to travel overseas? Speak with Visa Wizer to check whether you need a Resident Return Visa before you leave.

Book a Consultation with Visa Wizer.