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!
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I have applied for a Bridging Visa A while a decision is being made with my Substantive Visa (Partner Subclass 309/100) is being processed. I am currently in Australia and I will need to leave, according to my ETA Visa on July 4.
Can you advise how long processing times are normally for the Bridging Visa A to be granted? Average time? I filed an application for my Bridging Visa on May 18, 2022.
Hi Dianne
Yours is an interesting case because normally you will not get a bridging visa granted in relation to an offshore application.
If indeed you are eligible ( perhaps because of a COVID 19 concession), then you can expect to receive a confirmation and grant letter in around 2 weeks.
I know you were worried that you might not receive anything until after midnight on the 4th of July.
Provided you have made a valid application for the bridging visa and it is something that you are eligible for then it doesn't matter whether processing takes place before or after the 4th of July.
Your ETA period will end at midnight on the 4th of July and yes you will hold no visa until such time as the Department makes the decision in relation to the bridging visa grant.
This happens all the time and is fixed when the department actually grants to bridging visa. You'll still normally get the bvA you are entitled to.
Yes! even though you are unlawful for a period of time potentially, you will normally be granted a bridging visa A belatedly.
Is the be bvA back dated?
The better view is that it's not.
There is a potential problem when applying for citizenship down the track because it will show that you have this short period of unlawful stay. There is workaround to this though but making submissions.
How this all makes sense.
You can book in here: https://myvisa.com.au/10-minute-chat/
Regards
Nilesh Nandan
Immigration Lawyer
MyVisa.com.au/about
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Thanks for your reply. I actually called immigration several times about the Bridging Visa A and on my Imma Account, the application for the Bridging Visa was linked to my application Partner subclass 309/100 q
application :(. So, I hope this is not the case as I assumed also that I was eligible.
Actually, my three month stay on my ETA Visa ends on July 8 and not the fourth. My flight is July 4th.
Again, thanks for your reply.
You are welcome. Thank you for sharing.
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Hi,
Thanks for this awesome help. I have a question. I am on student visa which will expire in September and I have applied for visa extension too. Consequently I have bridging visa A too which will active in September. Can I travel overseas and comeback before September? Or do I have to get BVB for it too?
No bvb required but be sure to return well before substantive (485) visa expiry.
Regards
Nilesh Nandan
Immigration Lawyer | Special Counsel
MyVisa®
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Hi Nilesh,
Good Afternoon, I want to know if BVB with multiple entries and valid for 1 year can we travel anytime during validity of visa with multiple entries.
Yes. That's right Ali.
Be sure to get back before the last entry date otherwise you have a big problem. In
Regards
Nilesh Nandan
Immigration Lawyer | Special Counsel
MyVisa®
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Thank you!
Hi Nilesh
I am in Bridging Visa c right now with work rights. i am thinking to apply 482 visa. for 482 visa we need minimum 2 years of experience. i have more than 15 months experience in bridging visa c. i can apply 482 visa while i am in bridging visa c that i know. but i just want to know, Can i use bridging visa c experience for this 482 visa?. I know that i can not claim experience points for skilled point based visa when i am in bridging visa c. but i don't know about for 482 visa. if you give me an answer that really will help my future and that would be really appreciated. Thanks.
Praveen
Thank you for your question... it is a very important one.
I wish to make the following two points.
Firstly work experience for subclass 482 application is a time of decision criteria which means you can apply before meeting the 2 year experience requirement.
The second point is that there is no impediment provided you are claiming work experience when complying with your other immigration obligations. This is different to a skilled migration points tested visa.
Regards
Nilesh Nandan
Immigration Lawyer | Special Counsel
MyVisa®
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Hi Nilesh, I am currently on Visa 482 and waiting for SC 190 grant. While applying SC 190, I was on BVA hece I got BVC against my SC 190 application.
I want to know, Can I work on BVC if my current 482 visa expires ? (considering this BVC is against SC 190 and it is mentioned as "No conditions" under "Bridging visa conditions" section)
Does BVC automatically get converted to BVA ?
Is there any way BVC can be converted to BVA ?
Thanks
Asif
1. Yes.
There are no conditions.
2. No.
BVC comes into effect.
3. No.
The only way of getting a bv A is by lodging a fresh application whilst the holder of a substantive visa.
