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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The three most common types of bridging visas are a, b, and e.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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!
Please share your comments with me.
I’d love to know more about your experience with applying for this visa subclass!
View Comments
Hi there I need advise on my partners visa.
He is currently waiting for over 6months for his 3rd year working holiday visa and is on a BVA currently and he has left the country. I was just wondering is there is anything that he can do to return to the country or someway to speed up the process?
Hi Neel.. My brother applied for 489 visa from offshore in Aug 2019 and still waiting for the grant. We got a multiple entry 600 visa and he is coming over to Australia this week. My question is - can we apply for a bridging A visa for the 489 when he lands in Australia.
Thanks
Hi - I applied for overseas Partner visa 309 from India in Jan, 2022. Because of the delay in processing I got ETA to travel to Australia using my Canadian passport. The ETA is valid for a year with maximum three months stay period at a time. Was wondering if I could manually apply for a bridging visa and remain in Australia till my Partner visa 309 gets finalized.
Hi Nilesh. Thanks for the information on your page, it’s all really helpful. I am in a tricky situation and was hoping you’d be able to give some direction to it.
I applied for my 485 visa in January 2022 onshore and it’s still pending. I travelled back to India in April on a BVB but was unable to make it back within the timeframe of its expiry so am now stuck in India. I applied for a visitor visa on fast track on 1st August to re-enter Australia and attend my graduation ceremony but still don’t have an outcome on it - it’s been 20 days and I’ve already missed my graduation. My visitor visa application status has been extremely disheartening as fast track outcomes are usually given within 48 hours. Is there a possibility that my pending 485 application is affecting my visitor visa processing? My visitor visa application is on ‘Further Assessment’ now and in the past week, the Department has contacted me thrice to request further documentation which I’ve promptly provided. Would really appreciate your take on this situation. Thanks!
Hi. My visa expired last 18/8 and I lodged 10/8 for BVA but still I haven’t received any bridging visa. What should I do? I already called 131881 but they told me they are not sure when I am going to received my BVA but they put a note in the processing area about my application.
Hi. My bridging visa expired 1day ago, I lodged bridging visa A 10days ago because I am waiting for judicial review, but the problem is until now I haven’t got the new bridging visa.
What is the best thing to do, I already called the DHA and they don’t see any application under my name, even we lodged the BVA last Aug 10.
Hi,
I need to withdrawal my last application because the period ceased. So, I’ll be on BVA for 35 days. Can I apply for a Student Visa on that period? Some people say yes, but I will go straight for a BVC and waiting 3-4 months, but maybe with some limited conditions for work. Or could I apply an Sponsor Visa with my company? my job is in category 1 as a Rope Access technician. Thanks 🙏
Hi, I've read your post above and wanted to ask something. I am currently in a Bridging Visa E (subclass 050) and I currently have a student visa application lodged. But due to certain circumstances, I am planning to go back to the Philippines. However, I am still currently enrolled at a college and am wondering how I should proceed.
Do i cancel my enrollment first before informing immigration that I will go back to the Philippines? Or should I inform immigration first? Would there be a certain time limit that would be given to us before we'd have to leave the country?
Now, I understand that returning to the Philippines would mean that my bridging visa would cease, and that there is a ban duration in returning back to Australia, but how long in average are these bans? Is it dependent on the situation of the applicant? Would this also direly affect my future application in Australia if ever I wish to come back?
Thank you, and have a good day!
Thank you very much for your question. Here are the first three (3) things that come to my mind in relation to your post. There may also be other important issues which arise from your particular circumstances and you should seek specific immigration law advice before taking any further steps. It could be that I misunderstood you.
1. The steps you take and the timing of those steps depends on whether or not you need to stay in Australia longer. For example you may wish to stay a little longer in order to complete a qualification you have already started and to derive maximum benefit from the enrolment for which you have already paid.
2. As you are a holder of a Bridging Visa “E” Class (Subclass 050) who is making an application for a subclass 500 Student visa - this rings some alarm bells for me as there is every likelihood that your student Visa application is incapable of being approved in your particular circumstances. Perhaps you have lodged the student Visa application simply to extend your stay?
3. When you exit Australia as the holder of a Bridging Visa “E” Class (Subclass 050) then you must test your circumstances against public interest criteria 4014 when considering eligibility for your next application to enter Australia on a temporary Visa. Note that pic 4014 may not apply in a case of a future permanent Visa. Pic 4014 is a clause which is often misunderstood by many Visa holders and you may or may not be subject to an exclusion period or what is called a “ban”, possibly for a three year period.
