Bridging Visas Australia

Bridging Visas Australia

A Bridging Visa is a temporary visa that can allow an eligible person to remain lawfully in Australia while their immigration status is being resolved.

Bridging visas can be relevant when a person is waiting for a decision on a substantive visa application, seeking review of an immigration decision, or dealing with certain other immigration circumstances.

The type of bridging visa available and the conditions attached to it depend on the person's individual circumstances and immigration history.

Australia has several types of bridging visas, including:

• Bridging Visa A (BVA) – subclass 010
• Bridging Visa B (BVB) – subclass 020
• Bridging Visa C (BVC) – subclass 030
• Bridging Visa E (BVE) – subclass 050

Each visa serves a different purpose and may have different conditions.

Bridging Visa A (BVA) – Subclass 010

A Bridging Visa A can allow eligible applicants to remain lawfully in Australia while they wait for a decision on a substantive visa application.

A BVA may be associated with an application for another substantive visa and can come into effect when the person's current substantive visa ceases.

The conditions attached to a BVA depend on the individual circumstances and the visa granted.

Important: A Bridging Visa A does not generally provide a right to leave Australia and return while it is in effect. If you depart Australia while holding a BVA, the bridging visa will cease.

If you need to travel overseas and return to Australia while waiting for a substantive visa decision, a Bridging Visa B may be the appropriate bridging visa, subject to eligibility.

Bridging Visa B (BVB) – Subclass 020

A Bridging Visa B can allow an eligible person to leave Australia and return during a specified travel period while waiting for a decision on a substantive visa application.

This makes the BVB particularly relevant where a person needs to travel overseas temporarily while their Australian visa application is being processed.

The Department grants a BVB with a defined travel period. The travel period can take into account factors such as:

• Reason for travel
• Intended travel dates
• Expected timing of the substantive visa decision
• Individual circumstances

A BVB should not be confused with a general travel permission that remains available indefinitely.

If you leave Australia with another type of bridging visa in effect, that bridging visa will cease. Only a Bridging Visa B provides the relevant travel and re-entry facility during its approved travel period.

Bridging Visa C (BVC) – Subclass 030

A Bridging Visa C may be available to certain eligible people who are in Australia and have made a substantive visa application but do not hold a substantive visa.

A BVC can allow the holder to remain lawfully in Australia while their immigration matter is being resolved.

Work rights and other conditions depend on the visa granted and the person's circumstances. A BVC does not provide the same travel facility as a Bridging Visa B.

Bridging Visa E (BVE) – Subclass 050

A Bridging Visa E is generally associated with immigration status resolution.

It can allow eligible individuals to remain lawfully in Australia while they:

• Resolve their immigration status
• Make arrangements to leave Australia
• Seek review of certain immigration decisions
• Pursue certain judicial review processes
• Seek Ministerial Intervention in applicable circumstances
• Deal with other status-resolution matters

The Department describes the BVE as a short-term visa that can allow eligible people to remain lawful while they progress towards a status-resolution outcome.

If a person's visa has expired and they cannot depart Australia immediately, the Department advises that they may need to apply for a Bridging Visa E. A BVE application can be made through ImmiAccount in applicable circumstances.

Bridging Visa Work Rights

Work rights are not identical for every bridging visa holder.

Your work rights depend on the specific bridging visa and conditions attached to it.

Before starting employment, changing employment or relying on work rights, you should check the conditions of your visa.

VEVO can be used to check the details and conditions of an in-effect visa, including what you can and cannot do in Australia.

If your bridging visa has a work restriction, you may need to apply to have the relevant conditions changed and satisfy the applicable requirements.

Can You Travel on a Bridging Visa?

Travel is one of the most important differences between bridging visas.

Bridging Visa B (BVB) is the bridging visa designed to provide travel and re-entry rights during its specified travel period.

If you leave Australia while another bridging visa is in effect, that bridging visa will cease.

Therefore, you should not travel internationally without first checking your visa status and travel rights.

Bridging Visa and Substantive Visa

A substantive visa is the main visa that gives a person permission to remain in Australia for a particular purpose, such as:

• Student visa
• Visitor visa
• Skills in Demand visa
• Partner visa
• Skilled visa
• Employer-sponsored visa
• Other temporary or permanent visa

A bridging visa generally exists to maintain lawful status while an immigration matter is being resolved. It is not normally a replacement for the substantive visa itself.

