Bridging Visa Australia
A Bridging Visa is a temporary visa that allows you to stay in Australia after your “current” substantive visa ceases and while your “new substantive” visa application is processed.
It “bridges” your stay in Australia from the cease date of your current visa usually until 35 days after a final decision is made on your application.
How to apply for a bridging visa?
Most of the time you don’t need to make a formal application for a bridging visa. This is because it is granted to you by operation of law.
Is the application necessary?
A formal bridging visa application is usually not needed if you apply for a further visa while you are in Australia and you already hold a substantive visa at the time of making your further visa application.
Automatic grant
The reason why a formal visa application for a bridging visa might not be required is that by operation of law, the valid application for a further visa in Australia is typically (but not always) deemed to be an application for a bridging visa as well. The Department usually always grants that application, either manually or automatically.
Purpose
The purpose of a bridging visa is to bridge the gap, if any, between the time at which your current substantive visa expires and the point in time when the Department grants your new substantive visa.
The bridging visa is a mechanism for keeping you lawfully present in Australia.
Otherwise…
If a bridging visa was not to be granted, then it would mean that you would be an unlawful non-citizen, present in Australia for that period between when your substantive visa expires and your further visa is decided.
Types of bridging visas
The three most common types of bridging visas are a, b, and e.
Which do you have?
The most important thing to check is that you always have a visa whilst you are in Australia (if you’re not the holder of an Australian passport).
You can check the visa that you hold at any time by completing a VEVO check. It’s online and free.
Know this…
BVB limitation
Be careful with a bridging visa b (BVB). Its purpose is to allow you to leave and return to Australia whilst you wait for the grant of a further substantive; you may exit Australia for a very finite travel period and must re-enter Australia by a specified date.
BVB disaster
The biggest risk with a BVB is that you forget the period of your BVB grant, and you then fail to re-enter Australia before the date specified. Take very careful note to start returning to Australia several days before your BVB expires, so that you have ample time to re-enter Australia when you return.
Bridging visa after re-entry
When you re-enter Australia your bridging visa b does not change back to a BVA but will show as a BVB, allowing you to continue to stay in Australia but importantly does not then have any exit and return facility.
Second BVB
You will need to take care to lodge a further BVB if you wish to again exit Australia during the period in which you are waiting for the grant of your further substantive visa.
If you hold a BVA or a BVB you can apply for a further BVB.
Only one chance!
Unfortunately, if you hold a BVC or a BVD or a BVE then you can’t apply for a BVB. It’s like losing your virginity.
Think of it this way – if you hold a BVC or BVD or BVE, you can never go back to get a BVB. At least until after your further substantive visa application has been granted.
As explained above, bridging visas “bridge” you from the time an existing visa ceases to be “in effect” until the time a decision is made on any new visa you may have applied for.
Bridging visa lifespan after a decision on substantive application
Usually, the bridging visa will run for a period of up to 28 days (and possibly 35 days, depending on when you lodge your application and when your bridging visa is granted) after the decision of the Department to refuse your visa application, allowing you or your migration agent or immigration lawyer enough time to file an appeal.
Bridging visa to travel overseas
The Department of Home Affairs can issue you with a bridging visa if you intend to exit Australia. This is known as a “bridging visa on departure grounds”. These visas are for a fixed period.
Extension of BVE
There may be some scope to have these extended if, for some reason, you can’t depart. This is subject to negotiation between you and the compliance officer at the Department of Home Affairs.
For example, you might be without a visa and need a week or so to get things in order before you can exit Australia.
Immigration will often grant you this type of visa for a fixed term which will allow you time to exit the country or lodge another application.
Depart on BVE – consequences
There are serious consequences that follow after you exit Australia on a BVE. This is known as “special return criteria” where you may suffer a period of exclusion from Australia or a ban from a further visa grant for Australia.
BVE ban duration
The duration of this ban will depend on the sort of visa you are applying for and your circumstances. This is something that I advise on regularly and you should get independent immigration legal advice if you wish to make an application for Australia after exiting on a BVE.
Bridging visa “in effect”
Although your bridging visa may be granted (and you may have received a letter from Immigration saying that you have been granted this visa) take care. This visa usually only comes “into effect” when your existing visa expires and remains in place while the Department considers your new visa application. For example, suppose you are a holder of a subclass 600 Visitor visa. And you apply for a subclass 482 Temporary Skills Shortage visa while onshore.
Check your precise visa status regularly on the Department’s site.
When your bridging visa kicks in
You will not automatically become the holder of a bridging visa as soon as you make that 482 visa application. You will still be on your subclass 600 until it expires. Your bridging visa will usually kick in, if at all, immediately upon the expiry of your subclass 600 Visitor visa.
Bridging visa might never activate
The Department may grant your 482 visa application while your subclass 600 visa is still in effect. This means your bridging visa in association with your subclass 482 visa application will be extinguished and never come into effect.
Bridging visa not automatically granted
Don’t stress. Be vigilant with your follow-up as to why it could be that the Department didn’t consider your application valid.
Consider making a separate application for a bridging visa if your recent substantive visa application was valid but the Department hasn’t yet granted your bridging visa – this usually wakes up case officers!
Practice tip!
Stay onshore (inside Australia) if your bridging visa is not yet in effect.
Exiting Australia will usually extinguish this visa and you may well find yourself stuck offshore. This can be tricky and I would recommend you get advice if you plan to exit from Australia. Book a call with me!
Your experience?
Please share your comments with me.
I’d love to know more about your experience with applying for this visa subclass!
676 Responses
Hi,
How do I go about booking a consultation appointment?
Thank you
Hi Ravi,
You can book a consultation with me by visiting [myvisa.com.au/appointment](http://myvisa.com.au/appointment).
