HOW LONG CAN YOU REALLY STAY IN AUSTRALIA WITH A PERMANENT RECIDENCY VISA?
How Long is a Permanent Residency Visa Valid inAustralia?
A Permanent Residency (PR) visa in Australia is somethingmany people want because it allows you to live, work, and study in the countryforever. However, even though your PR lets you stay in Australia for as long asyou want, there are important things to know if you plan to travel in and outof the country.
How Long Can You Use a Permanent Residency Visa?
When you get your PR visa, you have the right to stay inAustralia forever. But, if you want to travel outside the country and comeback, there’s a special rule. When you are first given your PR visa, it comeswith a five-year travel facility. This means you can leave and return toAustralia as a permanent resident during those five years.
After five years, your PR status does not end, but yourtravel facility does. If you want to travel and come back to Australia afterthose five years, you need to apply for a Resident Return Visa (RRV).
What is a Resident Return Visa (RRV)?
The Resident Return Visa (RRV) is for PR holderswhose travel facility has expired but still want to travel and return toAustralia as a permanent resident.
There are two main types of RRVs:
- Subclass 155: If you’ve lived in Australia for at least two years in the past five years, you can get this visa for another five years. Even if you haven’t lived in Australia for two years, you may still get a shorter visa if you can show you have strong connections to Australia (like family, work, or business).
- Subclass 157: This visa lasts for three months and is for people who have been outside Australia for a long time but need to come back for important reasons.
Why You Should Stay Connected to Australia
Even though your PR lets you stay in Australia forever,spending a lot of time outside the country can be tricky. If you want to get anRRV, you must show that you have close ties to Australia, such as a job,business, or family here.
If you don’t have strong connections to Australia, it may beharder to get an RRV, and you could lose your chance to return as a permanentresident.
Can You Lose Your Permanent Residency?
Yes, you could lose your PR if you don’t renew your travelfacility or get an RRV. While your right to stay in Australia won’t change,your ability to come back to the country could be affected.
Remember, being a permanent resident is not the same asbeing an Australian citizen. Only citizens can always come and go as theylike. If you plan to live overseas for a long time, it’s important to keepan eye on your visa dates and make sure you’re eligible for an RRV.
Becoming an Australian Citizen
One way to make sure you never lose your right to return toAustralia is by becoming an Australian citizen. As a citizen, you won’t need anRRV and can travel freely with an Australian passport.
To apply for citizenship, you need to live in Australia forat least four years, with one of those years as a permanent resident. You willalso need to pass a citizenship test and meet other requirements. Once you’re acitizen, you won’t have to worry about renewing travel facilities again.
How to Apply for a Resident Return Visa (RRV)
If your travel facility is about to expire or has alreadyexpired and you’re overseas, you should apply for an RRV as soon as possible.You can apply online through the Department of Home Affairs.
If you’ve lived in Australia for at least two years in thelast five, the process is easy. If you haven’t, you’ll need to show proof thatyou have strong connections to Australia, such as a job, business, or family.
If you’ve been away for a long time, it’s a good idea to getadvice from a migration expert to make sure you don’t lose your PR status.
Final Thoughts
A Permanent Residency visa in Australia lets you live hereindefinitely. But the travel facility that comes with it only lasts for fiveyears. To travel and return to Australia after those five years, you’ll need toapply for a Resident Return Visa. It’s important to keep ties to Australia tomake sure your PR stays safe, especially if you spend a lot of time overseas.
If you need help with your PR, RRV, or citizenshipapplication, our migration experts are here to help. Contact us for aconsultation and we’ll guide you through the process to secure your future inAustralia.
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