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
Hi Nilesh
I am currently on a subclass 500 student visa which expires soon at the end of 2021. I have no intentions of staying further in Australia but would still prefer to spend a few more extra weeks to travel. Will I also be granted a bridging visa immediately if I were to apply for subclass 600 visitor visa, or are there any other options? Will be applying onshore. Thank you!
Hi Sir,
Currently I am holding my BVE in total my BVE on 9 months and my master will be competing in 30Dec2021. My visa expires on 31 Jan 2021.
And I am not eligible for 485 visa could you please assist me what is the procedure to follow.
Thanks
Hello; i need your advise please. My 485 visa application was rejected on the 24th of November 2021 while i am still offshore. The reason was because i lodged my application on the 22nd of feb 2020; but my universities completion of letter statrd i gradut3d on the 24th of February. So my visa was rejected because ibhad not graduated before lodging my 485 visa. It refusal letter says ibcan make an appeal only if i am present in Australia; but i am currently offshore and my bridging visa B has kongrd expired since may 2020. What other option do i have to return to Australia?
Hello nilesh, i just want to get advise from you about applying for BVB, im holding BVA right now, and I can’t renew my travelling passport here in Malaysia embassy australia. I want to make sure my name in malaysia still clear without any problem with make a new passport. So if i apply for BVB, and the reason is only go back to malaysia for renew my passport, it’s okay or not? It’s approves by immigration or not? I need your advise
Hi.. i have a quick question, how hard would it be to apply for BVC after it gets ceased by leaving Australia? And how long will it take to get granted usually?
Hello sir,
I need to know that my if one has applied for 485 visa in October,2021 and still they haven't been granted the 485 visa and are on Bridging visa A (BVA) .
Now I want to know why is it taking so long to be granted a 485 visa as previously it was granted in just 20-25 days.
And if I want to leave on BVB for my wedding to India then for hoy much period of time will I be granted a travel.For how much time period is the travel granted in BVB ?
Please reply
Hi, I applied 186 visa and got my bridging visa A, for emergency situation I want go back to overseas. I applied bridging visa b on 02/11/2021. Now almost 24 days but I did not receive any answer my bridging visa b. Normally how long they take to process the bridging visa b .
Thank you
Hi Nilesh,
I am the holder of Bridging Visa A and waiting for my student visa decision. I started my course by march 2019 and was expected to finish by march 2021 but due to covid I extended my course and for that i applied for a new student visa. my course finished by July 5th 2021. Due to lockdown my medical examination has been delayed to feb 2022. Can you advise what should I do now. I want to apply for my 485 visa. Can I still apply for it or Should I wait for my student visa decision ? And when I get the student visa what options do I have ?
Thanks for your help.
Ashwin
Great Article. Recently I applied for 186 Visa and got bridging visa A immediately. However, secondary applicant (my wife) didnt get the bridging visa yet. Not sure what is wrong.
I applied 408 covid 19 pandemic visa after 4 days of my student visa expired. I haven't received the bridging visa automatically. So I applied for bridging visa A "Permission to work". I am still waiting for my bridging visa grant. What should I do at this stage.