Bridging Visas in Australia: A Practical Guide to Staying Lawful
By Nilesh Nandan — Australian immigration lawyer.
Edited by Anh Le, Immigration Lawyer
When I meet people who are confused about bridging visas, the story is familiar. A visa has expired, been refused, or been cancelled. Or a new application is in the system and the wait is stressful. The real question is whether you remain lawful in Australia and what happens next.
Bridging visas look simple at first glance. In practice they are full of traps. My aim in this guide is to explain bridging visas in plain English and to highlight the risks so you can avoid costly mistakes.
On this page
- What is a bridging visa
- Why bridging visas matter
- Types of bridging visas (A, B, C, E)
- Common traps and risks
- Frequently asked questions
- Practical checklist
- Related MyVisa resources
- Book a consultation
What is a Bridging Visa?
A bridging visa is a temporary visa that keeps you lawful in Australia while you wait for another visa application or review decision to be finalised. Think of it as a safety net. It does not replace your main visa. It simply holds your lawful status during the wait.
Conditions on a bridging visa depend on your circumstances, your visa history, and the bridging visa subclass you hold. Work and travel settings are not the same for everyone, so never assume your rights are identical to your previous visa.
Why Bridging Visas Matter
Becoming unlawful can have serious consequences, including detention, removal, and re-entry issues. It can also complicate future applications. Staying on the right bridging visa, knowing when it starts, and following its conditions are critical.
Key things you must know:
- Which bridging visa applies to you and why.
- When it actually comes into effect.
- What conditions apply, especially work and travel.
- How to avoid accidental breaches.
Types of Bridging Visas (Comparison)
Here is a quick comparison of the main bridging visa subclasses in Australia:
| Visa Subclass | Usual Pathway | Work Rights | Travel Rights | Risk / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BVA (Subclass 010) | Granted when you apply for a new substantive visa while holding another substantive visa. | May reflect prior visa’s work settings. Check grant notice. | No travel facility. Leaving usually causes BVA to cease. | Safe option if you don’t need to travel. |
| BVB (Subclass 020) | The only bridging visa that permits travel and re-entry. | Usually mirrors work rights of prior visa, but confirm on grant. | Travel permitted only within the approved travel period. | If you don’t return within the set travel period, the visa ceases. |
| BVC (Subclass 030) | For people applying for a visa while already on a bridging visa, or after a substantive visa has expired. | May be restricted. Can apply for work rights based on financial hardship. | No travel facility. | Risky if you need to leave Australia. |
| BVE (Subclass 050/051) | For people who are unlawful, or seeking review/ministerial intervention after refusal or cancellation. | Not automatic. Must apply for work rights (if eligible). | No travel facility. | Often strict conditions, such as reporting. High risk if breached. |
Common Traps and Risks
- Assuming your bridging visa starts straight away — many only start when your current substantive visa ends.
- Travelling without a BVB — if you are on a BVA or BVC and you travel, your bridging visa will usually cease.
- Misreading work rights — always read your grant notice carefully.
- Missing reporting or special conditions — some visas, especially BVE, require regular reporting.
- Applying for the wrong bridging visa or not holding one at all — this can make you unlawful without realising it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I automatically get a bridging visa when I lodge a new visa application?
Not always. It depends on the timing and the application type. Some pathways generate a bridging grant automatically. Others require a separate application. Always check your lodgement record and email notices.
Can I work on a bridging visa?
It depends. Some bridging visas mirror earlier work settings. Others restrict work and require you to apply for permission, usually based on financial hardship. Read your grant letter and conditions.
Can I travel while on a bridging visa?
Only a BVB permits travel and re-entry, and only within the travel period printed on the grant notice. Leaving without a BVB can cause your bridging visa to cease and can undermine your main application.
What happens if my substantive visa is refused while I am on a bridging visa?
Your bridging visa may continue for a limited time, but you need to act fast. If eligible, a review application can keep you lawful during the review process. The exact outcome depends on your facts.
What if I become unlawful?
You may be able to apply for a BVE to regain lawful status. Once unlawful, options narrow and risk increases. Seek advice quickly so we can stabilise your position.
Practical Checklist
- Do I know which bridging visa subclass I hold and why I hold it?
- Do I know when it actually comes into effect?
- Have I confirmed my work and travel settings on the grant notice?
- Do I need to apply for a BVB before leaving Australia?
- Do I have reporting or other special conditions to follow?
- If my main visa was refused or cancelled, have I mapped my time limits to respond or review?
Related MyVisa Resources
Book a Consultation
If you are on a bridging visa, or think you may need one, do not leave it to chance. A short consultation can prevent long-term issues. Book a consultation with me today and get clarity on your next steps.
Regards,
Nilesh Nandan
Lawyer Principal | MyVisa Lawyers
https://myvisa.com.au
704 Responses
Hi,
I have applied for PR onshore and got a bridging visa BVA. I am currently visiting AU on a visitor visa. My BVA states that it will be effective once i have overstayed on the current visitor visa i.e, if i stay in AU for more than 3 months. The visitor visa is still valid for another 2.5 years with max 3 month stay at a time.
How can I kick in the BVA while still in AU on visitor visa? Do i just wait for 3 months to complete and it will automatically kick in, or can I request department to cancel my tourist visa to move to Bridging? Is there any way to move to Bridging visa without spending another few months on visitor.
I am keen to move to bridging to start working as I will have full work rights. Thanks
Hi there,
My situation is my mum has applied for 804 Aged Parent Visa and obtained BV A.
She travelled overseas on BV B which expires in December 2022.
She may not be able to return for another 6 months due to family circumstances which result in her BV B expiring whilst she is overseas.
