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Australian citizenship resident return visa

Citizenship & RRV

The last steps to citizenship. And how to keep what you've earned.

You've done the hard part. You moved here, settled in, and built a life. Two things are left to sort out: becoming a citizen, and making sure your permanent residence stays safe when you travel. Both are simpler than the journey that got you here, but small mistakes still trip people up.

Conferral & descentThe citizenship testProtect your PR before you fly
Book a Status & Citizenship Review Speak With a Registered Agent
Which One Do You Need?

Three situations, three different paths.

Most people who have lived here as a permanent resident are heading for conferral. If you were born overseas to an Australian parent, descent may already cover you. And if your permanent residence travel facility has run out, you need the Resident Return Visa before you fly.

Most Common

Citizenship by Conferral

The path most permanent residents take. Meet the residence requirement, sit the test, make the pledge, and you're Australian. The natural final step for PR holders who plan to stay.

About conferral →

Citizenship by Descent

Born overseas to an Australian parent? You may already be entitled to citizenship through them. No residence requirement and no test. This is registration, not a migration application.

About descent →

Resident Return Visa (155/157)

You hold PR and need to travel, but your travel facility has expired. The RRV renews it. Apply before you fly - you can't return on an expired facility. We handle these quickly.

About the RRV →
Citizenship by Conferral

What conferral actually requires.

Conferral is the formal process of applying to become an Australian citizen once you hold permanent residence. It isn't automatic - you apply, you prove you meet the requirements, and once approved, you become a citizen when you make the pledge at a ceremony. There are three pillars to satisfy.

The residence requirementYou need four years of lawful residence in Australia, including at least the last 12 months as a permanent resident. You also can't have been absent from Australia for more than 12 months total across the four years, or more than 90 days in the final 12 months. Travel limits are the single most common reason applications are delayed or refused.
Good characterAll applicants aged 18 and over must be of good character. The Department looks at criminal records (Australian and overseas), pending charges, immigration history including any visa refusals or cancellations, and matters like tax and family obligations. Character issues don't always disqualify you, but they need to be handled carefully.
The citizenship testMost applicants aged 18 to 59 must pass the citizenship test: 20 multiple-choice questions, a 75% pass mark (at least 15 correct), and you must answer all five Australian values questions correctly. Some applicants are exempt or sit an interview instead.
Intention to resideYou must intend to live in Australia or maintain a close and continuing association with the country.

The pledge is the moment it becomes real. After your application is approved, you make the Australian Citizenship Pledge at a ceremony, usually run by your local council. Citizenship takes effect from the moment you make the pledge - not from when the application is approved.

Citizenship by Descent

Already a citizen, just not registered.

If you were born outside Australia and at least one of your parents was an Australian citizen at the time of your birth, you may be eligible for citizenship by descent. This is fundamentally different from conferral: there's no residence requirement, no citizenship test, and you don't need to be living in Australia. You're essentially registering a citizenship entitlement you already hold through your parent.

Descent matters most for children born overseas to Australian parents, and for adults who only later discover that a parent's Australian citizenship entitles them to it too. Applicants aged 18 and over still need to meet the character requirement.

Resident Return Visa (155 / 157)

Protecting your right to travel as a PR.

Permanent residence gives you the right to live in Australia indefinitely, but the right to leave and return is a separate thing, called your travel facility. It's usually valid for five years from when you were granted permanent residence. Once it expires, you can't use your permanent visa to re-enter Australia - even though you're still a permanent resident.

The Resident Return Visa (subclass 155 or 157) renews that travel facility. The critical point: you need to apply before you travel, because you can't return on an expired facility. If you've spent significant time outside Australia, the application needs stronger justification, and substantial ties to Australia help. We handle these efficiently, including urgent cases.

The RRV is not the same as citizenship. Many people delay citizenship and rely on renewing the RRV every few years. That works, but it means re-applying indefinitely and meeting the residence-based requirements each time. Citizenship ends the travel-facility problem permanently. We can help you weigh which path makes sense for your situation.

Compare The Three Paths

Conferral, descent or RRV - side by side.

The three paths solve different problems. Conferral and descent both end in citizenship; the Resident Return Visa only protects your permanent residence travel rights. The table below sets out the broad differences. Figures are general guidance and depend on your circumstances.

  Conferral Descent RRV (155 / 157)
Who it's for PR holders who have lived here long enough and plan to stay People born overseas to an Australian parent PR holders whose travel facility has expired or is about to
Residence required Generally 4 years lawful residence, including about the last 12 months as a PR None - you don't need to live in Australia Residence and ties to Australia are assessed, not a fixed four years
Test required Citizenship test for most applicants 18-59: 75% pass mark and all 5 Australian values questions correct No test No test
Typical timing Varies; includes a wait for a test date and a ceremony to make the pledge Registration processing; no ceremony Generally around 4 to 12 weeks, depending on your case; urgent handling where eligible
What it gives you Full citizenship: passport, the vote, consular help, no more travel-facility renewals Full citizenship, recognising an entitlement held through your parent Renewed travel facility on your existing PR - not citizenship

Fees depend on your circumstances. Government charges differ across the three pathways and we don't publish a fixed price, because the right scope depends on your situation. We quote in writing before any work begins. See how we quote.