Bridging Visa During Visa Processing

If you apply for another visa while you are in Australia, you may in some circumstances be granted a bridging visa that allows you to remain lawfully in Australia while the substantive visa application is processed.

The exact operation of the bridging visa depends on:

• The visa you applied for
• Your current visa
• Whether you are in Australia
• Your immigration history
• Any review or judicial review proceedings
• The conditions attached to the bridging visa

A bridging visa does not mean that the substantive visa application will necessarily be approved.

Bridging Visa After Visa Refusal

If a visa application is refused, the options available can depend on whether the decision is reviewable and whether you have a right to seek review.

A person may need to consider:

• Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) review, where available
• Judicial review, where applicable
• Another substantive visa option
• Ministerial Intervention, where applicable
• Departure from Australia
• Bridging visa arrangements while an eligible process is underway

Strict time limits can apply to review applications. Getting professional advice quickly after a refusal is important.

Bridging Visa and Visa Cancellation

Bridging visas can also become relevant where a substantive visa has been cancelled or where a person is dealing with immigration status issues.

The appropriate options depend on the cancellation decision, review rights, current visa status and individual circumstances.

A person should not assume that holding a bridging visa automatically provides a right to remain indefinitely.

Applying for a Bridging Visa

The application process depends on the type of bridging visa and your circumstances.

For eligible BVA, BVB and BVC applications, the Department provides online application processes. If the substantive visa application was lodged through ImmiAccount and has not been reviewed, the bridging visa application should generally be submitted through ImmiAccount.

The Department also provides a separate process for certain paper-lodged applications.

A Bridging Visa E cannot be applied for through the BVA/BVB/BVC webform.

Documents for a Bridging Visa

Depending on your circumstances, you may need to provide:

• Passport and identity documents
• Current and previous visa details
• Substantive visa application information
• Application or transaction reference details
• Evidence supporting your circumstances
• Travel evidence for a BVB
• Evidence relating to work or other requested conditions
• Review or court documents, where relevant
• Other documents requested by the Department

All information provided should be accurate and supported by genuine documents.

Bridging Visa Conditions

Your bridging visa may contain conditions relating to matters such as:

• Work
• Study
• Travel
• Health insurance
• Reporting or other obligations

For example, the Department's current information identifies condition 8501, requiring adequate health insurance arrangements, as applying to Bridging Visas A, B, C and E.

Always check the conditions attached to your specific visa.

Bridging Visa and Health Insurance

Some bridging visa holders may be subject to a health insurance condition.

Where condition 8501 applies, the visa holder must maintain adequate arrangements for health insurance while in Australia.

The exact requirements should be checked against the conditions attached to your visa.

Bridging Visa and VEVO

Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) allows visa holders and authorised organisations to check the details and conditions of an in-effect Australian visa.

VEVO can show:

• Current visa
• Visa expiry date
• Period of stay
• Must-not-arrive-after date
• Visa conditions

However, VEVO does not show visas that are not currently in effect. This can be particularly important when a substantive visa remains in effect and a bridging visa has not yet become active.

Bridging Visa Processing

Bridging visa processing depends on the type of application and individual circumstances.

Applicants should provide complete and accurate information and supporting documents.

The Department specifically advises applicants with concerns about the processing of a bridging visa not to submit another application simply because processing is taking longer, as doing so can contribute to processing delays.

Bridging Visas and Permanent Residency

A bridging visa is not a permanent residency visa.

It generally provides temporary lawful status while another immigration matter is being resolved.

Permanent residency must be obtained through a separate eligible permanent visa pathway, such as an applicable:

• Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186)
• Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)
• Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)
• Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191)
• Partner visa pathway
• Other permanent visa pathway

Eligibility depends on the individual's circumstances.

Why Choose The Visa for Bridging Visa Assistance?

Bridging visa matters can become complicated when visa applications, refusals, travel, work restrictions or review proceedings are involved.

The Visa can help you understand:

✔️ Which bridging visa may apply
✔️ Bridging Visa A, B, C and E
✔️ Work rights and visa conditions
✔️ Travel and re-entry considerations
✔️ Visa application and refusal situations
✔️ Review-related bridging visa matters
✔️ Supporting documentation
✔️ Your available visa options

Get Professional Bridging Visa Advice

If you are currently in Australia on a bridging visa, waiting for a visa decision, facing a visa refusal or need to understand your lawful stay and travel options, professional advice can help you understand the next steps.

Contact The Visa for a personalised Bridging Visa Assessment and Australian immigration guidance.