Bridging Visa Australia
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.
How to apply for a bridging visa?
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.
Is the application necessary?
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.
Automatic grant
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.
Purpose
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.
Otherwise…
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.
Types of bridging visas
The three most common types of bridging visas are a, b, and e.
Which do you have?
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.
Know this…
BVB limitation
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.
BVB disaster
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.
Bridging visa after re-entry
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.
Second BVB
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.
Only one chance!
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.
Bridging visa lifespan after a decision on substantive application
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.
Bridging visa to travel overseas
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.
Extension of BVE
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.
Depart on BVE – consequences
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.
BVE ban duration
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.
Bridging visa “in effect”
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.
When your bridging visa kicks in
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.
Bridging visa might never activate
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.
Bridging visa not automatically granted
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!
Practice tip!
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!
Your experience?
Please share your comments with me.
I’d love to know more about your experience with applying for this visa subclass!
676 Responses
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
I have applied for a Bridging Visa A while a decision is being made with my Substantive Visa (Partner Subclass 309/100) is being processed. I am currently in Australia and I will need to leave, according to my ETA Visa on July 4.
Can you advise how long processing times are normally for the Bridging Visa A to be granted? Average time? I filed an application for my Bridging Visa on May 18, 2022.
Hi Dianne
Yours is an interesting case because normally you will not get a bridging visa granted in relation to an offshore application.
If indeed you are eligible ( perhaps because of a COVID 19 concession), then you can expect to receive a confirmation and grant letter in around 2 weeks.
I know you were worried that you might not receive anything until after midnight on the 4th of July.
Provided you have made a valid application for the bridging visa and it is something that you are eligible for then it doesn’t matter whether processing takes place before or after the 4th of July.
Your ETA period will end at midnight on the 4th of July and yes you will hold no visa until such time as the Department makes the decision in relation to the bridging visa grant.
This happens all the time and is fixed when the department actually grants to bridging visa. You’ll still normally get the bvA you are entitled to.
Yes! even though you are unlawful for a period of time potentially, you will normally be granted a bridging visa A belatedly.
Is the be bvA back dated?
The better view is that it’s not.
There is a potential problem when applying for citizenship down the track because it will show that you have this short period of unlawful stay. There is workaround to this though but making submissions.
How this all makes sense.
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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Thanks for your reply. I actually called immigration several times about the Bridging Visa A and on my Imma Account, the application for the Bridging Visa was linked to my application Partner subclass 309/100 q
application :(. So, I hope this is not the case as I assumed also that I was eligible.
Actually, my three month stay on my ETA Visa ends on July 8 and not the fourth. My flight is July 4th.
Again, thanks for your reply.
You are welcome. Thank you for sharing.
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Hi,
Thanks for this awesome help. I have a question. I am on student visa which will expire in September and I have applied for visa extension too. Consequently I have bridging visa A too which will active in September. Can I travel overseas and comeback before September? Or do I have to get BVB for it too?
No bvb required but be sure to return well before substantive (485) visa expiry.
Regards
Nilesh Nandan
Immigration Lawyer | Special Counsel
MyVisa®
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