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!
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Hi Dinesh,
I don’t know if my comment posted earlier. I wanted to ask if I could apply for a bridging visa with less than 6 months validity on my passport.
I apologize autocorrect changed the name from Nilesh to Dinesh. I am so sorry!!
Hi I am currently on a Bridging visa for a 482 Visa, I applied for BVB via paper application and posted to Immigration on 16/6/22. My tentative travel date is 30/6/ for two weeks. Can I put an online application with the same details or will I be penalised or visa application refused.
Hello,
I need to file a BVB but my passport expires is less than 6 months. Will this be an issue?
Hi Nilesh,
I have a situation. We applied for a Visitor Visa 600 extension onshore for my FIL and Bridging visa A was issued automatically and it came into effect. Unfortunately he was in need to travel back to India for 3 months, but we missed applying for BVB and he travelled back on his BVA.
1. What happens now to the 600 Visa extension that was with department. Will it automatically cancel and he need to apply for a new 600 Visa from India?
2. His 600 visa extension still showing as processing in Immi website, so am not sure if we can lodge a new visa for him from India or wait for the outcome of the application that is still showing as with department ?
3. He completed his medical test in Australia for the extension a month ago, but when we apply for new Visa from India, does he need to go through the medical test again or we can utilise the same HAP ID that was submitted for previous application ?
Hi Nilesh thank you for you time and consideration,I hope you can clarify some of my doubts we are one a BVA visa now we planning to apply for 482 visa as my husband got nearly 5 yrs experience in Glazing and his employer ready to sponsor him my doubts is do we need to exit Australia for apply new visa
Hi Nilesh,
I am on 186 AAT waiting for review date however I need to travel to my country for my marriage and booked tickets to return on 29 th July, I have sent my application twice for BVB but no response and I am flying on 23/6 pretty much panicked now.
I am wondering if I can visit Melbourne immigration office and they an offer some help. previously they used accept walk ins for BVB application.
Hello Nilesh
I have a simple question. I'm currently on a Bridging Visa A but I need to leave Australia within next month. I have the BVA because I applied for a sublass 485 a couple of months back. I'm applying for a BVB anyway, but my question is:
If I do exit Australia, my BVA will cease. But will my 485 application also cease? If it does not, then it means I can only re-enter Australia after my 485 is granted.
Is this right?
Yazen
We are on tourist visa SC 600. Applied for SC 143 on 30/01/2018. Can we get BV A with NO CONDITION ? We are leaving in Australia since 30/11/2019 on TOURIST VISA SC 600. My son and daughter are CITIZEN here.
Hi Nilesh,
I have already used my BVB visa until last month. My TR visa is still under process because the medical exam is pending.
Is it okay to apply for BVB again if there’s an emergency?
Will the immigration officer’s refuse my TR application due to not providing medicals or changing visa to BVB?
Hi Rushi
Thank you for question.
Yes you can apply for a BVB again if there is an emergency. There is no difficulty with this.
Yes, the IMMIGRATION Case Officer may refuse your TR application if you fail to provide information on time including providing evidence if you want to take on the relevant medical examination. If you are having difficulties in providing the relevant material to the department then you need to seek an extension of time and comply with the new extended deadline given to you.
No, the IMMIGRATION Case Officer is unlikely to refuse your to your application simply because you have made application for a Bridging Visa "B" Class (Subclass 020) .
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 Nilesh,
I'm currently on ETA and have applied for a 485 post grad work visa as I graduated in Australia. I have been granted a bridging visa A however it does not become active until August 10. Can I leave Australia for 1 week and return in July without compromising when my bridging visa A becomes active? Because I'm waiting for work rights.
There are number of issues which flow from the circumstances as I understand them above.
Firstly your Bridging Visa "A" Class (Subclass 010) will expire the minute you exit Australia.
Secondly it is unclear whether you will be re-entering Australia on a new ETA with the current visitor Visa you hold allows for multiple entry.
This is important because if you have a multiple entry Visa will have no difficulty securing a further ETA then when you return to Australia you can make an application to have your Bridging Visa "A" Class (Subclass 010) reinstated.
Another consideration is the making of an application for Bridging Visa "B" Class (Subclass 020) prior to exit in Australia.
Book a quick 10 minute chat with me here: https://myvisa.com.au/10-Minute
Regards
Nilesh Nandan
BBus(Accy) LLB(QUT) MBA(IntBus)
Immigration Lawyer | Special Counsel
MyVisa® Immigration Law Advisory
myvisa.com.au/about/
1300558472
Hope this helps. Please help me answer more questions like these by leaving an honest review here: https://g.page/r/CfBw8UcKreaaEAg/review
*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.
Hi Nilesh,
Did I understand you correctly that someone who applied for a student visa (subclass 500 for higher education) from their home country (USA) but entered Australia on an ETA is not eligible to apply for a bridging visa BVA?
My son applied for his student visa on 30th June. He entered Australia on 11th July after confirming with the Home Affairs office and the University that it would not be a problem to study on his ETA for three months. As per his ETA, he must exit Australia by 9th October.
1) Is he eligible for the BVA?
2) if he does not receive the BVA by 9th October, can he travel to NZ for a weekend and come back to Australia so that his ETA is “reset” for another three months.
Thanks!