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
Hello Sir,
I am on a bridging visa A at the moment and waiting for processing of my subclass 500 visa.
What will happen if I travel overseas on BVB and immigrants decides to refuse my subclass 500 application?
Will I be able to travel back?
Could you please let me know.
Thanks
Hi Nilesh,
Before my TR visa expire, I applied for student visa since 2020. Currently, I am residing in Northern Territory and studying my 2nd master degree in here and it’s my last semester. My graduation will be completed at 15 th of November, 2021 but still I am holding my BVA which has unlimited work and study permission. As soon as I finish my study, I am planning to apply 190 but I haven’t got my student visa yet since I applied and also medical done. During BVA, can I apply for 190? Looking forward to hearing from you. Thanks
Hi,
Im currently applying for covid 408 visa, my visa is expiring on 19th Oct 21. Once i apply for covid visa, i will get a Bridging visa , what if due to border opening, they refuse my covid visa? Will i get a bridging E then? If so can you apply for Student visa while being on bridging visa E?
Hi Nilesh,
My husband is here on Visiting Visa 600. He has condition must leave before visa expires. We have applied for onshore partner visa and have BVB until september 2022. But BVB will get activated after current visa expires on 17Oct. Can he leave the country before his visa expires? And does BVB gets activated if he leaves before it is active. Please advise.
Thanks,
Vrushita
I am on BVC at the moment and about get refusal on 189
In the mean time I received 491 nomination and hopping to get invitation soon.
Now my query is that once I receive invitation and pay fees and lodge the application then what bridging visa will get?
Because I need to withdraw my 189 visa
Also will my bridging visa C will be continuing or will they give me another bridging visa?
My husband is on visitor 600 visa and has must leave before visa expires. We have BVB which will get active after visiting visa expires. Can he leave before BVB is activated and does the visa gets active once he leave?
Hi Nilesh,
I submitted my application for partner visa 820 on 01/10/2021 and received a confirmation email from home affairs saying they had received my application. However, I still have not been granted BVA. And my 485 visa expired yesterday (2/10/2021). I don’t know what to do, I thought BVA would be automatically granted once I submitted my application. I cannot contact home affairs either as it is Sunday today and public holiday this coming Monday.
Hello can you please clear the confusion, my wife has applied for 485 subsequent entrant (onshore) on my 485 visa which is expiring in nov 21 and she has got bridging visa c since she was already on bridging A for her own student visa( Withdrwan now). Now the thing is if her visa is not granted till nov 21, then she will still be on bridging C, whereas I have to apply for 408 visa to gain some time for the nomination. Can anyone please tell what will be her visa outcome once my 485 expired, since the lawyer has told us we can't apply her 408 along with me as she is not on any substansive visa. Another thing is my 6 months working is tasmania is going to finish in nov 21 as well so I am hoping to apply for state nomination in nov 21. My occupation is motor mechanic. Also if we can not apply her 408 visa, can I include her along with me in the nomination application to the state and eventually apply for 190 visa along with me while on bridging visa c?
Hi Nilesh,
I'm on Bridging A visa from a previous 485 visa application. I have now applied for 190 visa but I have not been granted a bridging visa for my 190 application.
I am living with my son in Australia since 2019 I am divorced and 72 years of age I depend on my son for everything am I eligible for for 838 visa which form is required to apply and how r your fees for this visa thank you