Embassy of Australia

United States of America

Embassy address: 1601 Massachusetts Ave, NW Washington DC 20036 - Telephone: (202) 797 3000 - Fax: (202) 797 3168

Applying for your Resident Return Visa in Washington

General information about this visa may be accessed from the department's website. Please consider your eligiblity for this visa very carefully prior to lodging your application.

The following is a list of requirements specific to Resident Return visa applications. We recommend that you submit all required documents in the first instance so as to ensure the timely processing of the application.

• Completed and signed application form 1085 and visa application charge. Please refer to form 990i and the Currency Converter for the applicable charge. The application may be lodged in person or by mail. Please refer to our important tips for lodging your application in Washington.

• Photocopy of passport. While the original passport may be requested in certain cases during the assessment process, we ask that you NOT send in your original passport without our specifically requesting it.

• If you have travelled to Australia as a permanent resident in the past five years but have not resided in Australia for two out of the past five years as a permanent resident, you must submit evidence of your personal, cultural or business ties to Australia. Please refer to the department's checklist for details on this requirement.

• If you have not travelled to Australia in the past five years as an Australian permanent resident, you must submit evidence of your personal, cultural or business ties AND compeling reasons for your absence from Australia. Please refer to the department's checklist for details on this requirement.

Replacement evidence of a Resident Return Visa

If you hold a valid Resident Return visa in an expired passport, you may continue to use the visa until it expires, provided you travel with both the old and new passports.

If your passport containing a valid Resident Return visa has expired, or has been lost, stolen or damaged, this office can issue a new visa label in the your new passport. An application charge applies for this service.

Please submit the following documents to apply for a replacement evidence of a Resident Return Visa:

• Completed form 1085 and visa application charge. Please refer to form 990i and the Currency Converter for the applicable charge.

• Current passport

• Self-addressed, prepaid return envelope for the safe return of your passport and visa.

Please refer to our important tips for lodging your application in Washington.