Australia's Resident Return Visa

Visa Subclass 157 – Resident Return Visa Australia

Your Last Safety Net Before Losing Permanent Residency — The Short-Term Resident Return Visa

There is a moment that catches many Australian permanent residents completely off guard. They have been living overseas — looking after a sick parent, managing a family crisis, working abroad temporarily — and when they check their visa details, they realise their five-year travel facility expired months ago. They cannot return to Australia as a permanent resident without a new visa.

Resident Return Visas (Subclass 155 or 157) are special Australian visas which allow current or former permanent residents, or former Australian citizens, to travel outside Australia and return as permanent residents after their original travel document expires.

The Subclass 157 is the short-term version of the Resident Return Visa — for people who do not meet the full residence requirement for the Subclass 155. This visa provides a shorter travel facility, usually for three months. It is used in specific situations. It is not a general travel visa. It is a carefully defined emergency option for permanent residents who have spent less than two years in Australia over the past five years but have compelling and compassionate reasons for that absence.

The Subclass 157 covers urgent or short-term travel. It is typically granted with around three months of travel validity if you were lawfully in Australia for at least one day but less than two years in the last five years, and you had compelling and compassionate reasons for your last departure or for needing to depart. This can help you return to Australia quickly to re-establish residence.

At Migration Republic, our MARA-registered migration agents handle Subclass 157 applications for permanent residents in exactly these situations — often urgently, and always with the precision this type of application demands. If your permanent residency is at risk, we are here to help you protect it.

Book Consultation

Australian permanent resident protecting travel rights with Visa Subclass 157 Resident Return Visa

Migration Republic — Expert guidance for permanent residents applying for the Visa Subclass 157 Resident Return Visa

$490

Online Application Fee (AUD)
as of 2026

23–71

Days Processing Time
depending on case complexity

3 mo

Max Travel Facility
based on compelling circumstances

Visa Overview

What Is the Visa Subclass 157?

The Resident Return Visa (subclasses 155 and 157) is for current or former Australian permanent residents and former Australian citizens who want to travel overseas and retain their permanent resident status.

The Subclass 157 is specifically the short-term pathway within the RRV framework. There are two types of Australian Resident Return Visa — the 155 (long-term) and the 157 (short-term). The 157 is a short-term visa usually valid for up to 3 months, whereas the 155 visa is long-term and is usually valid for up to 5 years. Both visas allow you to travel in and out of Australia as many times as you want until the travel validity expires.

The critical thing to understand about the Subclass 157 is where it sits in the assessment process. When you apply for a Resident Return Visa, your eligibility is checked for both Subclass 155 and Subclass 157. If you meet the requirements for Subclass 155, you can get a visa valid for up to 5 years. If you do not meet the 155 requirements but qualify for 157, the travel facility is usually up to 3 months.

This means you never apply specifically for a Subclass 157. You lodge one RRV application, and the Department determines which subclass applies to your circumstances. If you qualify for the 155, you get the 155. If you fall short of the 155 requirements but meet the 157 criteria, the 157 is what you receive.

Key Features of the Visa Subclass 157

Valid for 3 months from the date of grant
Granted when 155 criteria are not met but compelling and compassionate circumstances exist
Requires you to have lawfully spent at least one day but less than two years in Australia in the past five years
Requires compelling and compassionate reasons for absence or for needing to travel
Can be applied for from inside or outside Australia
Application fee of AUD $490 online (same as Subclass 155)
No conditions attached to this visa
Full permanent resident entitlements continue once granted
Allows you to return to Australia and re-establish residence before the 3-month period ends
No limit on the number of times you can apply

RRV Framework

How the Subclass 157 Fits Into the RRV Framework

Understanding the full RRV framework is essential before you apply — because your circumstances determine which visa you receive, not which one you ask for.

Both the 155 and 157 visas are permanent visas. They let you undertake all of the activities that your original permanent visa let you undertake.

Outcome	Visa Granted	Travel Facility	Key Requirement
Met 2-in-5 year residency rule	Subclass 155	Up to 5 years	730 days in Australia in past 5 years as PR or citizen
Cannot meet residency but has substantial ties	Subclass 155	Up to 1 year	Ties of benefit to Australia — business, employment, cultural, personal
Less than 2 years in Australia, compelling reasons	Subclass 157	Up to 3 months	At least 1 day in Australia in past 5 years plus compelling circumstances

Note: The Subclass 157 is the last tier of the RRV framework — it exists for situations where even the substantial ties pathway of the Subclass 155 cannot be met, but where genuine, documented compelling and compassionate circumstances explain the absence. It is a safety net, not a general fallback.