For completeness I confirm that you will not be impacted specifically in terms of any new Visa application simply because of the timing of your withdrawal of enrolment however there are other issues which arise from your post which I believe will significantly and more relevantly affect and impact your next Australian visa application in terms of “genuine temporary entrant”.
*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.
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Regards
Nilesh Nandan
BBus(Accy) LLB(QUT) MBA(IntBus)
Immigration Lawyer | Special Counsel
MyVisa® Immigration Law Advisory
myvisa.com.au/about/
1300558472
Hey there. I needed some advise on my current situation. I have a visitor visa with multiple entries and applied for a spouse visa onshore. According to the approval by the immigration the BVA does not go active until 27th August.
I recently had to fly out of the country for very urgent reasons and before flying I called the immigration to ask if I was allowed to travel on my visitor visa before the BVA was active and whether it would cease my BVA. I was told as long as I come back before 26th August the BVA will be active on 27th August.
I got back yesterday and myVevo account now shows my visitor visa is in effect till 16th November.
I needed advise on whether my BVA will still be active from 27th August, or did I fly out with advise from immigration representatives and loose my BVA and spouse visa or does the BVA now come into effect from 17th November.
Hoping for the best!
Thank you very much for your question. Here are the first three (3) things that come to my mind in relation to your post. There may also be other important issues which arise from your particular circumstances and you should seek specific immigration law advice before taking any further steps. It could be that I misunderstood you.
1. Your BVA did expire when you exited Australia. This is because Your Bridging Visa “A” Class (Subclass 010) does not have any return facility - once you leave Australia your BVA dies.
2. Your Bridging Visa “A” Class (Subclass 010) is dead. It will not be active from 27 August!
3. As I’ve said, your Bridging Visa “A” Class (Subclass 010) is dead. It will not be active from 17 November!
Luckily there is a solution. You still have a pending application for a Partner Visa (Temporary) Subclass 820 and you should make application for NEW Bridging Visa “A” Class (Subclass 010) in relation to that previous application for the spouse Visa.
*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.
Regards
Nilesh Nandan
BBus(Accy) LLB(QUT) MBA(IntBus)
Immigration Lawyer | Special Counsel
MyVisa® Immigration Law Advisory
myvisa.com.au/about/
1300558472
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My confusion is that I left on a valid visitor visa with multiple entry while my BVA was not active as yet. I spoke to an immigration representative today and I was told that I should wait and see till 27th August whether it will go active or not. I'm very confused on the next step. My migration consultant doesn't seem to know much either on this.
Thank you very much for your question. Here are the first three (3) things that come to my mind in relation to your post. There may also be other important issues which arise from your particular circumstances and you should seek specific immigration law advice before taking any further steps. It could be that I misunderstood you.
1. I have already provided a detailed response in overloaded post from you.
2. The short answer is that you should think seriously about whether to continue to use the agent you are using if you’re not confident device they’re providing you.
3. Unless you applied for Bridging Visa “B” Class (Subclass 020) before exiting Australia Bridging Visa “A” Class (Subclass 010) will expire the minute you exit Australia.
*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.
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Regards
Nilesh Nandan
BBus(Accy) LLB(QUT) MBA(IntBus)
Immigration Lawyer | Special Counsel
MyVisa® Immigration Law Advisory
myvisa.com.au/about/
1300558472
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Hi,
If you an PR and your visa expire but you already apply for another one I just want to know do you need to apply for BVA? Or not at all?
Thank you very much for your question. Here are the first three (3) things that come to my mind in relation to your post. There may also be other important issues which arise from your particular circumstances and you should seek specific immigration law advice before taking any further steps. It could be that I misunderstood you.
1. I assume you are inside Australia and you applied for a resident return Visa whilst in Australia and you are still in Australia without having exited.
2. If my assumption is correct then there is no requirement for an application for a bridging Visa. Your permanent residence Visa application endures or continues if you remain in Australia. The permanent residence Visa has a return facility for a five year period and it is only if you exit after that five year period without having any return facility that you’ll find yourself in hot water. The return facility expires after five years and that is why a resident return Visa should be applied for before exiting Australia and preferably granted before exiting Australia.
3. Simply google “vevo check” and fill in some basic information identifying you (by looking at your passport) and you should be able to determine what visa are you currently holding, in real time.
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Regards
Nilesh Nandan
BBus(Accy) LLB(QUT) MBA(IntBus)
Immigration Lawyer | Special Counsel
MyVisa® Immigration Law Advisory
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1300558472
Hi Sir,
Me and my family we are on visa 489 valid till July 2023. We have been granted Bridging Visa A automatically after submission of visa 887 application. Bridging visa A will be active in July 2023. We are planning to travel to India this October-November 2022. Please advise me that will this travel have any impact on my Bridging visa A or 887 application.
Thanks