Can she then apply for a tourist visa (600) and return to Australia and then request the BV A to be reinstated. This way she can remain in Australia until the 804 visa granted.
Thank you.
Hi,
I would need your help if you can clarify the below situation please?
Applied 190 visa(May 2022) and got bridging visa same time while on TR 485 which was expiring on 21st Sept 2022.
Got invited for 189 in August 2022 and applied the 189 visa in Sept 2022 and got bridging visa again for 189 application too same time.
Now I had two applications at the same time for 190 and 189 and both with bridging visa but I withdrew the 190 one before the TR expiry.
After the TR expiry my 190 withdraw application was finalised and I was given 35 days bridging visa.
The VEVO tool also shows the 35 days bridging visa and not the 189 bridging visa – 189 visa application still in process.
Am I in trouble? will the bridging visa of 189 will kick in automatically the next day after the expiry of 35 days bridging visa of 190? Will I need to exit the country before the 35 days time? and re-enter again if 189 bridging visa kicks in?
Hi,
I will be applying for my second work and holiday visa (462) in mid January 2023. My visa expires February 8, 2023. Will a bridging visa be automatically applied or do I have to make a separate application?
Hi, I currently hold Bridging Visa A for 3 long years now (pending for Protection Visa 866). What are the likelihood of my Bridging Visa B application be approved if I were to visit my home country for medical emergency or attend weddings to reconnect with family? I heard stories that protection visa applicants wont be granted due to not meeting substantial reasons.
Hi there!
I’m on a BV WE (050) whilst waiting for a decision of my partner visa application.
I have a 15 months old baby and would like to go visit my parents as they are getting old and need to see my son.
What would be my best options to travel and come back?
Hi Yacine
Thank you very much for your question. Here are the first three (3) things that come to my mind in relation to your post. There may also be other important issues which arise from your particular circumstances and you should seek specific immigration law advice before taking any further steps. It could be that I misunderstood you.
*In the interest of speed, my communications are transcribed and transmitted using voice-to-text software – please ignore any unintended typographical or interpretation errors. Please also see the standard Notes and Disclosures which apply to my communications. These are located at the footer of my work emails.
1. Of course you cannot exit Australia and re-enter as a hold of Bridging Visa “E” Class (Subclass 050) . Such a Visa extinguishes upon departure.
2. If you are confident that your partner Visa will indeed be approved then I would simply exit and stay with my parents with my child abroad until such time as the partner Visa is granted. Of course you should not do this if you think that your partner Visa might in fact be refused.
3. If you are overseas at the time of any partner Visa refusal then you will need to remain overseas until such time as the partner Visa is granted possibly after an appeal has been successfully made at the administrative appeals Tribunal. This could mean that you are Required to stay abroad for a very extended period of time. To access the current processing times for a given visa type visit this site https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-processing-times/global-visa-processing-times . Remember it keeps changing.
Did you benefit from this response? Feel free to buy me a coffee if this was useful. It helps me answer more questions like yours! https://Buymeacoffee.Com/NileshNandan
Regards Nilesh Nandan BBus(Accy) LLB(QUT) MBA(IntBus) Immigration Lawyer | Special Counsel MyVisa® Immigration Law Advisory myvisa.com.au/about/ 1300558472
For greater clarity about your immigration issue you can book in a quick 10-minute-chat with me here: https://myvisa.com.au/10-Minute
Thank you for your answer!
So there’s no really any way to have a short travel right granted under compassionate grounds?
Negative. Absolutely not.
Last week I successfully applied for a BVB. The BVB was approved with a “Must not arrive after” date The problem is there was a major mix-up with the dates. The question is: can I complete a form 1005 to change the dates on this BVB, or do I need to apply for a new BVB?
Hi Shirish
Thank you very much for your question. Here are the first three (3) things that come to my mind in relation to your post. There may also be other important issues which arise from your particular circumstances and you should seek specific immigration law advice before taking any further steps. It could be that I misunderstood you.
*In the interest of speed, my communications are transcribed and transmitted using voice-to-text software – please ignore any unintended typographical or interpretation errors. Please also see the standard Notes and Disclosures which apply to my communications. These are located at the footer of my work emails.
1. Be careful that you’re not providing any false or misleading information in relation to the already approved application.
2. Lodging a fresh Bridging Visa “B” Class (Subclass 020) application is the cleanest way to proceed based on information I have been provided with.
3. Given the COVID-19 pandemic which visas are quite frequently granted for 12 months. Perhaps if your original application had Requested a longer period of absence from Australia,
then a further Bridging Visa “B” Class (Subclass 020) application might not have been necessary.
Did you benefit from this response? Feel free to buy me a coffee if this was useful. It helps me answer more questions like yours! https://Buymeacoffee.Com/NileshNandan
Regards Nilesh Nandan BBus(Accy) LLB(QUT) MBA(IntBus) Immigration Lawyer | Special Counsel MyVisa® Immigration Law Advisory myvisa.com.au/about/ 1300558472
Book a quick 10 minute chat with me here: https://myvisa.com.au/10-Minute
Dear Nilesh
I would like to ask you about Bridging VISA B.
I applied for a graduate visa (subclass 485) in March and currently holding bridging visa B as I came back to Japan in May. My BVB is expiring in November but I am not able to return to Australia before it expires due to family reasons. I’ve read that the graduate visa will only be processed if I have BVA or BVB and have to apply for another visa such as a visitor visa in order to return to Australia after BVB expired. So I was wondering after entering Australia with a visitor visa and when it expires, will I be able to apply for a bridging VISA, and can a Graduate visa still be granted?
Thanks and regards