Australian Resident Return Visa Subclass 155 & 157: Restore or Renew Your PR Travel Rights
For people who already hold Australian permanent residency (PR) — or have held PR in the past — re-entering Australia after a long absence or after PR travel rights have expired generally requires a Resident Return Visa (RRV).
Subclass 155 and Subclass 157 are the two RRV streams designed to restore or extend valid PR travel rights. Many applicants haven’t actually “lost their PR” — they simply aren’t sure how to reinstate the right to travel back to Australia.
NewStars Newstarsec assesses your time outside Australia, your residence record and your personal circumstances to determine whether Subclass 155 or 157 is the right fit, and to map out the most reliable route home.
Free Eligibility Assessment →The Travel-Rights Visa for Australian Permanent Residents
The Resident Return Visa (RRV) is the visa Australia uses to restore travel rights for current or former permanent residents.
Common scenarios include:
PR 5-Year Travel Validity Has Expired
The 5-year travel facility on your permanent visa has lapsed, so you can’t travel back to Australia directly.
Long Absence From Australia
Travel rights have lapsed after extended time spent overseas, and a fresh application is needed to re-enter.
Planning to Return to Australia
Returning to Australia to live, work or reunite with family.
An RRV isn’t a fresh PR application — it restores or extends the travel facility attached to your existing PR.
Talk to a Consultant About Eligibility →RRV Eligibility at a Glance
Subclass 155 and 157 are both RRVs, but they apply in different circumstances. The table below makes it easy to see which one fits your situation:
| Comparison | Subclass 155 | Subclass 157 |
|---|---|---|
| Validity period | Up to 5 years | Up to 3 months |
| Residence requirement | Generally 2 years lived in Australia in the past 5 years | Doesn’t meet the 2-year residence requirement |
| Application difficulty | Lower (residence requirement satisfied) | Higher (must show strong reasons) |
| Suitable for | Routine PR travel-rights renewal | PRs who have been overseas long-term |
| Need to explain reason for absence | Generally not required | Must explain “compelling reasons” |
In short:
- Residence requirement met → apply for Subclass 155
- Residence requirement not met → consider Subclass 157
Five Tests: Status, Residence, Ties, Reasons, Compliance
A Subclass 155 or 157 application is assessed against five core criteria: PR/citizenship status, time spent in Australia, ties to Australia, reasons for absence (157 only), and health and character.
Of these, time spent in Australia is the single most important factor that decides whether you go for Subclass 155 or 157.
Because every applicant’s residence record and reasons for being overseas are different, we recommend a full pre-lodgement assessment to confirm you meet every requirement.
Book a Pre-Lodgement Review →1. Hold or Have Held Australian PR or Citizenship
Applicants must satisfy one of these status conditions:
- Currently an Australian permanent resident
- Or formerly held PR (now expired)
2. Residence Requirement (the Decisive Test)
Whether 155 or 157 is appropriate hinges on time lived in Australia:
- 2 years lived in Australia in the past 5 years → eligible for Subclass 155 directly
- Less than 2 years → consider Subclass 157 or a special 155 pathway
This is the single most important factor in choosing your visa subclass.
3. Substantial Ties to Australia (Residence Ties)
Where the residence requirement isn’t met, applicants must show ongoing substantial ties of benefit to Australia, for example:
- Employment ties
- Business ties
- Family ties
- Cultural or social ties
These factors carry direct weight in the grant decision.
4. Reasons for Absence (Subclass 157 only)
A Subclass 157 application must explain why you have been unable to return to Australia. Common reasons include:
- Pandemic or other unforeseeable events
- Family emergencies
- Work or health-related reasons
The stronger the reasons, the higher the success rate.
5. Health and Character Requirements
All applicants must also meet the standard visa requirements:
- No serious criminal record
- Meet Australia’s basic health standards
Five Steps to Restore Your Travel Rights
An RRV application isn’t a one-click submission — preparation matters. Our process breaks down into five stages:
Confirm PR Status & Residence Record
- Check whether your PR has expired
- Compile time spent in Australia over the past 5 years
- Pull travel records and visa history
Decide on Subclass 155 vs 157
- Match your residence record to the correct subclass
- Choose the most suitable pathway based on your circumstances
- Assess whether additional ties-to-Australia evidence is needed
Prepare the Application
- Passport and identity documents
- Evidence of residence in Australia
- Evidence of substantial ties to Australia
- Statement explaining the absence (where applicable)
Lodge the RRV Application
- Submit the application via the Department of Home Affairs portal
- Pay the visa application charge
- Keep lodgement receipts and document copies on file
Receive the Decision
- Wait for Home Affairs to process the application
- Provide additional information if requested
- Once granted, your travel rights are restored and you keep your PR status
Indicative Application Budget
Compared with most migration visas, the overall cost of an RRV is relatively low. The main components are the visa application charge and document preparation. Typical costs (in AUD) are shown below:
| Item | Cost (AUD) |
|---|---|
| Visa application charge | Approx. 475 |
| Document preparation | Approx. 100–300 |
| Other expenses | Case-by-case |
Fees shown are reference figures as at June 2026 — the latest officially published rates prevail.
