Australian Bridging Visas: A Guide to Understanding Differences Between Different Bridging Visas & BV Conditions

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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…

Bridging visa checklist Nilesh Nandan Immigration Lawyer

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 lawyer Nilesh Nandan

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!

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Nilesh Nandan

Nilesh Nandan is Australia's most sought after immigration lawyer for visa refusals and visa cancellations. Appeal your visa or get help to relodge your Australian visa application or citizenship application.

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676 Responses

  1. Hello,

    I am in Australia and in between process for 482 visa and currently holding VCS. I am the main applicant and my wife is as dependant. Now we both need to travel overseas so I have applied bridging visa B. In that application I have added both of us as applicant. Do I need to lodge separate application for my wife for bridging visa B?

  2. Hi Nilesh could you please help me with my question. I am applying for BVB for second time, will the period of grant will be 3 months at least?

    Please help me as I have already booked my tickets.

    Thank you.

  3. Hi Nisha,

    Many thanks for an insightful resource.
    I would some advice on what I can do expedite my visa 408 application. I was previously on a substantiative 407 visa and put onto a Bridging Visa A whilst pending a 408 visa. Unfortunately, I did not notice you require a BVB prior to travel, and my 407 expired whilst abroad. This left me with no choice to return on a tourist visa. I have re-applied for a BVA to be re-instated (but I think my 407 visa has be still valid) and been chasing Home affairs even though my 408 application is still as ‘received’. Any advice as i am stuck without work?

  4. Hi

    I have recently booked my return ticket from India for 2 months without lodging my BVB. I am planning to lodge before 2 weeks of departure date.

    This will be my second BVB, and I am bit worried that they might give me visa only for 28 days. If they do so, my return ticket will be wasted and I won’t be able to finish the job for which reason I am going back.

    Please advice even if I attach my flight ticket to the application will they issue my visa for 3 months at least?

    Waiting for your response. Thank you in advance.

  5. Hi,
    First of all, Kudos to you for replying all the comments. This is truly amazing.

    My question is, I was sponsored for 186DE and the was working for the company but my project ended and they withdrew their 186. ( I was on contract, they were expecting projects coming up but lost)
    Now, I’m working for a multi billionaire company and they have applied for 186 DE again.
    I am on BRIDGING VISA C, i can not travel.
    It’s been five years I haven’t been home. Is there any possibility i can apply for travel exemption?
    Will it effect my application?

    Looking forward to your response

  6. Hi Nilesh,
    My 461 visa was expiring in 11\2020 and my wife applied for 189 for the whole family in 10\2020. All this time i’ve been on BVA. 1 or 2 months ago immigration finally got back to us and we decided to withdraw application for number of reasons. I started filling out forms for 461 and it says that if my substantive visa ceased more then 12 months ago (which it did) then 461 won’t be granted. Should I still proceed with it and try to reason with them or apply for something else?
    Thanks in advance.

  7. Hi,

    I am currently holding BVB and my 457 visa has been rejected and case is on the federal court at this moment
    I just want to know whether I can apply for a student visa staying inside australia or I need to go offshore and apply.

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