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 was 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 or 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
Hi! Thanks for the helpful article. I have a quick question. I am currently on a student visa (status: "active" expiring March 2023) and have applied for a temporary graduate visa (pending outcome). In the meantime, I have been granted a BVA (status: "not active" until current student visa expires). Can I leave Australia and come back before March 2023 without my BVA being cancelled? And if it will be cancelled, would I be able to leave and come back to Australia before March 2023, and apply to have my BVA restored/reinstated? Is the process of getting a BVA difficult? Would appreciate your advice so much. Thanks!
I applied for 482 labor agreegment while I am subclass 500 ( student visa) is still in effect until November 2023. I didn't get bridging visa A automatically.
I will have a trip overseas in one month.
Do I have to apply for bridging visa B ?
Hi Nilesh,
Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.
As We’re holding two visas 1st subclass 489 which is expiring in february 2027 and 2nd BVA (not active) will come into effect when our 489 will expire in 2027, and we’re waiting for decision on our subclass 887 application which we applied 7 months before.
Now we’re planning to go back to home country all family (me, wife and kids) to see our parents and we’ll stay there for two months.
Do you think we should get BVB for travel or we’re safe without getting BVB?
Best Regards.
Ahmad
I Applied for my wife spouse visa 309. and after that a visito visa 600.
She was granted visitor visa 600 for 3 months only with no further stay condition.
now she is here in Australia with her visit visa.
last week I found a new " bridging visa " tab appear in her spouse visa application menubar.
Does it mean Now we can apply for bridging visa? Which visa is to apply BVA or BVB.
DO we need to apply for the waiving of " NO further Stay" First.
Please note I am australian citizen.
Thanks in advance.
Regards
Morshed
morshedf496@gmail.com
URGENT
Dear Sirs,
I applied for a bridging B visa on 06 Nov 2022, but I leave Australia before the visa granted on 13 November due to emergency reasons for my mother in Iran; my visa refused on 14 November. I made an appeal application to ATO while I am staying abroad within timeframe i.e. on 02 December. Apparently I have to made application while I was in Australia, because I received an email saying that the application is not valid for that reason, so I am going back to comment before 16 Jan 2023. I have two quick questions, first one is: am I allowed to return Australia with a refused Bridging B Visa? Second question is how can I get the case to your office if I return to follow through it.
Best regards
Hi Nilesh. I am currently on BVA and would like to apply for a work sponsorship visa mainly in the hospitality sector in hospitality manager role. Is this possible to swtich from BVA (protection visa) to a work sponsored visa?
Hi am on bringing visa E l apply for ministry intervention if my visa is close to expired can l extend my bringing visa how about if the home affairs didn’t make any decision l still have to wait for there decision or l have to leave the country can know please samy
My mum is on 600 visa (3 years multiple entries) stating must not arrive 31 May 2025 we planning to apply 870 onshore , when will the bridging visa activate as currently vevo shows 5 June 2023 as expiry. Staying after that won’t be breaching any conditions right as 600 visa was granted for 3 years.
Hi there, first I have to thank you for sharing wisdom,
I am on 489 visa and I have applied for 887 visa a year ago, now I am out of Australia and my bridge visa A will be in effect in a month. As I have to stay in my country does it affect my 887 visa or just I cannot get back to Australia till my 887 visa granted!?
Thank you in advance for your time and guidance,
Best.
I am holding BVB subclass 804 (aged parent). Do I need to show or declare the BVB copy to immigration authorities at the airport during the departure clearance.