Most applicants budget between AUD 500 and AUD 800. Final costs vary with personal circumstances, document complexity and Department of Home Affairs fee adjustments — confirm the latest fee structure with a registered migration agent before lodging.
Confirm the Latest Fees →End-to-End Support for Subclass 155/157 Applications
For RRV Resident Return Visa matters, NewStars Newstarsec provides:
- PR status and residence-record review
- Subclass 155/157 eligibility assessment
- Strategy for evidencing substantial ties to Australia
- Statements explaining absence and supporting documentation
- End-to-end lodgement support and case follow-up
Our process keeps your case on track and minimises the risk of incomplete documents or the wrong-pathway choice undermining the outcome.
One-Stop RRV Service for Resident Return Visas
Newstarsec has worked in Australian migration for years, building a complete assessment and lodgement framework for nuanced pathways such as Subclass 155/157.
Precise Residence-Record Audit
A combined review of travel history, visa records and lifestyle evidence to compute time spent in Australia accurately.
Right Subclass, Right Pathway
We match residence record to circumstances to choose Subclass 155 or 157 confidently, avoiding the wrong-pathway pitfall.
Substantial-Ties Strategy
For applicants short of the 2-year residence rule, we package employment, business, family and cultural ties for maximum impact.
End-to-End Lodgement Support
From assessment through lodgement, response to information requests, and grant — your MARA-registered agent stays with the case.
Related Complex Success Cases
Real visa-grant outcomes — how we handle complex, high-difficulty Resident Return Visa (155/157) cases.
10 Key Questions About Subclass 155 & 157
1. My Australian PR has expired — can I still travel back to Australia?
A common misconception is that an expired PR means you’ve lost your status. You haven’t. Australian permanent residency itself doesn’t lapse — what expires is the travel facility. If your PR travel rights have expired but your status is intact, lodging a Subclass 155 or 157 Resident Return Visa (RRV) restores the right to re-enter and travel back to Australia.
2. How do I choose between Subclass 155 and 157?
The deciding factor is how much time you’ve spent in Australia in the past 5 years. If you’ve accumulated at least 2 years there, you’re typically eligible for Subclass 155. If you fall short, you’ll need to consider Subclass 157 or a special 155 pathway. Put simply, the more your residence record matches the rule, the more straightforward the choice.
3. I haven’t lived in Australia for 2 full years — can I still get Subclass 155?
Possibly, but it’s harder. Without the 2-year residence requirement met, you’ll need to demonstrate substantial ties of benefit — through employment, family, or business links — to Australia. If those ties aren’t strong enough, Subclass 157 may be the better option.
4. Is Subclass 157 hard to get approved?
Yes — Subclass 157 is assessed more strictly because most applicants don’t meet the residence requirement. The Department of Home Affairs focuses on whether you have compelling reasons for being absent and still maintain ties to Australia. Long-term overseas residence with no exceptional reasons makes a grant much harder.
5. How long does an RRV take to process?
Most RRVs — particularly Subclass 155 — are processed quickly, often within days or weeks. Straightforward cases that clearly meet the residence requirement can be granted very fast. Complex cases or Subclass 157 applications may take considerably longer.
6. Will Subclass 155 always give me a 5-year travel facility?
Not always. If you’ve spent at least 2 years in Australia in the past 5 years, you’ll usually be granted a 5-year Subclass 155. If your residence falls short but other factors weigh in your favour, you may receive a 1-year grant instead.
7. Could a long absence cause me to lose my PR?
You don’t automatically lose PR status, but a long absence combined with weak ties to Australia can result in an RRV refusal. If an RRV is refused you can’t travel back to Australia, so it pays to plan ahead.
8. My RRV was refused — can I apply again?
Yes. After a refusal, you can re-apply with stronger evidence — for example, additional substantial-ties documentation or a clearer explanation of your absence. In some cases it makes sense to consider an alternative pathway back to Australia.
9. Will an RRV affect my Australian citizenship application later on?
An RRV doesn’t directly affect citizenship eligibility. However, if you’ve been absent from Australia long-term you may not yet meet the residence requirements for citizenship. If citizenship is on the roadmap, plan to return and accumulate Australian residence early.
10. Can I apply for Subclass 155 or 157 from outside Australia?
Yes. RRV applications can be lodged onshore or offshore. If your PR travel facility has lapsed and you’re currently overseas, the RRV must be granted before you can re-enter Australia.
PR Expired or Long-Term Absent? Restore Your Travel Rights Now
A MARA-registered migration agent will audit your residence record, choose the right subclass and assemble your ties evidence — putting you on a reliable path back to Australia.
Free Eligibility Assessment →
