To get a 5-year Resident Return visa, you need to have spent at least 2 of the last 5 years in Australia as a permanent resident or citizen. Count your days here.
Rules last checked against official sources: 29 September 2026
Quick answer
For a 5-year Resident Return visa (subclass 155) you need to have been physically in Australia for at least 2 years (730 days) in the 5 years before applying, as a permanent resident or citizen. The days don't need to be continuous, and time on temporary or bridging visas doesn't count.
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Why you need a Resident Return visa
An Australian permanent visa lets you live in Australia indefinitely, but its travel facility (the right to leave and come back as a permanent resident) usually lasts only 5 years from the grant. After it expires, you need a Resident Return visa (RRV) to return to Australia as a permanent resident.
The 2-in-5 rule
For a 5-year RRV (subclass 155), you must have been physically present in Australia for at least 2 years in total in the 5 years right before you apply, as a permanent resident or citizen.
The 2 years don't need to be continuous.
Only time as a permanent resident or citizen counts, not time on temporary or bridging visas.
The day you leave and the day you return both count as days in Australia. Only full days abroad are absences.
If you don't meet it
If you've spent less than 2 of the last 5 years in Australia, you may still be granted a shorter RRV (often 1 year) if you have substantial ties to Australia of benefit to the country, such as business, cultural, employment or personal ties. If you've been away for more than 5 years continuously, you also need compelling reasons for the absence. A 3-month RRV (subclass 157) may be available in compelling and compassionate circumstances.
Your trip list is shared with our Australian citizenship calculator. If you're eligible, citizenship removes the need for RRVs altogether.
Frequently asked questions
What is the 2 in 5 rule for the Resident Return visa?
You must have spent at least 2 years (730 days) in Australia as a permanent resident or citizen in the 5 years before you apply. The days don't need to be continuous.
Does time before becoming a permanent resident count?
No. Only time as a permanent resident or citizen counts toward the 2 years.
What if I have less than 2 years in Australia?
You may still get a shorter RRV if you have substantial ties of benefit to Australia, or a 3-month RRV in compelling circumstances.
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