Ramgarhiaz International, best Resident Return Visa Consultant from Ludhiana (Punjab) India. Our aim to provide reliable and value-added Resident Return visa consultancy services to current or former Country (A) Permanent Residents and former country citizens who wish to travel overseas after their travel facility has expired or return back to country (A) as a Permanent Resident.
Every Permanent Residency visa has a travel facility valid for specific years which allows Permanent Residents to travel to and from country freely. Once this travel facility expires or if it is about to expire, you must obtain a ‘return visa’ to allow you to re-enter country.
Former Permanent Residents whose last Permanent Residency visa was cancelled are not eligible to apply for a Resident Return Visa.
Who can apply?
You can apply for this visa if you fall into one of the following circumstances:
- You have resided in Country (A) as a Permanent Resident;
- You were previously an Country (A) Permanent Resident but no longer reside in Country (A); or
- You have renounced, given up, or lost your Country (A) citizenship in certain circumstances.
If you can provide an evidence that you have substantial cultural, employment, business, or personal ties with Country (A), you are eligible to apply.
For non-citizens who are residing in Country (A)as Permanent Residents, you can be granted the maximum travel facility of five years. This is provided if you have resided in Country (A) for at least two years in the last five years as a Permanent Resident.
Otherwise, if you do not meet this residence requirement you will be granted a travel facility for up to 12 months only.
If you have resided in Country (A) as a permanent resident for at least one day but less than two years in the last five 5 years before making the application, you may be granted a Resident Return Visa. However, you are required to provide evidence that there are compelling and compassionate reasons for not having resided in Country (A) for at least two years.
You can find out if you meet the residence requirements by obtaining an international movement record.
Can Family Members apply for a Resident Return Visa?
A family member can make an application for Resident Return Visa but must make a separate application. This means they need to satisfy the primary criteria and they cannot be added as a ‘secondary applicant’ to your visa application.
You can only make a combined application if you are included in the passport of another applicant.
What If I Have Been Absent for More Than 5 Years?
If you have been absent for more than five years, you may still be eligible to apply for a Resident Return Visa provided you can prove that you have substantial ties with Country (A). You must also demonstrate that there was a compelling and compassionate reason for your absence in Country (A). You do not need to demonstrate compelling and compassionate reasons for being absent the entire time. Instead, you can be granted a Resident Return Visa on the basis that you have been absent because of one or more particular events that are compelling and compassionate.
For example, a visa applicant’s mother had become ill and therefore the visa applicant had been absent for a substantial period of time. The visa applicant’s mother is well again but during the visa applicant’s absence, they had met their spouse, married and had children. Now, because of close ties to Country (A) and because their absence was initially because of a compassionate and compelling reason, they may be eligible for grant of a Resident Return Visa.
Where and How to apply?
This visa can be lodged either in or outside Country (A). You can lodged online if you already hold a Resident Return Visa, or you may lodge a paper application form if you cannot complete the online form or if circumstances exists that prevents you lodging online.
If you lodged outside of Country (A) you are required to be outside Country (A) when the Department of Home Affairs decides your application.
If you lodged inside Country (A), you can be inside or outside Country (A) when the decision is made.