Australian permanent resident travelling internationally with valid Subclass 157 Resident Return Visa travel facility

The Visa Subclass 157 gives you a short window to return — ensure you travel before it expires

Eligibility Criteria

Who Can Apply for the Visa Subclass 157?

To qualify for the Resident Return Visa under subclasses 155 and 157, applicants must have a valid passport and fulfil specific requirements ensuring their status as permanent residents of Australia: former Australian citizens who lost or renounced citizenship, as well as current or former permanent residents whose last permanent visa was not cancelled.

Specifically for the Subclass 157, you may be eligible if you:

Are a current Australian permanent resident, former Australian permanent resident whose last permanent visa was not cancelled, or a former Australian citizen who lost or renounced citizenship
Have lawfully spent at least one day but less than two years in Australia in the past five years as a permanent resident or Australian citizen
Have compelling and compassionate reasons for your absence from Australia — reasons the Department considers genuine, unavoidable, and beyond your control
Are able to demonstrate that you intend to return to Australia to re-establish your permanent residence
Meet character requirements — the standard character questions apply, and police clearances may be required depending on your answers
Have not had a previous RRV refused or a specified visa cancelled without good reason
Hold a valid passport that meets the requirements under Public Interest Criterion 4021

Who Cannot ApplyYou cannot make a valid RRV application if you have never been a permanent resident or Australian citizen. Temporary visa holders who were never permanent residents are not eligible for this visa. Additionally, those who were immigration cleared as temporary entrants who have never held a substantive permanent visa do not qualify.

Compelling Circumstances

The Heart of the Subclass 157 — Compelling and Compassionate Circumstances

This is the defining feature of the Subclass 157 and the element that determines whether the application succeeds or fails. The Department does not grant a Subclass 157 simply because you have been overseas for a long time. The reason you were overseas — and the reason you need to return — must be compelling and compassionate in nature.

If you have been absent from Australia for more than three months in the past five years, you must provide evidence of compelling and compassionate reasons for your absence.

Medical Circumstances

Serious illness or medical treatment of yourself requiring you to remain overseas. Caring for a critically ill or terminally ill family member. Medical treatment that was not available in Australia.

Family Emergencies

Death of a close family member requiring you to manage affairs overseas. Caring for a family member following a sudden and serious accident. Family crisis situations that required your extended personal presence.

Circumstances Beyond Control

Natural disasters, civil unrest, or conflict in the country you were residing in that prevented your return. COVID-19 related travel restrictions. Serious legal proceedings in your home country.

Employment in Australia's Interests

Being posted overseas in a role that directly benefited Australia — for example, working for an Australian government agency, Australian company, or in a role that served Australian interests abroad.

The Department of Home Affairs and the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) assess these reasons to determine if they were convincing and created a genuine necessity for you to remain overseas. Circumstances that are considered compelling are typically those that were unavoidable or beyond your control. Generic explanations — "I had work commitments overseas" or "I was looking after family" without specific documentation — are not sufficient. The Department wants to see that your absence was driven by circumstances you could not have reasonably avoided or cut short.

The Key is DocumentationSaying you had compelling circumstances is not enough — you must prove it with medical records, death certificates, employer letters, government documents, statutory declarations, or other credible third-party evidence that supports your account.

Visa Advantages

Key Benefits of the Visa Subclass 157

Australian permanent resident with Subclass 157 Resident Return Visa enjoying the right to return to Australia

The Subclass 157 protects your permanent residency when standard requirements are out of reach

Protects Your Permanent Residency When the 155 Is Out of Reach

The Subclass 157 exists for exactly the situations where the standard residency rule cannot be met. Without it, permanent residents who have been away for genuine reasons and cannot meet the two-year rule would have no pathway back to Australia as permanent residents. The 157 is the visa that keeps permanent residency alive in these circumstances.

Three Months to Return and Re-Establish Residence

The Subclass 157 can help you return to Australia quickly to re-establish residence. Three months is a meaningful window — enough time to return to Australia, settle back in, and then work towards meeting the residency requirement for a future Subclass 155 application.

Full Permanent Resident Entitlements

Both the 155 and 157 visas let you undertake all of the activities that your original permanent visa let you undertake. Medicare, work rights, study rights, and all other permanent resident entitlements are fully restored the moment the visa is granted.

