1.1.8 Resident Return visas, Australian Declaratory visas and Certificates of Evidence of Resident Status

Objectives

This component aims to:

  • develop and administer visa arrangements which facilitate the re-entry of Australian permanent residents and ensure that only those people with a genuine commitment to residing in Australia, or who are contributing to Australia’s well being, retain the right to return and remain permanently in Australia
  • provide documentation to facilitate the entry into Australia of Australian citizen dual nationals who have compelling reasons preventing them from travelling on an Australian passport
  • provide Certificates of Evidence of Resident Status to Australian permanent residents who require evidence of their status.

Description

Under this output component, the department develops and administers appropriate visa arrangements and other documentation to facilitate the re-entry of Australian permanent residents in line with the above objectives. It also provides Certificates of Evidence of Resident Status to Australian permanent residents who require evidence of their status.

Performance

In 2007–08, 83 269 visas were granted and certificates issued, as detailed in Table 40.

During 2007–08, the department granted:

  • 67 565 Resident Return visas (a total of 67 977 applications were received, with 818 refused)
  • 1109 Australian Declaratory visas (a total of 1132 applications were received, with five refused)
  • 14 595 Certificates of Evidence Resident Status (a total of 14 853 applications were received, with no refusals).

 

Table 40: Number of Resident Return visas, Australian Declaratory visas and Certificates of Evidence of Resident Status
Category 2006–07 2007–08 Percentage change
Resident Return visas 63 062 67 565 7.14%
Australian Declaratory visas 1 189 1 109 –6.73%
Certificates of Evidence of Resident Status 16 486 14 595 –11.47%
Total 80 737 83 269 3.14%

 

Table 41: Resident Return visas, Australian Declaratory visas and Certificates of Evidence of Resident Status—performance information
Measures Results
2006–07 2007–08
Quality
Percentage of applications finalised within service standard 88% 87%
Quantity
80 000 applications (persons) finalised1 83 528 86 117
  1. The total number of applications finalised includes those granted, refused, withdrawn, cancelled and otherwise finalised (usually by review tribunals or courts decisions).

 

Table 42: Resident Return visas, Australian Declaratory visas and Certificates of Evidence of Resident Status—performance against service standards
Category Onshore clients Offshore clients
Resident Return visas, Australian Declaratory visas and Certificate of Evidence of Resident Status
Target 75 per cent finalised in 1 day 75 per cent finalised in 2 weeks
Result 89% 76%