What Can You Do on a Resolution of Status (851) Visa in 2026? Medicare, Work, Study and Travel
A practical 2026 guide to Medicare, work, study, permanent residence, family sponsorship and travel on the Resolution of Status 851 visa.
As at August 2026, the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs’ official Resolution of Status (Subclass 851) page confirms that you can live permanently in Australia, work and study, access Medicare and Centrelink services, sponsor eligible family members, travel to and from Australia for five years and, if eligible, become an Australian citizen or attend free English language classes. The five-year period relates to travel, not the duration of the visa. This article provides general information rather than personalised legal advice; individual circumstances and the rules current at the time should be considered.
Is subclass 851 permanent, or does it expire after five years?
Subclass 851 is a permanent visa. You can remain in Australia indefinitely and become an Australian permanent resident on the day the visa is granted.
The five-year period is your travel facility. It does not mean your permanent residence ends after five years. However, once that travel facility expires, you must apply for and be granted a Resident Return visa under subclass 155 or subclass 157 before re-entering Australia as a permanent resident.
You and any eligible family members holding the visa must continue to obey all Australian laws.
Can I work and study on a Resolution of Status 851 visa?
Yes. The Department of Home Affairs expressly allows subclass 851 holders to work and study in Australia.
Workers are also protected by Australian workplace law. The right to work does not itself guarantee employment, and holders are protected by Australian workplace law.
The visa page also lists free AMEP English language classes for people who are eligible. Attendance is subject to the applicable program requirements rather than being an unconditional entitlement for every visa holder.
What government services can I access?
Subclass 851 holders can access government services including:
- Medicare;
- Centrelink;
- Services Australia payments and support;
- job-matching services;
- the National Disability Insurance Scheme; and
- short-term counselling for torture or trauma where required.
Access to Medicare and Centrelink should be distinguished from eligibility for a particular payment or service. Holding subclass 851 does not automatically establish an entitlement to every financial payment, treatment or support programme; the relevant eligibility rules still apply.
Can I sponsor an eligible family member?
As an Australian permanent resident, you may be able to sponsor an eligible family member for permanent residence through the family visa stream of the Migration Program.
This is a possibility rather than an automatic outcome. The family member must meet the requirements applicable to that visa stream, and a proposed sponsorship does not guarantee that the visa application will be approved.
How does the five-year travel facility work?
You can travel to and from Australia for five years from the date your subclass 851 visa is granted. During that period, you may leave and re-enter Australia as many times as you like while the visa remains in effect.
The Department of Home Affairs describes this as a five-year travel facility permitting repeated travel, rather than one uninterrupted five-year trip. Your travel document and current visa details must also remain valid for travel.
What happens when the five-year travel facility expires?
The travel facility expires after five years, but your underlying permanent residence does not.
To re-enter Australia as a permanent resident after that point, you must apply for and be granted a Resident Return visa, known as an RRV, under subclass 155 or subclass 157.
If the travel facility expires while you are outside Australia, you must obtain an RRV before returning to Australia as a permanent resident.
Can I become an Australian citizen?
You may become eligible for Australian citizenship after the required period. Holding subclass 851 does not make citizenship automatic; all applicable citizenship requirements must still be met.
For citizenship purposes, your period of Australian permanent residence is counted from the day your subclass 851 visa is granted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Resolution of Status (subclass 851) visa permanent?
Yes. Subclass 851 lets you stay in Australia indefinitely, and permanent residence begins when the visa is granted. The five-year period is a travel facility, not the lifespan of the visa.
Can I work and study on subclass 851?
Yes. The Department of Home Affairs expressly lists both work and study as activities allowed on the visa. Holders are also protected by Australian workplace law.
Does subclass 851 give me access to Medicare and Centrelink?
Yes. The visa provides access to government services including Medicare and Centrelink. A particular payment or support service may still have its own eligibility requirements.
Can I leave and re-enter Australia more than once?
Yes. During the five years from the grant date, you may travel to and from Australia as many times as you like while the visa remains in effect. This is a period of repeated travel, not permission for only one five-year trip.
What happens after the five-year travel facility expires?
You must apply for and be granted an RRV under subclass 155 or subclass 157 to re-enter Australia as a permanent resident. If the facility expires while you are overseas, the RRV must be granted before you return as a permanent resident.
Can I sponsor a family member on subclass 851?
You may be able to sponsor an eligible family member for permanent residence through the Migration Program’s family visa stream. The family member must satisfy the relevant requirements, and sponsorship does not guarantee a visa grant.
Can I become an Australian citizen while holding subclass 851?
You may be eligible after the required period. For citizenship purposes, your permanent residence is counted from the day subclass 851 is granted, but citizenship is not automatic.
Are free English language classes available?
Eligible subclass 851 holders can attend AMEP English language classes free of charge. Eligibility for the program must be assessed separately.