Citizenship

After obtaining your permanent resident visa, and you meet the requirements, you may be eligible to apply to become an Australian citizen.  To apply for Australian citizenship, you must have lived in Australia for 4 years.

These 4 years can include time holding a temporary visa and a permanent visa. The rule is that you must hold a permanent visa for the last 12 months that you lived in Australia. You are allowed to spend time outside of Australia during this time for holidays or business trips, etc. So, for the 4-year requirement, your absence from Australia must be less than 12 months in total. And, for the last 12-month requirement living in Australia as a permanent resident, your absence from Australia must be less than 90 days. So, we can include this in our discussion when planning for your RRV visa application with us.

Resident Return Visa RRV (Subclass 155)

Australia Resident Return Visa (RRV) Subclass 155 allows people whose permanent visa has expired and wishes to return to Australia.  If you are already in Australia as a permanent resident, you do not need to apply for this visa if you do not wish to travel.  There are certain requirements to meet depending on your circumstances, and this may affect how long the travel facility lasts.

• If you were present in Australia for a total of at least 2 years in the last 5 years as a permanent resident or Australian citizen, you meet the residence requirement, and will be granted a 5-year RRV.
• If you have not met the residence requirement, you will be granted a maximum of 1-year RRV provided you meet the additional requirement of showing substantial ties with Australia that benefit Australia.  If you have been absent from Australia for over 5 years, then you will also be required to show compelling reasons for your absence.