Which Path Is Yours?

A quick way to narrow it down.

Most people fit one path cleanly. Work through these questions in order and stop at the first that matches. If two seem to apply, or your family history is mixed, that's exactly the kind of case worth a short review.

Question 1
Were you born overseas to a parent who was an Australian citizen when you were born?

Yes - citizenship by descent likely applies. There's no residence requirement and no test; you're registering an entitlement you already hold through your parent. Applicants 18 and over still need to meet the character requirement. No - go to question 2.

Question 2
Do you hold permanent residence, and is your travel facility expired or close to it?

Yes, and you need to travel - the Subclass 155 Resident Return Visa (or 157 in limited cases) renews your travel facility. Apply before you fly. This protects your PR; it isn't citizenship. No, your travel facility is fine - go to question 3.

Question 3
Have you lived here as a permanent resident and plan to stay long term?

Yes - citizenship by conferral is the usual path. Meet the residence requirement (generally four years, including about the last 12 months as a PR), pass the citizenship test, satisfy character, and make the pledge. Not yet four years - an RRV can keep your travel rights alive until you qualify for conferral.

New Zealand citizens have a separate route. If you're a New Zealand citizen who arrived on a Subclass 444 Special Category visa, from 1 July 2023 eligible holders have a direct pathway to citizenship after four years in Australia. The questions above are written for other permanent residents - ask us how the 444 route applies to you.

Common Questions

Citizenship and RRV questions answered.

You need four years of lawful residence in Australia, with at least the final 12 months held as a permanent resident. Time spent in Australia on an eligible temporary visa before getting PR can count toward the four years - but the last 12 months must be as a PR. We can work out your exact eligibility date based on your visa history.
Travel limits are strict: no more than 12 months total absence across the four-year period, and no more than 90 days in the final 12 months before applying. If you've exceeded these, you may need to wait, or in limited circumstances seek a discretion. This is one of the most common reasons applications get refused, so it's worth checking carefully before you lodge.
If you're outside Australia with an expired travel facility, you'll generally need to apply for a Resident Return Visa from offshore before you can return. The strength of the application depends on your ties to Australia and your residence history. Contact us as a priority - there are time-sensitive considerations.
Children under 16 can usually be included in a parent's conferral application and don't need to meet the residence requirement separately. Children born overseas to an Australian parent may be eligible for citizenship by descent instead. The right pathway depends on each child's circumstances.
Citizenship gives you the vote, an Australian passport, consular protection, and an end to travel-facility renewals. The RRV keeps your PR travel rights alive but requires re-application and meeting residence requirements each cycle. For most people who plan to stay, citizenship is the stronger long-term position - but there are situations where the RRV suits better. We'll give you an honest read.
There are two separate costs: the Department's government charge for the application, and our professional fee for handling it. The government charge varies by application type and can change, so we confirm the current figure with you before you lodge. Our fee depends on the complexity of your case - travel-limit issues or character matters take more work than a straightforward application. We don't publish a fixed price; we quote in writing before any work begins. See how we quote.
A partner or spouse can't simply be added to your application - each adult applies in their own right and must meet the residence, character and (where applicable) test requirements themselves. Children under 16 can usually be included in a parent's conferral application and don't sit the test. Children aged 16 or 17 generally lodge their own application but on relaxed terms. Where a child was born overseas to an Australian parent, citizenship by descent may be the cleaner route. We map out who applies how before lodging.
As a general guide, a Subclass 155 Resident Return Visa often takes around 4 to 12 weeks, though processing times change and depend on your residence history and how complete your application is. Where you have strong, recent ties to Australia, decisions can be quicker. If you're travelling at short notice, tell us early - there are ways to flag urgency where you're eligible. Always apply before you leave, because you can't return on an expired travel facility.
Yes. If you don't reach the 75% pass mark, or you miss any of the five Australian values questions, you can generally re-sit the test, usually within about 12 months of your application. Some applicants are offered an interview instead of, or alongside, the test depending on their situation. The test isn't a one-shot hurdle, so a first miss rarely ends your application - it's worth preparing properly and trying again.
Related Help

Where to from here.

Most commonCitizenship by ConferralThe full detail on residence, the test, and the application. Born to an Aussie parentCitizenship by DescentNo test, no residence requirement - register your entitlement. Protect your PRResident Return Visa 155/157Renew your travel facility before you leave Australia.

Written and reviewed by Brian Chan, Registered Migration Agent (MARN 2217857)

Visa Store Australia, Perth · Last reviewed June 2026 · Verify on the MARA register · General information only, not personal migration advice.

Not certain which fits you?

That's normal, especially with mixed family histories or a lot of travel. Tell us your situation and we'll point you to the right path.

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Citizenship & Resident Return Visa Keep your PR or become a citizen
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