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Hello! I am currently out of AU and planning to go back in a year or 2, but my PR will be expired by that time (and I didn't stay in AU for 2 years within last 5 years). Will I be granted RRV visa in this case? I read that a person has to have sufficient ties to apply for RRV. I have 2 sons , one of them has AU citiztnship and he is under 18y.o. and the second has PR that will be expired in 2024. Appreciate all your comments.

Hi, I am living in Australia for 2 years (since July 2019) as Permanent Resident(190). My family (wife and kids) are also PR and living in Australia since March 2021. We received Permanent Resident in Feb 2017 and did an initial entry on Oct 2017 and went back after 7 days. My current circumstances are changed in last couple of days as my father had a stroke and is paralysed and also suffering dementia. My mother and father both are aged 75 and they desperately need me. I am in deep mental stress due to the current situation. Considering all this, I want to join my family in Pakistan, but since we are well settled in Australia and want to live here and return back after couple of years. I want to return back immediately within next month or so. Can you please evaluate my circumstances and let me know what are my chances. I want to have a 5 years RRV for my family. I lived for 2 years but family has lived for 1.6 years in Australia. Is there any chance that they can get 5 years RRV as well along with me considering circumstances. Is there any chance I can apply for Citizenship now or I should live for 4 years before apply? (PR = Feb 2017, Initial Entry for 7 days during 20-27 October 2017. ) Thanks and Regards

We had our RRV issued last August and with Covid have not had a chance to travel to Australia. This has now expired. Has anyone managed to successfully renew a visa they couldn’t use due to Covid?

Hi, I am currently applying for a 801 permanent partner visa with my Aus citizen wife. After it grants, we want to move back to my home country (UK) for the foreseeable future and then potentially move back to Aus one day. In order to make this feasible, I need to maintain my Aus PR as we will be moving back to the UK before I am eligible for citizenship. I was just wondering if anyone knows of any potential issues with the following plan: Although I would meet the criteria outlined in red in the image below, the blue criteria also applies to me (I'll have had PR less than 10 years) and so I imagine this supercedes the red? I really think this could be a lot better explained on the website as it really isn't clear. Anyway, I simply plan on returning to Aus at least once every 5 years, initially on my 801, and then on multiple RRVs (each one for 12 months from my understandign) in the future once my initial 5 year travel facility on the 801 has expired. From my reading of the criteria below, everytime I re-visit Aus on an RRV, I am entering as a PR and so must also be leaving as a PR. Therefore, these visits will surely "reset"' the date that I "left Australia as a permanent resident"? Or does this date actually refer to the very first time that I left Australia as a PR? Surely, if the date does reset/update each time then there is no difference between the red and blue criteria as 'not absent for periods that equate to 5 years' (blue critieria) would be identical to 'not absent for 5 continuous years' (red criteria)? I should have no trouble demonstrating substantial ties as my wife is a citizen and has family here. If/when the time comes to fully move back to Aus, I would just get another RRV and then remain here until I'm eligible for citizenship. If I needed to travel abroad during that time, I could apply for an RRV on the criteria outlined in green. Many thanks in advance for any help/guidance!

Just wondering if anyone has been granted a return resident visa recently and how long it took after application. My husband applied for his a couple of months ago and even though I’m confident he will receive it (Australian wife & Australian children) I’m not sure what the timeline is for these types of visas. Last time he applied it only took a week! But with a lot to sort out I would be interested in other peoples recent experience. He has only been to Australia for a holiday in the last 5 years so doesn’t meet the super speedy 2yr criteria.

I am living here in Australia for almost 2 years and my family for around 1.5 years. Our PR is getting expired in Feb 2022, but due to some family problems (parents ailing health), I need to return back to my home country. Due to covid and travel restrictions, I can't wait here longer and even can't bring my parents here and don't know when these restrictions will end. I want to get a RRV for 5 years with my family, so that I can return back after sometime. To meet residence requirement for citizenship I require 2 more years in Australia which are tough at the moment for me to live here. Can I know if I and my family will be able to get 5 years RRV and what documents are required that demonstrate close ties with Australia. Would I family also get 5 years RRV despite they are living for less than 2 years provided if I get 5 years RRV as I am here for 2 years. I am really in a desperate situation and your help and response are highly appreciated.