For complex matters, please schedule a formal consultation. For simpler queries, you’re welcome to use my 10-minute service.
Looking forward to helping you further! 😊
Regards,
Nilesh Nandan
Immigration Lawyer & Special Counsel
MyVisa® Immigration Law Advisory
http://myvisa.com.au/
I hold BVB, for my 485 application, I am currently outside Australia. It’s almost 2 months since I applied 485 and it’s still in process. If my 485 application is successful, do I need to return to Australia to get that 485 active or my BVB gets cancelled automatically and 485 will be active and I can return whenever I like?
Dear Sanket,
Thank you for your message, and apologies for the delayed response. I hope this will still benefit you and others in the community.
If your subclass 485 visa is granted while you are offshore, it will become active immediately. You do not need to re-enter Australia for it to become valid. Once the 485 visa is granted, your Bridging Visa B (BVB) will no longer be relevant. You can simply return to Australia using your 485 visa.
If you have any further questions or need more specific advice, feel free to reach out or book a chat with me here: MyVisa/appointment.
In the interest of speed, my communications are transcribed and transmitted using voice-to-text software – please ignore any unintended typographical or interpretation errors. Please also see the standard Notes and Disclosures which apply to my communications. These are located at the footer of my work emails.
Best regards,
Nilesh
Immigration Lawyer & Special Counsel
MyVisa® Immigration Law Advisory
http://myvisa.com.au
I applied and was granted n Aged Parent Visa 804 in 2011 and was queued n May 2014. Due to the length of my BvB which was granted firstly in 2013 for 5 years and then renewed in 2018 for a further 5 years, I overlooked the date of return to renew it again and it expired in May 2023.One reason for the oversight was my sister has been suffering with Dementia and needed care until a care home could be found before we could consider travelling back to Australia on a permanent basis. and the other was our previously planned visit to return on time was halted by the Covid lockdown.
We (my wife and myself ) did travel back last September for two months on an E-Visitor visa to attend my Granddaugther’s wedding whilst acknowledging the BvB had run out. We have booked a flight out to Australia in November this year to find out if we can apply for a further BvB with a view to going out permanently in the New Year if our Substantive visa is still valid.
Would you give me the benefit of your expertise in this matter please.
Dear Peter,
Thank you for your message, and apologies for the delayed response. I hope this answer will still provide value to you and others in the immigration-seeking community.
Regarding your situation with the expired Bridging Visa B (BVB), and the pending Aged Parent Visa (subclass 804), it’s understandable that you faced difficulties during COVID and while caring for your sister. While it’s generally not possible to reinstate an expired BVB after you have left Australia, there may be options available to explore, especially since your substantive visa application is still in the queue.
I would suggest that we fully explore whether a new bridging visa might be granted upon your return in November. Given the complexity of your case, it’s important to carefully review your current visa status and options before making any further decisions about your plans.
If you’d like more specific advice, feel free to discuss your current situation with me here: MyVisa/appointment.
In the interest of speed, my communications are transcribed and transmitted using voice-to-text software – please ignore any unintended typographical or interpretation errors. Please also see the standard Notes and Disclosures which apply to my communications. These are located at the footer of my work emails.
Best regards,
Nilesh
Immigration Lawyer & Special Counsel
MyVisa® Immigration Law Advisory
http://myvisa.com.au
Hi,
I am on bridgung visa e. My question is, can i get my children here in australia for 2 weeks holiday while im on this visa?
Dear Pamela,
Thank you for your question, and apologies for the delayed response. Unfortunately, it is very unlikely that you will be able to bring your children to Australia for a holiday while you are on a Bridging Visa E. Generally, Bridging Visa E is granted to individuals who are awaiting a substantive visa decision or finalisation of their immigration status, and it typically does not allow for family reunification or holiday visits until your substantive visa is granted.
If you’d like to discuss your current situation or explore potential options for the future, feel free to book a chat with me here: MyVisa/appointment.
In the interest of speed, my communications are transcribed and transmitted using voice-to-text software – please ignore any unintended typographical or interpretation errors. Please also see the standard Notes and Disclosures which apply to my communications. These are located at the footer of my work emails.
Best regards,
Nilesh
Immigration Lawyer & Special Counsel
MyVisa® Immigration Law Advisory
http://myvisa.com.au
Dear Sir,
My parents visited Australia on visitors visa (Subclass 600) which has multiple visits until 2025 with max 1year stay .
They visited Aus on 25th May,2023
While in Aus we applied for aged parent visa( subclass 804). They were granted Bridging visa A(subclass 010).
However, the bringing visa grant document say the bridging visa is not in effective until visitors visa is expired.
Now that the visitors visa is only for 1 year max stay, they will have to leave the country before this period or when does the bridging visa come in to effect.
Please advise.
ear Sir,
Apologies for the delayed response. I hope this answer will be helpful to you or others in the community.
Since your parents hold a subclass 600 visitor visa with a maximum stay of one year and were granted a Bridging Visa A (subclass 010) after applying for the aged parent visa (subclass 804), the Bridging Visa A will only come into effect once their allowed period of stay under the visitor visa ends.
In practical terms, this means that if their current visitor visa allows for a stay of up to one year in Australia, the Bridging Visa A will become active on the 366th day after their arrival. At that point, the Bridging Visa A will allow them to remain lawfully in Australia while their aged parent visa application is being processed.
If you need further clarification or assistance with this process, feel free to reach out or book a chat with me here: MyVisa/appointment.
In the interest of speed, my communications are transcribed and transmitted using voice-to-text software – please ignore any unintended typographical or interpretation errors. Please also see the standard Notes and Disclosures which apply to my communications. These are located at the footer of my work emails.
Best regards,
Nilesh Nandan
Immigration Lawyer & Special Counsel
MyVisa® Immigration Law Advisory
http://myvisa.com.au