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
Hello, I submitted an application for my 2nd WHV in Dec 2020 (while holding my 1st working holiday visa). The 2nd WHV application is still processing and I'm currently on a BVA. 2 issues: (1) My skills assessment is now complete and I'm able to lodge a 186 but worried as I'm on a BVA - will is stay on this bridging visa? (2) My 6 months with my employer (also sponsoring me for the 186) is almost up - can I apply for some kind of extension?
Help! Thank you.
Hi Nilesh,
I have received my mum’s age dependent relative visa (subclass 838) refusal on 12/05/21 due to not meet the age 66 year 6 months at the time to lodge visa application.
I would like to keep my mum with me in Australian forever as no one there in my country to look after her. I’ve two sister in my country. They are fighting for their life due to cancer.
What option is available for my mum please …? And how could I meet you ASAP as I have limited time left.
Please advise
Thanks
Jewel
hi sir, currently i’m on bridging visa E, is it possible to apply for a visitor visa?
Hi Nilesh,
my orginal visa 489 and and so if I apply for visa 887 when 489 is still valid, do I still need to apply for BVA or BVB while the visa 887 is not grant and 489 was expired?
When you lodge a subclass 887 visa application on a subclass 489, you are taken to have also applied for a BVA. It is likely that the Department will grant you a BVA without any separate application.
Hello sir my name is swikriti shrestha I am in dependent visa .. I am in bridging visa in dependent .. I had suffered from domestic violent case .. so I don’t want to leave in his visa .. his visa hasn’t arrived yet . So, will I be illegebal to apply protection visa .. may11 my husband has to go court . I have case running . Can you reply me soon . Only 2 days left
Being a victim of domestic violence is not, by itself, a valid ground for applying for a protection visa. You are not applying for a partner visa. You will ordinarily not be eligible to be granted any visa as a dependent if you are not in any genuine and continuing relationship with the primary applicant.
Hi Nilesh,
My previous 482 got expired on 30/Apr and I am currently on BVA as my employer initiated new 482 extension on early Apr. However, I have received another BVA after i submitted my 190 visa application, but it is not active, probably because 482 was submitted first. Upon my request, recently my employer has withdrawn the 482 application. How long does it take for my PR BVA to become active? or would i be receiving BVC? and am I allowed to change employer now? Your thoughts?
Thanks
Hi Nilesh,
Can i apply for a bridging visa B, giving travel reason as "grounds to overcoming a section 48 bar in other to apply for a prospective visa" since New Zealand is the only country Australian residents can travel to at the moment?
at the moment i am on a bridging visa A (8101) no work. Can I apply for a bridging visa to allow me to work here in Australia.
hi Mr Nilesh
may i know when likely the borders will be opening for the foreigner into Australia
and
Hi Nilesh,
I am on graduate 485 via and about to expire on 15 May. I was working as a software engineer. So, I was thinking I need to change my visa. But Yesterday only, my manager called me and said they are ready to apply for the 482 visa but it might take more time. I only have a month's visa.
1. Can I apply for a covid -19 408 visa during that time being a IT professional?
2. Suppose I will apply for a student visa or covid-19 visa and will have a bridging visa, Can I apply for 482 visa when I will be in any briding visa but my previous 485 visa has been expired without the need to leave Australia? If yes, what could be the working rights, if no right can I apply to have work rights?
Can you suggest so that I can have a clue.