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 were 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, 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 Nilesh, thanks for the advice and the article. I would like to ask you something about my visa and travels. I’m currently on Student visa, which will expire in the middle of September. And I’ve received a letter of Bridging Visa Grant Notice which is Bridging A. Can I travel overseas and interstate, and come back before the middle of September? And one more question is, will my Bridging Visa be in effect automatically when my student visa expired? Or Do I need to contact immigration?
Hi.
My student visa is expired on 31/08/2022, so I would like to apply a TR visa, however I haven’t received a notification letter from my university that saying I completed the course. Is it gonna be an issue for my visa, knowing that I haven’t supplied that information?
Secondly, at the end of September I would like to travel overseas, meaning I have to apply for BVB, if at some point the Department approved my BVB, and I come back to Australia, can I work with BVB? And if my BVB expired, do I need to apply to a bridging visa? If so, what type of bridging visa?
Thank you.
HELLO SIR
WE HAVE APPLIED 188A VISA OFFSHOURE. WE ALSO HOLD 600 VISITER VISA. NOW WE ARE IN AUSTRALIA AND APPLIED FOR BRIDGING VISA FOR 188A SINCE VISITOR VISA ONLY ALLOWS THREE MONTHS STAY AND MY DAUGTHER WOULD LIKE TO STUDY THERE SO HOW MUCH TIME IT WILL TAKE FOR BRIDING VISA GRANTED AND WHAT WILL BE THE RIGHTS THERE.
Hello,
I was on my third working holiday visa which expires oct 4 2022. I’ve just applied for a student visa. I applied for a BVB to leave the country but I’m not sure if I even needed to since my working holiday visa has not expired yet. Is it okay to leave the country and come back if the BVB is not granted?
I was given confusing advice from an agent which caused me to apply for the BVB
Hello ! We have been told my dad and I that after our application being remitted to the department of home affairs by the AAT over 2 years ago, our application was NOW under active assessment. We completed our medical tests and checks 5 months ago.
I applied for a BVB because I wished to travel in July and was granted. But my travel period is valid until next year in June. Does this mean they won't make a decision until my travel period ends ?
Thank you.
Hi, I'm in a visa Subclass 462, which one is going to expires on 28th June. I supposed to flight to Australia today, apply for my second working holiday while I get there and then stay in a bridging visa while I waiting my extension (second WYH subclass 462)
Sadly I went covid positive today and my plan fall down.
How I can work in this case?
Do you recommend me wait to my current visa expires or apply while my current visa is valid? I want reschedule my flight but I depend of my visa situation, and how fast could be fix this.
Thanks in advance
Hi Nilesh,
My student visa(500) was expired on 28/02/2022. I have applied for a student visa extension on January and my medical was held on 2/05/2022. I didn’t get my visa extension yet. Im travelling overseas on 26/06/2022 and I am planning to come back on 13/07/2022. My CoE is expiring on 30/06/2022. Now im in a bridging B visa. Will that be a problem for me to enter Australia on 13th of July since my CoE is expiring on 30/06/2022?
Thank You!
HI,
i am on WB/020 in month of April ,may and june till 10th there was no expiry date saying period of date is indefinite and all of sudden on 20th i got a expiry date on my WB saying its going to expire on 27th.....as my case is in federal govt and i checked it couple of times that there is no communication and i am waiting foe hearing date but in middle this problem comes up. i tried to figure out what is going on what not able to understand if u can guide me a bit as i did not get any email from federal or DHA regarding visa and hearing!!!
Thanks
I MA MY MRT AND APPLIED FOR BVB VISA ON 28TH OF 2022 , AS WAS ALREADY HOLDING ANOTHER BVB WHICH WAS GOING TO EXPIRE ON JUNE 4 TH 2022 BUT I WANTED TO TRAVEL ON 13 TH JUNE TO INDIA , STILL I DIDN'T RECEIVE ANY UPDATE AS I APPLIED PAPER BASED VISA . I MENTIONED THERE THAT I NEED TO TRAVEL FROM 13 JUNE TO 30 TH JUNE .
IS IT GOING TO TAKE LONG TIME OR NEED TO REAPPLY AGAIN . THANK YOU.
Hi Nilesh!
I read through lots of comments and answers here! Appreciate you taking some time to answer these questions! 🫶
I am from Sri Lanka 🇱🇰 and hope you are too! Currently applied for a 408 and holding a BVA! My previous substantive visa was 408 which was expired on the 30th of April. I have received my 491 invitation on the 17th of June 2022 and I am planning to travel back to Sri Lanka to see my family for roughly 5 weeks in August! My questions here is,
1. Will I get BVC or BVA if I lodge my 491 now ( reading through it seems I’ll be getting a BVC)
2. Will I get a BVA if I apply for my 491 while on a BVB?
3. What would be the best advise for travelling considering my current situation?
( I applied for my nomination by myself, and I’ll need some help here with my 491 considering the situation)
Please advise me!
Regards
Yazza