If granted a permanent skilled migrant visa (subclass 175) for Australia, how long is it valid?
Offshore permanent visas are issued with a ‘first entry date’. You must travel to Australia within 12 months (sometimes 6 months) of your first medicals to validate your visa. If there is more than one person on the visa, the main applicant must arrive earlier than or at the same time as the others. All visa holders must validate; the visa of anyone who doesn’t will lapse. After validation, you may leave the country if you wish. Your visa is then valid for 5 years from the date of grant if you are out of Australia and forever if you stay in the country. If you will be travelling extensively or staying overseas for long periods, you must get a 5 year Resident Return visa: http://www.immi.gov.au/migrants/resident…