Hi everyone, I’m hoping to get some advice regarding getting a Returning Resident Visa and moving back to Australia whilst COVID is still going on. I want to move back with my family in July/August time. I previously had PR but left Australia six years ago, so it has expired now. My Husband is an Australian Citizen and we have been back to Oz three time for holidays over the six years. Does anyone know whether this would be a fairly straightforward RRV application or whether it will take a long time to process? I’ve seen some posts on here that sound like the processing times vary greatly and I’m not sure when to submit my application. Once the RRV is granted, what is the validity on the visa? Whilst we plan to move in July/August, COVID could delay that and I don’t want it to expire before I’ve had a chance to get over there. Also, we were planning to apply for Australian Passports for our children, (2 and 5 years), before we left the UK but it looks like the London passport office is closed and that will not be possible. Does anyone know which visa we should apply for our children? Thank you in advance, any advice is greatly appreciated!

Dear All, Appreciate your inputs on my case that basically has 2 parts: Part 1: My PR 175 grant - May 2012 Expired - May 2017 Been in Australia for - 1 month 7 days total. Last visited Australia in - Feb 2017 (just before expiry). Why I didn't migrate yet? I went to Oz in June 2012 (immediately after getting PR) stayed there for a month and searched for jobs. Didn't get any good response. In the mean time, got a very good offer from Oman, which had opportunity to learn new skills required in Oz. So moved there. Got married the next year, 2013. Blessed with 3 kids. Last one born in 2020. 2 of the kids go to school. All these commitments held me back from relocating. Most essentially because my family does not have PR. And getting their PR is a different ball game altogether, which I have covered in Part 2 below. So anyhow, I'm planning to apply for my RRV by Nov this year. I don't satisfy 2 years requirement, but I have bought land there (paying installments since 2017. Finishing this year) and bank accounts transacting every month for the same property’s payments. Part 2: Once I get RRV (hopefully), I want to take my family along, because otherwise kids schooling would be affected and there are a few other personal reasons. So want to know what options I have so that my family can relocate with me? Can I apply for Partner Visa now (before my RRV application and being abroad)? That way if their visa is received until my RRV is granted, we can travel together. Or is it a must for me to be in Australia to sponsor my family? That is a cumbersome process of waiting for around 18 to 24 months, being away from family. What do you suggest please? Thanks and Cheers!

Hi there, I’d appreciate some advice regarding applying for a future RRV. Is the 2 in 5 year condition from the date of the most recent RRV application or can they count any time that precedes it (that formed the initial part of the original PR visa)? We arrived in Aus for second time (we left initially as partner’s father suddenly passed away) in Sept 2017. My PR was due to run out in April 2018 so applied and was granted a 5 year RRV. We then had a baby and returned to Uk for what was meant to be 9 months in March 2020 but now we’re a bit unsure what to do and feel in limbo with Covid. We definitely want to return to Oz at some stage but in current times, just not sure when it’s possible. So I just want to know what my options are and would be grateful if any help and advice. My RRV runs out April 2023. If immigration only count the 2 in 5 years from the time prior RRV granted, I don’t have 2 years and will need to get back by 2023. However, if they count the time prior to it (so for me from Sept 2017) and I can apply for a new RRV at start of 2022 (no idea if I’d even be able to do this as still a year left on RRV) i will qualify for the 2 year period and it will enable us to stay put for a bit but have a window to return all the way up to 2027. Thanks everyone. Lau

Hello, My Aussie partner and I left Australia in September and my first Resident Return Visa (RRV) expired in December. I was under the impression that I didn't need to apply for a new RRV until I was planning to return to Australia however, today i read something on the Home Affairs website that makes me question whether I should have allowed it to expire. As an Australian Permanent Resident, do you always need a valid RRV? Or are you able to allow it to lapse when overseas and apply for a new one when returning to Australia, as long as you meet the 2/5 year requirement when applying? Or would allowing the visa to lapse, result negatively? Many Thanks for your insights.

Hi, I am applying for onshore RRV now (2 years resident). But just confused if I need to apply some Visa for my wife as well. She is currently on my sponsored partner Visa - 6 months onshore now.

Hi, The Travel facility on my GSM 190 ( SA State Sponsored) PR recently expired, I have manged to live in Australia for only 8 months in the last 5 years and that too on 2 different occasions. I do not have any employment ties, relatives and friends in OZ and hence unable to show any substantial ties with the country. I am still very much keen on moving to Australia and settling down there. How do I apply to an RRV and ensure that it gets approved ? Looking forward to some responses.

Just wondering if anyone knows why RRVs take so long to process? I understand that the more complicated an application is regarding substantial ties to Australia when not meeting the residency requirements the longer it will take but what is the actual process? Do lots of people assess the application? Surely they just read and review your evidence and then make a judgement? Are they incredibly understaffed????