Regards
Nilesh Nandan
Immigration Lawyer | Special Counsel
MyVisa®
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Hey hi,
I would really appreciate if you help me get rid of my confusion,
While I was holding bridging Visa A i applied for 485 visa and got bridging visa C automatically and Now i need to travel, can i switch to any other visa for travelling or i have to wait untill my 485 granted..
If there is any option where i can switch to bvb plz let me know..
Thanks
Hi,
Thanks for this awesome help. I have a question. I am on student visa which will expire in September and I have applied for visa extension too. Consequently I have bridging visa A too which will active in September. Can I travel overseas and comeback before September? Or do I have to get BVB for it too?
Hi Mohammed
This is an excellent question.
Your current student visa has a multiple return facility provided you return before the expiration of the current student visa.
If the new student visa is also greater than that too well have a return facility up until the expiration date of that student visa.
The only issue is if there is any gap from the time your first student visa expires and the time your second student visa is granted, it is in that gap period that you will be holding a bridging visa a class which does not have any return facility.
So you will be 100% ok if you exit and return well before September.
You'll be in deep trouble if you exit before September and your new student visa (the one that you call an extension) is delayed and you seek to return to Australia after September.
In this scenario you'll be stopped at immigration because the bridging visa a that you have been granted extinguishers at the time you exit Australia and you will have no visa to return into Australia with until such time as the student visa extension is granted.
*In the interest of a speedy response I often use voice-to-text software. Please ignore any typographical or format errors. Call if unclear.
Regards
Nilesh Nandan
Immigration Lawyer
MyVisa.com.au/about
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Unfortunately you will have to wait until your bridging Visa C is granted.
Regards
Nilesh Nandan
Immigration Lawyer | Special Counsel
MyVisa®
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Hi Nilesh,
Am currently holding a 482 visa with validity until November 2022. I have recently applied for another visa and granted a Bridging visa A which is not active yet.
I have plans to leave Australia in the month of June and return back by July. Is this fine to travel in my current 482 visa(Active) or is it safer to apply to Bridging visa B before my travel.
Also am planning to change my passport(due to expiry) during my travel to India and would like to know if it has any implication on my current visa and my future visa.
1. It is safe to travel and return on your 482 visa given the circumstances above.
2. Changing passport after visa application lodgment is not problematic and will not prejudice you in anyway.
Regards
Nilesh Nandan
Immigration Lawyer | Special Counsel
MyVisa®
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Hi Nilesh,
I am currently on 500 student visa which will expire on 30/09/22. Application for 485 will be made somewhere in mid July when i graduate.
I want to travel overseas for friend wedding and I intend to re-enter Australia between 22-26/09. Because this is very close to the visa expiry date, I want to apply for Bridging Visa B as soon as I apply for 485, to avoid stress of unfortunate circuimstances such as flight(s) cancellation, which are not in my power.
So, when i apply for BVB my BVA will not be active at that moment. Also, I will need to depart Australia on student visa(BVA will not be active) and possibly re-enter on BVB.
Can i do all this and are there any consequences of application refusal for Bridging Visa B ?
Thanks.
Kind regards,
Ivan
Hi Nilesh,
I am on a bridging visa A. I am about to apply for a bridging visa B to go to my country for a family emergency. I booked tickets for this Saturday (21st) with the possibility of changing . I only have 2 -3 working days. Is there any possibility that my BVB will be granted within these 2-3 days, considering my emergency , if I provide proof. Thank you in advance.
Hi Nilesh,
I recently completed my PhD in November 2021, and applied for my 485 visa in January 2022 which is still processing. My student 500 visa is valid till November 2022 as PhD students are usually granted a 4 year visa. However I received an email from the University upon the submission of my PhD ( in September) that my student visa will expire 6 months after the submission date ( March 2022) or at the date in my student visa ( November 2022) whichever is the earliest. However still in my VEVO a valid student 500 shows. Upon submission of the 485 I was granted a bridging A visa but it is not yet active as my student visa still holds. I am planning to travel overseas and wondered whether I needed to apply for a bridging visa B anyway before I travel because of the letter I received from the University? I have received no correspondence from the the department of home affairs regrading the ceasation of my visa 6 months after submission.
Many thanks
Rushani