Return Documents for Australian Citizens and Permanent Residents
On this page
This information explains the return document and evidence requirements for:
- Australian citizens returning to Australia
- non-citizen permanent residents wanting to return to Australia as permanent residents.
Australian citizens
Australian citizens have an automatic right of entry to Australia and need only present a current Australian passport on arrival. A citizen travelling without an Australian passport may face difficulty getting an airline to carry them, and may be delayed on arrival while their claim to Australian citizenship is verified. Applications for passports are available from any post office or passport office in Australia, or Australian mission overseas.
If you hold a visa and you then become an Australian citizen, you will not be able to travel on that visa. Gaining Australian citizenship legally ceases the visa you currently hold.
Dual citizenship
Dual citizens should still use your Australian passport when leaving and returning to Australia. The only exception is if you qualify for an Australian Declaratory visa (ADV).
Australian Declaratory visa
An Australian citizen may generally only be issued with an ADV in their valid foreign passport if one of the following applies:
- the applicant is under 18
- in an emergency or other compelling situation preventing travel on an Australian passport. You will be required to provide supporting documentation.
There is a charge for processing ADV applications. This charge is generally non-refundable. An ADV is valid for five years from the date of grant. If you cease to be an Australian citizen, the ADV becomes invalid and you will need a visa to return to Australia. The ADV can be evidenced in your passport.
Non-citizen permanent residents
Australian permanent residents, former permanent residents and former Australian citizens must hold a valid permanent visa to return (or ‘leave and return’) to Australia as permanent residents.
If you do not hold a valid visa for re-entry to Australia you may be refused entry to Australia or have your entry delayed until your identity and claims to enter Australia have been verified.
If you migrated to Australia in 1987 or later, your initial visa gives permission to return to Australia for up to five years. After that, if you want to return to Australia as a permanent resident you must hold a valid visa, such as a Resident Return visa (RRV).
Permanent residents in Australia should ensure they have a RRV that will allow them to re-enter Australia, before leaving Australia.
If you migrated to Australia between 1 March 1976 and 31 December 1986, you may have been issued with an Authority to Return (ATR) or a Return Endorsement (RE). ATRs and REs remain valid so long as the holder has not stayed away from Australia for more than three years and has not become an Australian citizen.
ATR and RE holders may be eligible for a free initial visa label of their original visa. The ATR or RE will be evidenced in your passport with the code BF-111. ATR and RE holders should not apply for a RRV.
Grant of a substantive visa
In general, the granting of any substantive visa will automatically cease any visas you currently hold, except for the granting of an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) or a Border (subclass 773) visa.
If you:
- are overseas and you hold a current permanent visa (regardless whether or not you have a visa label endorsed in your passport), you should not apply for a visitor visa or authorise someone else to apply for a visitor visa on your behalf without first contacting the nearest departmental office.
- hold an ATR or RE, you should not apply for a RRV. If you apply for a RRV and your application is approved, the granting of a RRV will legally cease your ATR or RE.
Permanent resident applying for an APEC Business Travel Card
If you are a permanent resident who applies and is granted an APEC Business Travel Card (APEC card), this will automatically cease the visa you currently hold. This is because APEC card holders are granted a temporary Business (Short Stay) (Subclass 456) visa. If you are a permanent resident visa holder, please contact the nearest departmental office before applying for your APEC card.
See: About the APEC Business Travel Card Scheme
Previous Australian citizens
If you have lost or renounced your Australian citizenship and want to return to Australia as a permanent resident, you must re-apply for a permanent visa, such as a RRV. Alternatively, you may be eligible to apply for resumption of your Australian citizenship.
Applying for an RRV
You should consider applying for a RRV if any of the following apply. You:
- are a current or former Australian permanent resident (whose last permanent visa was not cancelled); or you were previously an Australian citizen
- want to return to Australia as a permanent resident
- might not return to Australia within the validity period of your current return visa.
You need not wait for your visa to expire before applying for a new one. You should check your eligibility for a new visa well before your existing visa expires in case there have been changes to eligibility requirements.
If you think your current visa may expire while you are overseas, we recommend that you obtain a new RRV before you leave, although you may apply at an Australian Immigration office overseas. If your application is successful and a RRV is granted, your RRV will be valid for up to five years from the date of grant. Any time remaining on your current visa will be lost.
Note: If you are the holder of a Business Skills (subclass
127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 840, 841, 842, 843 or 844) visa you will not be
eligible to apply for a RRV if you are subject to a notice of intention to cancel,
or the department has made a decision to cancel your Business Skills visa under
section 134 of the Migration Act.
How to apply for an RRV
If you are in Australia you can apply online, by post or in person at an office of the department.
If you are outside Australia you should complete form 1085 Application for a Resident Return visa (RRV) or replacement evidence of an RRV or BF111 (ATR or RE) visa label.
See: Form 1085 (207KB PDF file)
More information about requirements and payment is available on the department’s website.
See: Five Year Resident Return Visa (Subclass 155) - About this Visa
Visa evidence for non-citizen permanent residents
Visa labels
You must have a valid visa for entry to Australia if you are not an Australian citizen. Australia does not require you to have a physical evidence of your visa (such as a visa label or stamp) in your passport to enter or remain in Australia. This is because the details of your current visa will be available on departmental systems.
However, if you are travelling through other countries, you may be required by those countries to have an Australian visa label or stamp endorsed in your passport. If you intend travelling through any country which may require you to have an Australian visa label or stamp in your passport, we recommend that you get a visa label endorsed in your passport before you commence your travel.
See: Fees & Charges
New passports
Generally, you must obtain a new passport if your old passport has either:
- expired
- been damaged or reported missing, lost or stolen.
If you obtain a new passport and your visa is still valid for travel, you will need to complete Form 929 – Change of address and/or passport details, and return the completed form to the department. The department will link your new passport details to your current visa (and other records). There is no fee for this service unless you require a new visa label.
See: Form 929 – Change of address and/or passport details ( 86KB PDF file)
If your visa is still valid for travel but evidenced in an expired passport, you can carry both your old and new passports when travelling. The expiry of your passport does not legally cease your visa. Your visa will also not cease if your passport was damaged or reported missing, lost or stolen.
ATR or RE which has not been evidenced
If you hold an old style ATR or RE which was issued manually in your passport as a ‘wet-stamp’ between 1976 and 1986, this will not be compatible with the department’s current electronic systems and holders may experience delays on entry while manual checks are made.
Holders are eligible to receive free initial evidence of their authorities with a new label at any departmental office. The new label is fully compatible with immigration and customs systems and does not alter the conditions of the original visa in any way.
Re-evidencing a RRV in a new passport
If you are the holder of a valid RRV and require a visa label, you might prefer to apply for a new five year RRV rather than re-evidence the balance of your old RRV given there is a charge for this service.
Applying for a replacement visa label of an ATR/RE or RRV
If you are in Australia and require replacement evidence of your ATR/RE or RRV, you can either:
- submit a completed form 1085 – Application for a Resident Return Visa (RRV) or replacement evidence of an RRV or BF111 (ATR or RE) visa label, or a written request with a valid passport and payment
- attend an office of the department with a valid passport and payment.
If you are outside Australia you must complete form 1085 and submit it with a valid passport and payment.
See: Form 1085 - Application for a Resident Return Visa (RRV) or replacement evidence of an RRV or BF111 (ATR or RE) visa label (207KB PDF file)
Information on current charges is available from the department’s website.
See: Fees & Charges