Applying for a Resident Return Visa (RRV) appears to me to have become a tad more difficult, or maybe it's my imagination. The time schedule for the RRV has just changed to 5 - 10 days, from 5 - 8 days. Not a big difference there so no worries. However the part that I find a worry is "Applications that do not meet the residence requirement will take longer to finalise than the published processing times advertised above. Processing timeframes for these applications can be up to 12 weeks." I applied for a RRV 6 weeks ago. I was in Australia and advised to just apply online via my IMMI account. I did this, and I had immediate acknowledgement and receipt of payment for $365. I don't qualify for a 155, but have mitigating circumstances which I think are applicable and permit me to apply for a 157 (3 month entry) I won't bore people with the details of the mitigating circumstances, safe to say these prevented me from returning to Australia as planned last year. I certainly fall into this category of not having been in Australia for enough days. I really do!! My days had been non existent since 2015 when I had to return home to UK. I went back to Australia in May as my current RRV at the time was due to expire and fearing the worse or being guilty of not activating a RRV granted to me, I made the trip down under and wanted to speak to an Immigration official to try to explain the situation. I was worried about the situation I was in. But I was told "not necesary just apply online through your IMMI account" I am now free of all matters which prevented me from returning, but I fear it is a year too late. In all fairness the Australian Immigration people have been extremely accommodating, sympathetic and kind with my previous RRV applcations. However I feel maybe their patience has been exhausted now by my own failure to return and settle as planned. It may just be a case of tough luck, bad luck and hard luck, but maybe my visa for Australia is shot. I take full responsibility for this and it is through no fault of the Australian immigration or anyone else. It's not really my fault, it is just the way fate has dealt my cards, which sometimes we have no choice but to accept. I was just wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience and had to wait 12 weeks to see if they are granted a RRV or not? I am doubtful now that my visa will be granted, and I may have to just accept that fate has worked against me, and it is not to be. The next few weeks waiting for an E-mail and checking my IMMI account will be quite tense. For the record when I flew out of Australia back to London, as is the normal practice, a Border Official at the airport kindly spoke with me in private and pointed out that my RRV was about to expire and handed me a leaflet. I explained that I had already applied for a RRV and showed her my acknowledgement and receipt. The lady was really helpful. She then told me that I could actually return without a RRV but that I would need to go to the departure airport very early and the airline then have to telephone Canberra for a Code to permit me entry. I was surpried by this as I had never heard of this before. I thanked her for this advice but explained to her that I would never do that, as I don't think that's a very good thing to do. Knowing the way the airline staff are in Heathrow, I wolldn't trust them to assist me, and I would be too worried about causing a problem, breaking the rules and the law and ending up with a ban.. It is however a contradiction in terms of practice, a genuine RRV application taking 12 weeks to process, yet a way in to the Country through a telephone call and a code from Canberra ? That's not for me as I have never abused the Visa system, or my status as a Permanent Resident and with my luck, I would probably get thrown into jail and never heard of again. ?? Regards, best wishes and good luck to all.

Hi All, I just tried applying RRV for my family online. I reached the last page and there is no questions about the children. How does one apply RRV for children? Any help is highly appreciated. Regards Shisman

Dear Experts / Friends, Good day. We have a situation and kindly seeking some advise 1. We've applied for Citizenship application ~8 months back. As per the current processing times, looks like it will take ~23 months 2. We're a family of 3 and our PR (189) expired (I mean the expiry date) few months back and hence need to apply for RRV as we have a need to travel out of Australia for a very brief time (Personal and not business related). Question Is the travel fine? (~2 months). Hope the travel doesn't affect the citizenship application Thanks!

Hello All, I moved here with my wife and daughter in 2017 January. My 5 year travel portion of the visa expired Feb 1 2017. I know that I haven't completed 2 years out of last 5 years requirement but is it possible for me to get a 5 year RRV, if I apply now? I haven't bought a home here yet but have permanent job in Adelaide. I was initially thinking of applying for my RRV in January 2019 but due to personal reasons, I may have to visit my home country by the end of this year. Just wanted to check if there is a possibility of getting a 5 year RRV if I apply now. If it will just be a 3 month thing, I will apply probably a month or 2 later. Thanks.

