From 1 July 2026, the Resident Return Visa (RRV) fee rose from $490 to $1,475, roughly tripling in cost. The increase has shocked many Permanent Resident holders, including members of the Indonesian diaspora in Australia.
The Australian Government raised the Resident Return Visa (RRV) fee by 201 per cent, from $490 to $1,475, effective 1 July 2026.
The Resident Return Visa allows Permanent Resident (PR) holders to leave and re-enter Australia. When a person obtains PR, their travel facility is only valid for five years. Once that period expires, PR holders must apply for an RRV to return to Australia from overseas.
SBS Indonesian spoke with four Indonesian diaspora members who hold Permanent Residency to hear their views on the fee increase.
Miska Suryanita in Perth, Sophie Rahajeng in Darwin and Yuga Muchtar in Melbourne all expressed shock and considered the increase disproportionate. The three highlighted that the increase comes at a time when residents in Australia already face significant economic pressure, from rising fuel prices to surging property costs.
Erwin Prayudhi, a prominent figure in the Indonesian diaspora community in Sydney, offered a different perspective. Although he acknowledged the increase adds a financial burden, he noted that PR holders in Australia enjoy benefits that are not significantly different from those available to Australian citizens.
Listen to SBS Indonesian's conversation with all four interviewees to hear their full perspectives, including whether they consider the increase fair, the dilemma between maintaining PR status or applying for Australian citizenship, and the lack of prior notice from the government.
Listen to the full podcast.
