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!
View Comments
Hi there, I entered Australia on a 6 month subclass 600 holiday visa in November from the UK. In December I applied for the 820 partner visa and I have been granted a bridging visa but it is not active until the holiday visa expires. Is there any way I can activate the visa sooner or perhaps reduce the length of the subclass 600 to 3 months, so that I am able to receive working rights sooner? Thanks
Hi Nilesh,
Could you pls advise?
We have applied 485 post graduate stream and hasn’t granted yet as my husband’s health examination hasn’t finalized yet. They advised that nominated chest clinic will contact him within 6-12 months and take further exams.
I and my 2 kids have been granted BVB recently to travel home country and it required come to Australia by 15th March 2022. My husband will stay here in Australia. I’m pretty sure I cannot come back in that time frame. I read that BVB is not extended or renewed from offshore. Can we still eligible to be granted 485 while 3 of us offshore once my husband’s health exam finalized without a problem? I’m the primary applicant. I’m so confused and worried that what if they refuse 485 as we can’t come back by March 15 while border is open. Do they require all applicants be onshore while granting 485 since border open?
Thanks so much.
Hi Nilesh,
I applied for a 485 visa in August 2021, and a I was granted a Bridging Visa A. In November 2021, while my 485 visa application was in-progress (not finalized yet), I applied for a 190 skilled-nominated visa, and I was granted a Bridging Visa C. Once I lodged my 190 visa application, I requested to withdraw my 485 application.
Currently, my Bridging visa A is active and Bridging visa C is inactive. Now, I want to apply for a Bridging visa B and leave Australia for a short time. Could you please let me know if I would be eligible to apply for a Bridging Visa B (given that my Bridging visa A is currently active), or what would be the risks involved in this action?
Many thanks for your guidance.
Hi Nilesh, thanks for writing this detail article. I've applied for 485 (Post study) in September. Medical is done. Now it seems getting 485 might take many more months. :( I really want to go to my home country for 2-3 months. So thinking about applying BVB. Now if border restriction is not lifted before I return, will my 485 visa application be continued to process? or what are my options then?
Hi Nilesh
My fiance was granted a student visa in July 2020 which he wasn’t able to use as covid struck.
Once Australia announced borders will open to students on 15th Dec he booked his flights here. His current visa expires on 31st December and he has submitted his new visa application, he is still in Scotland and doesn’t fly here until the 17th and he applied for the new visa over there.
Will a BV automatically kick in after 31st when he’s here and his current visa expires or will he need to apply separately for a BV once he lands in Australia on 17th?
Also we will be applying for partner visa once he’s here. Should we wait for the outcome of the new student visa before we do that?
Thank you so much
Seri
Seri
The first step is to simply get him inside Australia ASAP.
The second step is to lodge a permanent Visa as quickly as you can (onshore) under the currently more favourable partner Visa rules. This will depend on whether or not you can register your relationship at your location. (Some states allow for registration of relationships and others do not).
The offshore application for a further student Visa is not one which will yield you any bridging Visa. Whilst it is possible that you might be able to obtain a bridging Visa in association with that (offshore) application after he is in Australia I would seriously considering lodging a further application inside Australia to be certain that bridging visa will be granted in association with a further application.
Hi Nilesh,
I am on a bridging visa E on departure grounds and it's about to expire. I plan to apply for a further Bridging visa E on grounds that my minor child who is waiting for AAT hearing date can't be left alone in Australia with no family. If the appeal at AAT is unsuccessful, can I apply for a further Bridging visa E for myself while my child appeals at the federal circuit court? Does Proposed departure date for Bridging visa E definate? Can I stay passed my Proposed departure date while my child's appeal is pending?
Hi,
I am on a bridging visa E on departure grounds which expires in 3 months. Could I apply for ministerial Intervention request if I have very compelling and compassionate reasons while on the Bridging visa E on departure grounds instead of departing? If not, can I apply for 8503 waiver application if I have compelling evidence if am on a bridging visa E under departure grounds so I can apply for medical treatment visa for ivf since I can't leave in the middle of the cycle? Can I ask for more time if am on BVE departure?
Thank you so much.
Hi Nilesh,
I applied for a medical treatment visa applied onshore. Its been refused. Can I appeal to the AAT? If so, how does the appeal take? Ps, I am on a bridging visa E.
Hi Nilesh, I applied for a medical treatment visa onshore. Its been refused. Can I appeal to the AAT? If so, how does the appeal take? Ps, I am on a bridging visa E.
Dear nilesh I have applied for on shore 838 visa 20 days before my substantial visa would expire I have not been given any visa so far and my old visa has expired I have phoned immigration many times they said to me since u have a valid application u should not worry why is it taking so long I am totally stressed out please help