This permanent visa establishes your residency in Australia, offering the freedom to live, work, and study in the country. You can also enroll in Australia’s public health care scheme, Medicare, and sponsor your relatives to join you. Furthermore, this visa allows you to travel to and from Australia for up to 5 years from the date of grant, as long as the travel facility remains valid. If eligible, you can also apply for Australian citizenship.

The visa application fee for the main applicant is AUD 4,540. Additional fees apply for each family member included in the application. Keep in mind that there might be other associated costs such as health checks, police certificates, and biometrics, which are not covered by the visa application fee. You can use the Visa Pricing Estimator to determine the total cost of your visa application.

This visa might come with specific conditions. One common condition is 8502, which restricts the visa holder from arriving in Australia before a specified person. To review the specific conditions attached to your visa, please visit the official page.

The processing time for your visa application may vary. Several factors can affect the processing time, including whether the application is filled out correctly, the inclusion of all required documents, and the time required for verifying your information. Be sure to pay the correct visa application charge, as an incorrect payment can lead to the delay or rejection of your application.

To be eligible for the Former Resident Visa (Subclass 151), you must meet specific criteria:

If you are 18 years or older, you should have spent at least 9 years in Australia as a Permanent resident before turning 18. If you are younger than 18, you must have spent at least half of your life in Australia as a permanent resident.

You should be younger than 45 years of age at the time of application.

You must have never been an Australian citizen.

You should have maintained close business, cultural, or personal ties with Australia, even after you were no longer a permanent resident. This includes regular contact with relatives or friends, frequent visits, owning property, or having active business interests.

Defence Services Requirement:

If applicable, you must also meet one of the following conditions regarding Australian Defence Service:

Completed at least 3 months of continuous Australian defence service.

Were discharged from the Australian Defence Force before completing 3 months of service due to medical unfitness caused by your Australian defence service.

Note that there is no specific age requirement for the Defence Services Requirement.

Travel:

This visa allows you to travel to and from Australia as many times as you want for 5 years from the date of the visa grant. However, if you wish to travel after the initial 5-year travel validity expires, you will need to apply for and be granted a Resident Return (RRV) to re-enter Australia as a permanent resident. Additionally, you might want to consider Australian citizenship, which eliminates the need for a visa to enter Australia.

Remember that if you leave Australia after your travel validity expires or while you are outside Australia, you won’t be able to return as a permanent resident. In such cases, you must apply for and be granted an RRV before your arrival in Australia. The maximum travel period for someone who doesn’t meet the RRV residence requirement is 12 months.