In Reply to: on arrival back in oz posted by petkeri on Sunday, 1. April 2007 at 08:00 Bali Time:
Resident Return Visa for Australia
The purpose of a Resident Return Visa (RRV) is to facilitate the re-entry into Australia of non-citizen permanent residents. They are usually issued with a validity of 5 years or 3 months.
A RRV allows Australian permanent residents to travel from, and return to Australia as often as they wish within the validity of the visa, whilst maintaining their status as permanent residents.
Who Needs a RRV?
Everybody, except Australian citizens and New Zealand citizens travelling on their New Zealand passport, must have a visa to travel to Australia.
If you are a permanent resident of Australia and intend to travel away from Australia, you should ensure that you have a visa, which is valid for re-entry, on your return to Australia. This visa can be your original permanent resident visa, or a Resident Return Visa, as long as it authorises travel to Australia on the date you return.
Permanent Residents should obtain their RRVs before leaving Australia, to avoid travel delays and the need to obtain an RRV through an Australian diplomatic office overseas.
Special Circumstances
A permanent resident who has left Australia without a return visa and needs to return urgently, may apply for a provisional Resident Return Visa (RRV), even if they cannot provide proof of their permanent resident status (for example, where documents have been stolen).