Residency History
We reconstruct childhood permanent residence, previous Australian visas and movement history to assess the long-residence requirements.
Permanent Resident Visa · Subclass 151
Former Resident Visa Subclass 151
The Former Resident Visa Subclass 151 provides a permanent residence pathway for people with a strong historical connection to Australia through substantial childhood residence as an Australian permanent resident or qualifying Australian defence service.
Important eligibility point
Having held Australian permanent residence in the past is not enough by itself. Your previous residence history, age, ongoing Australian connections or defence service determine whether this pathway may be available.
Permanent Residence Services
Support for a Historical Permanent Residence Case
Think Higher Consultants can assist with the evidence and eligibility issues specific to this pathway.
Australian Ties
We review evidence of continuing personal, cultural or business connections maintained after permanent residence ended.
Defence Records
For applicants relying on military service, we assess historic service and discharge records against the applicable requirements.
Onshore Status
If you are already in Australia, we review your current substantive or bridging visa position before lodgement.
Form 47SV
We assist with preparing the paper application, government payment evidence and supporting documents.
Family Inclusion
We assess eligible family members included with the application or added before Home Affairs makes its decision.
Two Ways to Qualify
Which Subclass 151 Pathway Applies?
There are two separate primary pathways. You only need to qualify under the route that applies to your circumstances.
Significant Childhood Residence in Australia
This route is for certain former Australian permanent residents who spent a significant part of their childhood in Australia.
- If you are 18 or older: at least 9 years in Australia as a permanent resident before turning 18
- If you are under 18: at least half of your life spent in Australia as a permanent resident
- You must be under 45 when applying
- You must have never been an Australian citizen
- You must have maintained business, cultural or personal ties with Australia after losing permanent residence
Age rule:The under-45 requirement belongs to the long-residence route.
Qualifying Historic Australian Defence Service
A separate route exists for people with qualifying historic Australian defence service.
The legislation includes applicants who completed at least 3 months of continuous Australian defence service, or who were discharged earlier because they became medically unfit due to that service.
The relevant definition relates to specified historic service, including service before 19 January 1981. Ordinary overseas military service does not automatically satisfy this requirement.
Different age positionThe long-residence age rule does not apply in the same way to this defence-service pathway.
Proving Your Australian Ties
Childhood Residence Is Only Part of the Long-Residence Case
For a long-residence applicant, the evidence must also show that the connection with Australia continued after you were no longer a permanent resident.
The regulations recognise business, cultural or personal ties.
- Regular family or personal contact
- Return visits to Australia
- Property ownership
- Active business interests
- Professional or community connections
- Australian financial or government records
Former Resident or Resident Return Visa?
These Pathways Solve Different Immigration Problems
Someone who previously held Australian permanent residence should not assume Subclass 151 is automatically the correct way to return.
Former Resident Visa
The former resident pathway has separate childhood-residence or qualifying defence-service criteria and leads to permanent residence if granted.
Resident Return Visa
A Resident Return Visa is generally relevant to current permanent residents, certain former permanent residents whose last permanent visa was not cancelled, and some former Australian citizens.
A visa-history review can be particularly important if you:
Left Australia many years agoLost their travel facilityHad permanent residence cancelledPreviously held Australian citizenshipIs unsure whether an RRV or another pathway applies
Applying Inside or Outside Australia
Application and Decision Location
The application can be lodged in Australia or overseas, but not while the applicant is in immigration clearance.
| Application Lodged | Location Required at Decision |
|---|---|
| In Australia | You must be in Australia when Home Affairs makes the decision. |
| Outside Australia | You must be outside Australia when Home Affairs makes the decision. |
Check Your Visa Status Before Lodgement
If applying onshore, you generally need to hold a substantive visa other than a Transit visa. Where you no longer hold a substantive visa, additional Schedule 3 requirements can apply.
What Can Happen After an Onshore Application
If you held a substantive visa when applying, Home Affairs states that an associated Bridging Visa A is granted and can come into effect if your current visa expires while the permanent application is being processed.
Form 47SV & Lodgement
Application Process
The initial application remains paper-based. Once acknowledged, it can be imported into ImmiAccount for document uploads, correspondence and updates.
Confirm the Eligibility Route
Identify whether the long-residence or qualifying defence-service pathway applies.
Prepare Form 47SV
Complete the paper application with the details required for the relevant pathway.
Build the Evidence
Gather residence, Australian ties or defence evidence, together with identity and family documents.
Pay the Government Charge
Make the applicable payment and retain the payment evidence for lodgement.
Post the Application
The initial application is posted to Home Affairs in Sydney and is not lodged online or in person.
Receive Acknowledgement
Home Affairs acknowledges the paper application after it is received and registered.
Import to ImmiAccount
Once acknowledged, the case can be imported into ImmiAccount for document uploads and correspondence.
Respond to Requests
Complete health, character or further-information requests while the application is being assessed.
Evidence to Prepare
The Strongest Documents Depend on the Eligibility Route
Form 47SV specifically asks for evidence of previous Australian permanent residence and continuing ties with Australia.
