PR Pathway via the Former Resident Visa (Subclass 151)
The Former Resident visa (subclass 151) is a direct permanent visa: if it is granted, you receive PR straight away without going through an intermediate temporary visa. This is a stream for people who were once Australian permanent residents or citizens — but have since lost that status — and want to return to settle in Australia. This article explains the overall picture of the pathway; it is not a how-to-apply guide and does not replace individual advice.
Who is this pathway for?
The 151 pathway is for people with a prior connection to Australia at a deep level: once an Australian permanent resident or citizen, no longer holding that status, and wanting to return to settle long term. This stream typically sets requirements about the time you previously resided in Australia and about your ties to Australia (for example through family or your history of living there).
If you were never an Australian permanent resident or citizen, this is not your pathway — see the other streams in the PR overview map. If you are still a permanent resident but are concerned about your right to travel after PR, see RRVs and travel facilities after PR.
The starting point
The starting point of the 151 pathway is your history with Australia: when you held permanent or citizenship status, for how long, and what your ties to Australia are now. Because this stream is based on prior residence and ties, the first thing to do is to assemble evidence of the time you lived in Australia and your family or community connections. This is the foundation for establishing whether you are eligible.
The steps to permanent residence
Step 1 — Establish whether you fall within the stream. Clarify that you were once an Australian permanent resident/citizen and have since lost that status. This is the core condition.
Step 2 — Check the prior-residence and ties requirements. The 151 stream has requirements about the time you previously resided in Australia and about your ties to Australia. Check the current conditions on Home Affairs.
Step 3 — Prepare your evidence. Assemble evidence of your residence history, your prior status and your ties to Australia.
Step 4 — Lodge the 151 application. Lodge the formal application together with the documents establishing the conditions.
Step 5 — Be granted PR. If the application is approved, you receive the 151 visa — a direct permanent visa, allowing you to live and work in Australia.
Fees and the numbers to check
The main application fee for the Former Resident visa (151) for the primary applicant currently sits at 6,005 AUD. This figure does not include fees for accompanying dependants, health examinations or translations — so budget for a total cost well above the base fee.
The remaining numbers of the 151 pathway all change over time, so this article does not state fixed figures:
- The number of years you need to have previously resided in Australia — check on Home Affairs.
- Any age limit applying to this stream — check on Home Affairs.
- How to demonstrate your ties to Australia — check on Home Affairs.
- Processing times — check the updated figures on Home Affairs.
A safe principle: the 151 stream depends on personal history, so the conditions that apply can differ by circumstance — always check against official sources.
The decisive factor
The single biggest decisive factor of the 151 pathway is whether you have a sufficient history of residence in Australia and ties to Australia that meet the requirements. Unlike the points-tested skilled streams, this is a pathway based on your past and your relationship with Australia. Your ability to assemble clear evidence of the time you lived in Australia and of your current ties is the key factor.
Risks and common mistakes
- Thinking that having visited Australia is enough. This stream requires having been a permanent resident/citizen with a certain residence history — not merely having travelled there.
- Lacking evidence of prior residence time. If you cannot establish it, the file struggles to stand up.
- Misreading the age or residence-years requirements. These figures change and depend on circumstance — check against official sources.
- Underestimating the ties-to-Australia requirement. This is an important part of the 151 stream.
When to consult an RMA
You should consider consulting a Registered Migration Agent (RMA) registered with OMARA when: you are not sure whether your residence history meets the requirements; your prior permanent/citizenship status has complicating factors; or you need a strategy for assembling evidence of residence and ties. An RMA assesses your actual circumstances — this article does not, and does not advise on individual cases.
Learn more
- RRVs and travel facilities after PR
- Overview map of PR pathways
The 151 pathway is for those who were once connected to Australia and want to return to settle. Start by establishing whether you fall within the stream, assemble evidence of your residence and ties, and check every condition against official sources before you lodge.
Last updated: 13/06/2026. Migration rules change frequently — always check official sources.