Australia’s Department of Home Affairs is advising permanent residents to review their visa conditions and rights before embarking on overseas trips to prevent potential issues with expired travel rights. Permanent residents should specifically check the expiration date of their visa’s travel facility before traveling. This advice is pertinent to holders of permanent residency visas, including subclass 189, 190, and 186.
Understanding the Travel Facility on Permanent Visas
Permanent residents may be unaware that their permanent visa includes a five-year travel facility, permitting unlimited departures and re-entries into Australia as long as the visa remains valid. However, this travel facility expires after five years. To continue re-entering Australia as a permanent resident, individuals must either:
Apply for a Resident Return Visa (RRV) to maintain permanent residency re-entry rights.
Obtain Australian citizenship if they wish to travel as an Australian citizen.
Steps to Ensure Compliance
To avoid disruptions and ensure compliance, permanent residents should:
Check Visa Status: Use the Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) system to verify their visa status and expiration date.
Apply for RRV: If the travel facility has expired or is nearing expiration, apply for an RRV to maintain re-entry rights into Australia.
Travel Facility Expiry Reminder Service
The Travel Facility Expiry Reminder (TFER) service is available to alert certain permanent residents about the upcoming expiration of their travel facility within 60 days. This reminder is sent to individuals who do not have a pending RRV application and have a personal email address recorded with the Department of Home Affairs.
About the Resident Return Visa
The Resident Return Visa (RRV) is available for permanent residents whose travel validity has expired or who are currently outside Australia. It also enables former Australian permanent residents whose last permanent visa was not canceled, and former Australian citizens who have lost or renounced their citizenship, to re-enter Australia. There are two types of RRVs:
Subclass 155: For those with a recent history of residency in Australia.
Subclass 157: For individuals who have been outside Australia for an extended period.
To prevent travel disruptions and avoid being stranded abroad, Australian permanent residents are encouraged to verify their travel facility status using VEVO or other relevant resources and to apply for an RRV well in advance if necessary.
Related Topics：
Where to Go Swimming in Chicago
