Subclass 155/157 Resident Return Visa: Complete Guide (2026)
Published 2026-02-14
Key Facts — Subclass 155/157 at a Glance
Visa type: Permanent resident travel facility. Duration: Subclass 155 grants up to 5 years travel; Subclass 157 grants up to 1 year (3 months in some cases). Application cost (2025–26): $405. Processing time: 1–30 days for most applications (longer for complex cases). Purpose: Allows permanent residents to re-enter Australia after being overseas. Required when: Your initial 5-year travel facility on your permanent visa has expired and you are outside Australia. Not required if: You are already in Australia or have become an Australian citizen.
What is a Resident Return Visa?
When you are granted permanent residency in Australia, your visa includes a 5-year travel facility that allows you to leave and re-enter Australia as many times as you like. After those 5 years, your permanent residency status does not expire — you are still a permanent resident — but your ability to travel in and out of Australia does. If you are outside Australia and your travel facility has expired, you cannot re-enter Australia without a Resident Return Visa (RRV). The Subclass 155 and 157 Resident Return Visas renew your travel facility so you can return to Australia. The 155 can grant up to another 5 years of travel rights, while the 157 grants a shorter period (typically 3–12 months). Many permanent residents are surprised to learn they need an RRV — it is one of the most misunderstood aspects of Australian permanent residency.
Subclass 155: The 5-Year RRV
The Subclass 155 is the standard RRV and grants a 5-year travel facility. To qualify for the full 5 years, you must have been physically present in Australia for at least 2 of the last 5 years as a permanent resident. This is the simplest pathway — if you have spent enough time in Australia, the 155 is generally granted without difficulty. If you have NOT spent 2 years in Australia in the last 5 years, you may still be eligible for a 155, but you will need to demonstrate substantial ties of benefit to Australia. Substantial ties can include: business ties (owning or operating a business in Australia, employment with an Australian company, significant Australian investments), personal ties (close family members in Australia, property ownership), cultural ties (involvement in Australian cultural, sporting, or community organisations), and employment ties (working for an Australian employer overseas, or in a role that benefits Australia). The Department assesses substantial ties on a case-by-case basis.
Subclass 157: The Short-Stay RRV
The Subclass 157 is a shorter-duration RRV, typically granting 3–12 months of travel rights. It is available to permanent residents who do not qualify for the 155 (either they haven't spent enough time in Australia or their ties are insufficient for a 5-year grant). The 157 may be granted if you have compelling reasons to return to Australia — for example, family ties, the need to settle affairs, or compassionate circumstances. The 157 is intended as a last-resort option for people who have been away from Australia for extended periods and cannot demonstrate the substantial ties needed for a 155. If you are granted a 157, it provides a window to return to Australia and re-establish your presence, potentially making you eligible for a 155 in the future.
When Do You Need an RRV?
You need an RRV if you are a permanent resident outside Australia and your travel facility has expired. You do NOT need an RRV if you are an Australian citizen (citizens have automatic right of entry), you are in Australia (you can stay indefinitely as a permanent resident regardless of your travel facility status), or your travel facility has not yet expired. A common scenario: You were granted permanent residency in 2020 with a 5-year travel facility expiring in 2025. In 2026, you want to visit Australia. You need an RRV before you can board a plane to Australia. Airlines check your travel facility status at check-in. Important: If you are in Australia and your travel facility expires, you are NOT at risk of losing your permanent residency. You only need an RRV when you want to leave Australia and return.
The 2-Year Physical Presence Test
The primary test for the 155 RRV is whether you have spent at least 2 of the last 5 years physically present in Australia as a permanent resident. This is calculated as 730 days. The days do not need to be consecutive — the Department counts all days you were in Australia over the 5-year period. Days spent in Australia on any visa (including before you became a permanent resident, in some cases) may count. Travel records (passport stamps, airline records) and international movement records held by the Department are used to verify your presence. If you meet the 2-year test, the application is typically straightforward and processed quickly. If you do not, you move to the substantial ties assessment, which is more complex and subjective.
Demonstrating Substantial Ties
If you cannot meet the 2-year physical presence test, you must demonstrate substantial ties of benefit to Australia. This is a detailed assessment, and the burden of proof is on you. Strong substantial ties include: ongoing Australian employment (working for an Australian company overseas, or being deployed overseas by an Australian employer), significant Australian business interests (owning a business, major investments, partnerships), close family in Australia (spouse, children, parents who are citizens or residents), Australian property ownership, ongoing professional registrations in Australia, active membership in Australian professional or community organisations, and regular financial ties (Australian bank accounts, superannuation, tax obligations). Weaker ties include: having previously lived in Australia, owning minimal assets, or having distant family members in Australia. The more ties you can demonstrate, and the more substantial they are, the better your chances. Provide extensive documentary evidence for each tie claimed.
Application Process
Step 1: Determine whether you need a 155 or 157 (in practice, you apply for the 155 and the Department may grant a 157 if you don't fully qualify). Step 2: Apply online through ImmiAccount. You can apply from inside or outside Australia. Step 3: Pay the $405 application fee. Step 4: Provide supporting documents — passport, evidence of physical presence in Australia (travel records, passport stamps), evidence of substantial ties (if relying on ties), and a personal statement explaining your circumstances. Step 5: Wait for processing. Straightforward applications (meeting the 2-year test) are often decided in 1–7 days. Complex cases (substantial ties) may take 1–6 months. Step 6: If granted, your travel facility is renewed and you can travel to Australia. If you are outside Australia and need to travel urgently, note this in your application — the Department may prioritise urgent cases.
Risks: Losing Your PR Travel Rights
If you do not meet either the physical presence test or the substantial ties test, your RRV application may be refused. This does not cancel your permanent residency — you remain a permanent resident — but you cannot enter Australia without a valid travel facility. In extreme cases, if you have been outside Australia for many years with no substantial ties, obtaining an RRV becomes very difficult. Some people in this situation apply for visitor visas to return to Australia and re-establish presence, but this is not guaranteed. The lesson: if you are a permanent resident who plans to spend significant time overseas, plan your travel to maintain the 2-year physical presence requirement, or take steps to maintain demonstrable substantial ties to Australia. Becoming an Australian citizen eliminates this issue entirely — citizens have an unrestricted right to enter Australia at any time.
When to Use a Migration Agent
If you meet the 2-year physical presence test, the RRV application is simple and you likely don't need an agent. However, if you are relying on substantial ties, a migration agent can be very valuable — they can help you identify and present your ties in the strongest possible way, and advise on the likelihood of success. Agent fees for RRV applications are typically $800–$2,500. If your RRV has been refused and you want to appeal to the AAT (Administrative Appeals Tribunal), an agent or lawyer is strongly recommended. Search our directory at /migration-agents for experienced agents. Verify any agent's MARA registration at /tools/mara-check.
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