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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678 Responses

  1. My name is shanaz and I am currently in Canada holding an Australian visitor visa until December 20 2023. My husband is in Australia who received his 190 nomination in May.

    I came in May 2023 to visit him and apply for the 190 visa with him and than i left. The grant of 190 has not yet come that is why wanted to ask if I should travel back to Australia before my visitor visa gets over in order to receive a bridging visa?
    1- Will I receive a bridging visa in that case?
    2- If yes will that allow me to work in Australia?
    3- Will I than be able to apply for bridging B to travel outside?

    Would really appreciate if you could suggest me what would be the best to do in this situation and also usually how long does the 190 grant take?

  2. I applied for a protection visa and my visa has expired since 20th of September but up till now I have not gotten a bridging visa . Please what should I do next??

  3. My mom is currently residing in Australia with my sister under a BWA while in the process of her Aged parent Visa.

    I would like to enquire what the options are to apply for a BVB for my mother to visit myself and my family in New Zealand for a holiday for 3-4weeks. Would she be permitted to travel to New Zealand for approx. 3-4 weeks, potentially twice a year.
    We do not want to jeopardize the BWA bridging visa which she is currently on, but wanted to enquire at this stage if this could be a possibility at all, if the travel dates were arranged beforehand. Is there a certain time that she would be permitted to be out of Australia, as happy to limit the time as well to fit within the visa restriction

  4. Hi sir,
    I currently have student visa and im about to apply permanent resident from de facto relationship.
    If I understand correctly, my student visa would still be active and I will have 24 hours restrictions until my visa expires.
    Is it possible to stop using the student visa( so i can stop paying tuition fee) and use the bridging visa instead?
    Thanks

  5. Hi Sir. I am on TSS482 expiry date date of Nov2025. I applied for PR 190, and got a Bridging Visa. If my employer ask me to go back to my home country or I leave my current job, will Bridging Visa come into effect? Or I need to apply another Bridging Visa A or E?

  6. I have applied for Protection visa in 2017, and currently holding Bridging visa A. There is a sad demise of my real brother (Age-46) in my home country last week. I want to visit my family and want to travel to my home country. I need to apply for Bridging visa B. Need your suggestion for how about my chances to get Bridging visa B ? And how about wait time ?

  7. “If the applicant intends to reside at an overseas address for a period of 14 days or more complete the Change of Address-form which can be found in the ‘Update us-page. The applicants address must also be updated on their return to Australia”

    I am travelling to india for around 40 days, so do
    I need to update my address. Can someone please tell more about this.

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