Can Be Applied for From Anywhere

You can apply in or outside Australia. If you are in Australia and your travel facility is expiring, you should apply and be granted an RRV before leaving. If you are already outside Australia, you can apply from wherever you are.

A Bridge to the Subclass 155

The Subclass 157 is not designed to be a permanent solution — it is a bridge. Once you return to Australia on your 157 and re-establish residence, you begin accumulating the days in Australia that will eventually allow you to meet the two-year residency rule for a full five-year Subclass 155.

No Conditions Attached

There are no conditions attached to this visa. Once granted, you simply return to Australia and resume your life as a permanent resident.

Application Costs

Visa Subclass 157 Cost

The visa costs AUD $490 for each applicant if you apply online. But if you apply on paper, it costs AUD $570 for each applicant. (Updated January 2026.)

Cost Item	Amount
Subclass 157 Online Application Fee (per applicant)	AUD $490*
Paper Application (per applicant)	AUD $570*
Character Checks / Police Clearances	Varies if required
Certified Document Translations	Varies
Migration Republic Professional Fee	Contact us

*Fee confirmed as of January 2026. Fees are subject to change. Always verify the current fee in ImmiAccount before lodging. Application fees are non-refundable regardless of outcome. Each family member must apply separately — you cannot add your spouse or children to your own RRV application. Each family member must pay the application fee independently and meet the eligibility criteria in their own right.

Processing Times

Visa Subclass 157 Processing Times

For the three-month Resident Return Visa (Subclass 157), roughly 50% of applications undergo processing in approximately 23 days, with 90% processed within an average of 71 days.

Processing time for a Subclass 157 (short-term stay) will take longer as the case officer needs to assess the reasons for your extended absence in Australia. Unlike straightforward Subclass 155 applications where residency is clearly demonstrated and processing can take as little as one day, the Subclass 157 requires a case officer to read and assess your compelling and compassionate circumstances — and that takes time.

In practice, processing time depends on how clearly and completely you have documented your circumstances, whether additional information is requested, and the volume of applications being processed at the time. A well-organised application with comprehensive, credible supporting evidence typically moves faster than one where the circumstances are vaguely described or inadequately supported.

Urgent SituationsIf your situation is urgent — for example, if you are outside Australia and need to return for a pressing reason — our team at Migration Republic can advise on how to present your case in a way that makes the urgency clear to the Department.

Application Steps

How to Apply for the Visa Subclass 157

The application process for the Subclass 157 follows the same structure as the Subclass 155. You lodge one RRV application and the Department assesses you against both subclasses. Here is how the process works.

Step 1 — Check your current status in VEVO

Before anything else, always double-check your visa's travel facility expiry date in VEVO (Visa Entitlement Verification Online). The Department might send a reminder, but at the end of the day, it is your responsibility to apply on time. Know exactly where you stand before you begin.

Step 2 — Assess your circumstances honestly

Identify whether you can meet the two-year residency rule (Subclass 155) or whether you will need to rely on compelling and compassionate circumstances (Subclass 157). If the two-year rule is not met and you cannot demonstrate substantial ties, the 157 is the only RRV pathway available to you.

Step 3 — Gather your documents

For a Subclass 157 application, this means gathering everything that supports and documents your compelling and compassionate circumstances — medical records, death certificates, employer letters, statutory declarations, travel records, and any other credible evidence that explains why you were unable to maintain the required residency.

Step 4 — Lodge online via ImmiAccount

Log in to your ImmiAccount and complete the form. Answer every question with total accuracy. The system is set up to consider you for both the Subclass 155 and 157 based on the details you provide.

Step 5 — Pay the application fee

As of November 2025, the government fee for an online RRV application is AUD $490. This fee is not refundable, even if the application does not succeed. You can pay with a credit/debit card, PayPal, or BPAY.

Step 6 — Await decision

After you submit, you will get a notification from the Department of Home Affairs. If you applied from outside the country, you have to stay outside until you get a decision.

Step 7 — Return to Australia and re-establish residence

Once your Subclass 157 is granted, you have three months from the date of grant to enter Australia. Use that window to return and begin re-establishing your residence — which starts the clock towards your future Subclass 155.

Document Checklist

Documents Required for the Visa Subclass 155

Use only what is relevant to your pathway. Here is what most applications will require.