Childhood Residence
- Previous Australian visa evidence
- Old passports
- Movement records
- School or education records
- Evidence showing permanent residence during childhood
Continuing Ties
- Family correspondence
- Australian travel history
- Property records
- Business interests
- Professional memberships
- Community or cultural connections
Defence Service
- Military service records
- Service dates
- Discharge documents
- Medical discharge evidence, where relevant
Identity & Family
- Passport
- Birth certificate
- Marriage or relationship evidence
- Children's documents
- Custody or parental consent evidence, where applicable
Family Can Be Included Before Decision
Eligible members of the family unit can be included in the application. They can also be added after lodgement but before Home Affairs makes its decision.
Home Affairs currently uses Form 1436 for adding an additional applicant after lodgement, together with the applicable additional government charge.
Family members must meet the relevant health, character and secondary requirements. Where an adult child is included as a dependant, evidence of ongoing dependency may also be required.
Other Requirements Can Still Apply
- Health requirements
- Character requirements
- Australian Values requirements for adults
- Child-protection requirements
- Previous Australian immigration history
- Australian Government debts
- Special return criteria where relevant
Home Affairs may also request an Assurance of Support in an individual case. It is not automatically required for every applicant.
Visa Cost
Government Charges From 1 July 2026
Standard government charges stated in the supplied content.
Standard government charges
Application Charges
| Applicant | Government Charge |
|---|---|
| Main applicant | AUD 6,005 |
| Additional applicant aged 18+ | AUD 3,000 |
| Additional applicant under 18 | AUD 1,500 |
Pacific-region applicants
Eligible primary applicants holding passports from specified Pacific-region countries can receive a lower main application charge of AUD 4,925, with reduced additional applicant charges.
Government charges can change, so current pricing should be confirmed immediately before lodgement.
Processing Time
Can affect timing Can affect timing Can affect timing Can affect timing Can affect timing Can affect timing
No Single Guaranteed Timeframe
Home Affairs does not provide one guaranteed processing timeframe. The Visa Processing Time Guide shows indicative times based on recently decided applications.
Incomplete forms
Missing evidence
Document verification
Health checks
Character checks
Further information requests
Permanent Residence After Grant
What the Visa Allows
This is a permanent visa. Permanent residence and international travel rights are not the same thing.
01Stay in Australia indefinitely
02Work and study
03Enrol in Medicare
04Sponsor eligible relatives
05Apply for Australian citizenship when eligible
Travel Rights After Grant
The initial grant provides a 5-year travel facility from the date of grant. After it expires, you can continue living permanently in Australia, but you generally need a valid Resident Return Visa to leave and return as a permanent resident unless you have become an Australian citizen.
When Permanent Residence Starts
If you are in Australia when the visa is granted, permanent residence starts on the grant date. If you are outside Australia, it starts when you first enter Australia on the visa.
Important for New Zealand passport holders
A New Zealand passport holder who already has this permanent visa should tell the immigration officer that they hold the permanent visa and do not want to be granted a Subclass 444 Special Category Visa. Receiving an SCV 444 can affect permanent resident status, Resident Return Visa eligibility and citizenship considerations.
Why Choose Think Higher Consultants
Historical Evidence Needs a Clear Case Strategy
Older residence histories can involve records from many years ago. The case should connect the relevant events, evidence and legal pathway clearly.
Registered Agent
Your case can be reviewed under the supervision of Aneel Khowaja, Registered Migration Agent, MARN 1571699.
Historical Case Review
Older permanent residence matters can involve passports, visas and movement records dating back decades. We review the complete history.
Permanent Visa Experience
Our team works across Australian permanent residence and return pathways so the case can be considered beyond one visa category.
Evidence Strategy
We focus on evidence that directly establishes residence history, Australian connection or defence service rather than unnecessary document volume.
Current Law
Eligibility is assessed against current migration requirements, including government charges and paper-application arrangements.
Case Management
We manage preparation, lodgement, ImmiAccount updates, Home Affairs requests and the final decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common Questions About the Former Resident Visa
What if I no longer have my old Australian visa records?
Older documents can be supplemented with evidence such as previous passports, school records and Australian movement records. The right evidence depends on what historical records are still available.
Does being born in Australia make me eligible?
Not by itself. Eligibility depends on meeting the long-residence or qualifying defence-service criteria, not simply being born in Australia.
Can I travel while an onshore application is being processed?
Your current visa and return rights should be checked before leaving Australia. A Bridging Visa A does not itself allow re-entry after overseas travel, so a Bridging Visa B or another valid travel facility may be required.
Do I need an Australian relative to sponsor me?
There is no ordinary family sponsorship requirement like there is for many family visas. However, Home Affairs can request an Assurance of Support in an individual case.
What if my family circumstances change after lodgement?
Changes such as marriage, separation, a new child or changes affecting an included dependant should be reported to Home Affairs because they can affect the application or family composition.
Rebuild Your Permanent Connection to Australia
Review Your Former PR History Before Choosing the Pathway
The Former Resident Visa Subclass 151 can restore Australian permanent residence for people who meet the specific long-residence or historic defence-service requirements.
Former PR historyChildhood residenceAustralian tiesDefence records
Think Higher Consultants can review your history, identify the relevant pathway, assess your Australian ties and prepare the Form 47SV application and supporting evidence.