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You must have a return visa

A RESIDENT Return visa (RRV) is valid for three months or five years (depending on circumstances). It allows Australian permanent residents to travel to and from Australia as often as they wish within the validity of the visa, while maintaining their status as permanent residents.

Only Australian citizens have the right to enter Australia without a visa.

Permanent residents must have a valid RRV, or "old-style" Authority to Return (ATR) or Return Endorsement (RE) if they wish to travel from and to Australia and retain their permanent resident status - even if they will only be out of Australia for a couple of days.

Applications may be made on the Internet.

Applications can also be made in person at any department office, by completing application form 1085 or by a written request.

An application must be accompanied by a passport, evidence of any name changes (for example if you have married since you first arrived in Australia) and the AUD$120 application charge.

In some circumstances you may also need to provide other documentation to confirm your eligibility for an RRV.

It is unlikely that an airline will transport a person to Australia who does not have an Australian passport or valid visa.

If a person does arrive at an Australian air or sea port without an Australian passport or valid visa, at the very least they will be subject to delays while their identity and claims to enter Australia are checked.

At worst, they can be refused entry to Australia and returned to the last point of transit. Permanent residents will jeopardise their permanent status is they do not hold a valid RRV, ATR or RE when they return to Australia.