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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Hi.
I am waiting on my 408 visa (covid), on a bridging A. I recently got invited for states nomination 491 in Victoria. State nomination is approve and ready for lodgement with skillselect.
Just wondering what happens after lodgement? Will I be automatically be on 2 bridging visas (BVA and BVC) while waiting on decisions on 408 visa and 491 visa? In saying that, my BVA will take precedence and be the active one as it is the most beneficial of the 2 bridging?
Do I have to withdraw my 408 application too as I await 491 grant? What happens if I do?
Thank you and your reply is appreciated more than words can say to a very anxious visa applicant.
I have an valid visa which expires on 11-Jul-2022. In my current organization they raised an extension request and likely they will file my petition by 24th May where I will be receiving my bridging A visa in 24 hrs. My question is whether do I need to apply for bridging visa B because I am traveling to India on May 27th and returning on Jul5th.
Also what if suppose if I ask them to hold my petition until Jul 5th. Will it be a problem to enter Australia as current visa expiry date is 11july. Please advise.
The answer to your first question is no.
The answer to the second question is yes.
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
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Hello,
My partner is holding BVA and he applied for BVB 3 weeks ago to visit his country.
His trip is in a week and he hasn’t received anything, the BVB is still not granted.
Is there anything we can do? Why is it taking so long to be approved?
Thanks
I have an valid visa which expires on 11-Jul-2022. In my current organization they raised an extension request and likely they will file my petition by 24th May where I will be receiving my bridging A visa in 24 hrs. My question is whether do I need to apply for bridging visa B because I am travelling to India on May 27th and returning on Jul5th.
Also what if suppose if I ask them to hold my petition until Jul 5th. Will it be a problem to enter Australia as current visa expiry date is 11july. Please advise.
Hi i’m currently hold BVA and just delivered baby here. Just need to know what visa should i apply for my babies to make sure he’s got the same benefit like us(BVA). Thank you.
Hi Nilesh,
Thanks for taking time out to help people with their queries.
I have an urgent matter related to my visa. I have made a valid application for protection visa subclass 866 well before my current visa expires. The validity of my visa application has been confirmed by the department itself on phone call and i have triple checked everything myself.
My current visa expired on 2nd of may and i have not been granted a bridging visa yet and its been 3 weeks since my last visa expired. I have made a separate bridging visa application as well before the expiry of my previous visa.
I have made several calls to the department and they have asked me to wait until my case officer checks the documentation and issues a bridging visa. They have asked me not to make any application for BVE as i won’t be able to go back to BVA then.
I’m happy to wait but the only problem is, my employer has put me on unpaid leave until my visa shows up on VEVO. I had full work rights on my previous visa and was working full time. But now i do not have any visa associated with my name and cannot work. I have a family, a kid 3 years old who was born here and we have exhausted our savings by paying bills and rent among other things. I only have $200 to my name at the moment and my rent is due again next week. I am literally stuck and the department wont let me see anyone face to face, they just ask me to wait until my case officer contacts me.
Please advice what should i do?
Hi Nilesh!!
I applied for covid 408 visa last June and got a bridging A. Since then I have applied for 190, received an inactive BVC and requested 408 to be withdrawn.
408 withdrawal has not yet been processed so still on a BVA awaiting my 190.
What do you think my options are for travel and applying for a BVB? Would I remain on BVB if 408 was processed before 190 or automatically go into BVC
Appreciate any insight!!
Hi Nilesh!!
I applied for covid 408 visa last June and got a bridging A. Since then I have applied for 190, received an inactive BVC and requested 408 to be withdrawn.
408 withdrawal has not yet been processed so still on a BVA awaiting my 190.
What do you think my options are for travel and applying for a BVB? Would I remain on BVB if 408 was processed before 190 or automatically go into BVC
Appreciate any insight!!
I got a BVB till 22nd May 2022 I was travelling back on 13th May 2022 but tested positive for covid and had to wait for a week to travel back I am travelling from India today will there be any issue and reach tomorrow will there be an issue?
When you say you will arrive back tomorrow I assume that is 23rd May and not 22nd May. As you have explained your bvb expires on 22nd May you will be stopped at the airport if you arrived after midnight on 22nd May.
This will be an issue and has some potentially devastating consequences forward you should seek more complex advice.
I understand that becoming infected with covid-19 was completely outside of your control. Unfortunately this is not relevant in relation to any automatic extension to the return facility attached to your bridging visa B class 020.
I'm sorry that the news is not more fruitful for you but I hope that it does help you get clarity with your position.
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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Hi,
I’m currently on BVA and planning to apply BVB in order to go back to my home country for like 3 weeks.
With the current COVID travel exemption, is BVB now allow to re-enter Australia.
I’m aware that in the past when Australia open the border, they allow international student and those on working visa.
But there’s no information regarding BVB
Thank you
No problem here.
Travel home for three weeks shouldn't be a problem.
I'm going to see in that the bvA is in association with a subclass 485 visa? Correct. When do old you know the substantive visa.
I no ask this because if grant is close, simply wait until grant and then travel.
Regards
Nilesh Nandan
Immigration Lawyer
MyVisa.com.au/about