Evening everyone. I have been searching for an answer for a while on here, but to no avail I was wondering if anyone has sat the citizenship test back in the UK? What was the process? How did you get on with becoming a citizen i.e completing the ceremony after sitting the test in the UK? I'm conscious that the timeline is getting longer and longer from applying for citizenship, getting invited for the test/ interview then having the ceremony so this I feel is a pressing issue with people having ties in the UK. Many thanks

Hi, I received PR in Feb 2014 and expiring next month. I visited Australia in December 2014 for a few days and never returned back. My reason to not return is that I have been working overseas in US with a stable job and do not want to resign. I want to get my PR extended (via RRV) but would like to know working overseas can be considered compelling and passionate reason. Appreciate if someone can share their experience and provide guidance in this regard. Thanks

Dear PIO Members, My wife and I returned to the UK in 2014 to take care of my elderly mum, who sadly passed away in January. Prior to returning I’d been in Australia for 11 years and obtained my Australian citizenship in that time, whilst my wife (who is a non-EU citizen) had been there for 3 years and got her permanent residency (subclass 100). We've made the best of being back in the UK during this time but neither of us feel as settled as we did in Australia, and we would like to return there within the next couple of years. Technically there's nothing to stop us returning immediately except that my wife has now spent 4 years on the 5-year route to becoming a British Citizen. Next year she will be eligible for permanent residency or 'Indefinite Leave to Remain' over here. After she obtains ILR she will be eligible to apply for citizenship straight away because she will have already met the 5-year residency requirement. Unfortunately, by the time she becomes a British Citizen the travel condition on her subclass 100 visa will have expired, and we will need to apply for a RRV to return to Australia. Clearly my wife will not automatically meet the residency requirement for a subclass 155. Yes, we could ditch the route to British Citizenship and come back earlier, but we are now so close and it will be a lot easier for her to travel in the future as she needs a visa pretty much every time we want to go abroad, at the moment. From the previous experience of forum members, what will be her chances of her obtaining an RRV so that we can return to Australia without any issues? I can see that they have really tightened things up in the last few years, and it's becoming a lot more difficult (and expensive!) to obtain Australian residency. Naturally I'm worried my wife might not be able to obtain an RRV, and we will have to restart the process again from scratch when we want to return to Oz! Apologies if I should have posted this in the 'Visa Chat' section – I wasn't quite sure. Many thanks in advance for helpful replies, Martin.

Hi There, I was applying for Aus citizenship and received an error at page 6 stating that I am not able to continue as I don’t met the citizenship requirements and page was showing to calculate if I am eligible or not. I got my PR in 2011 living in Melbourne from 2005. In Sept 2017, when I traveled overseas for two weeks and didn’t noticed that PR expired in 2016 and have to renew it. When coming back from overseas at Melbourne airport, I have to apply for RRV in Oct 2017. So now I have explained these to Home affairs over the call and they told me that you can still apply for the citizenship with paper based option but here is very less chances that you application get enter prior to July 2018. Support Person informed me that I have to explain about those two weeks in a letter to processing officer and since I am living here from 2005 they may exempt me. Just wondering have anyone seen these kind of situation and how much success I have If I will explain the overseas visit and other circumstances? Otherwise I have to wait for Oct 2018 and since rules are changing after July 2018 . Then According to July 2018 new rules I might have to wait for another 4 years. Harry

Our PR visa expires next year. I would like to get my Visa extended for a few more years. What is the process and are the reasons to be very convincing for the DEBP ?

Hi, Just wondering if anyone can help with some advice about RRV. Our situation at the moment is we we're granted a one year RRV last year which runs out March 2018, and even though we have had a year to get sorted due to circumstances we need more time. Son is going before RRV expires and staying with family. We were thinking of going for a few weeks before RRV expires and applying for another RRV onshore. My question is: How long dose an onshore RRV take to be granted? (assuming it does), I did find something saying it was about a week but I can't find where I got this number from again. Will applying onshore make a difference if we are only there for a few weeks or will they see it as an offshore application? Thanks in advance

Does anyone know what supporting documents are needed for a RRV 155 visa? I can't find any info anywhere online? I have 2 brothers in Australia, one I'm very close to, the other not, the one I'm close to helped so much with my husband's previous Partner subclass 100 visa with supporting letter etc so I assume he will need to to do the same with RRV 155 too? My family in Australia are the ties needed for the application. I have an auntie and cousins in Australia but no contact for years, excluding my brothers, so just worried that only being able to get supporting evidence from one brother will affect the application. Can anyone advise please? The RRV 155 process seems quite complicated and worried my husband won't be granted one. The only other option would to get another SC 100 visa but it's expensive now. Thanks in advance. Xx

Hello All I hold Australia Permanent Residence but my 5yr Travel window is expired. I stayed in Australia for a week and I had to come back due to personal reasons. Its been 11 yrs I'm out of Australia, I need to come back now and live there and establish business How can I come? is RRV 157 suitable. Can I be granted a visa? Rgds MI