Identity and Status Documents

Current or expired passport (bio page and all pages showing travel history)
Prior visa grant notices
Evidence of permanent residence or former citizenship

For the 2-in-5 Year Residency Pathway

Flight records, lease agreements, utility bills or school records showing at least 730 days in Australia
Entry and exit records from the Department of Home Affairs

Character Documents (if Required)

Police clearances from relevant countries where character questions trigger a requirement

For the Substantial Ties Pathway

Business ties: ASIC records, shareholding documents, company financials, active Australian contracts
Employment ties: employment contracts, pay slips, tax returns
Cultural and community ties: membership records, community service letters
Personal ties: marriage or birth certificates of Australian citizen family, property deeds
A concise statement and third-party evidence supporting compelling reasons for absence, if applicable

Migration agent preparing complete Visa Subclass 155 Resident Return Visa application documents

A complete, well-organised application is the most effective way to minimise processing time and avoid refusal

If Your Application Is Refused

Refusal of a Subclass 157 Application

The Subclass 157 is assessed heavily on documentary evidence of compelling and compassionate circumstances. The most common reason for refusal is that the Department did not find the reasons provided to be sufficiently compelling, or the evidence was not strong enough to support the claims.

If your Subclass 157 application is refused while you are outside Australia, the consequences are immediate — you do not have a visa to return to Australia as a permanent resident.

If you applied onshore and received a refusal, you generally have 28 days to appeal the decision to the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART). The ART can conduct a fresh review of your compelling and compassionate circumstances and consider new evidence. However, this strict time limit cannot be extended. You must act immediately upon receiving a refusal decision.

How We Help

How Migration Republic Can Help with Your Subclass 157

The Visa Subclass 157 is not a standard application. It relies entirely on convincing the Department that your absence was unavoidable and deeply compelling.

At Migration Republic, we manage urgent and complex Resident Return Visa applications:

Urgent Assessment

We review your travel history, residency status, and reasons for absence to give you an honest appraisal of whether the Subclass 157 criteria can be met.

Evidence Strategy

We tell you exactly what medical, family, or employment evidence is needed to prove your compelling circumstances.

Case Building

We prepare detailed written submissions arguing your case based on current migration law and policy guidelines.

Application Management

We handle the entire lodgement process, communicating with the Department on your behalf.

Professional GuidanceIf your permanent residency is at risk because you cannot meet the standard RRV requirements, professional guidance is not optional — it is essential.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I apply specifically for a Subclass 157?

When you apply for a Resident Return Visa, your eligibility is checked for both Subclass 155 and Subclass 157. You lodge one application and the Department determines which subclass applies based on your circumstances. You do not choose between them — the Department decides based on what you tell them.

What does compelling and compassionate mean in practice?

Circumstances that are considered compelling are typically those that were unavoidable or beyond your control. Medical emergencies, caring for critically ill family members, bereavement, natural disasters, and deployment in Australia's interests are examples. Generic work or family commitments without specific documentation are generally not sufficient.

What is the travel facility on a Subclass 157?

The Subclass 157 is valid for 3 months from the date of grant. You must enter Australia within that three-month window.

Can I apply from overseas?

Yes. The Resident Return Visa subclass 155 and 157 can be applied for inside or outside of Australia. If applying from outside, you must remain outside Australia until a decision is made.

Is the Subclass 157 a permanent visa?

Both the 155 and 157 visas are permanent visas. The permanent residency itself does not expire. What the Subclass 157 provides is a three-month travel facility — the right to re-enter Australia as a permanent resident within that period.

Can I include family members in my application?

Each family member must apply separately — you cannot add your spouse or children to your own RRV application. Each person must meet the eligibility criteria and pay the application fee individually.

What if my 157 is refused?

You generally have 28 days to appeal a visa refusal to the ART if the application was lodged in Australia. This strict time limit cannot be extended. Seek professional advice immediately upon receiving a refusal decision.

What happens after I return on the Subclass 157?

Once you return to Australia, your focus should be on re-establishing residence and accumulating days toward the Subclass 155 residency requirement. Apply for your next RRV — as a Subclass 155 — before you need to travel again.

How many times can I apply for an RRV?

There are no limits on the number of Resident Return Visas you can apply for. You can continue applying as long as you continue to meet the eligibility criteria.

Ready to Apply for Your Visa Subclass 157?

Your Australian permanent residency is too important to risk. Whether you are in Australia or already overseas, if you are relying on compelling and compassionate circumstances to secure a Subclass 157 Resident Return Visa, our MARA-registered agents at Migration Republic are ready to help you protect your status and bring you back to Australia.