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

Australian citizenship passport image

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!

Picture of Nilesh Nandan

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.

Australia’s Highest Rated Immigration Lawyer

I offer expert guidance with practical advice every step of the way.

My consultations come with a 100% Money-Back Guarantee.

Book a 10-Minute-Chat

Related Posts

704 Responses

  1. Hi, I need some advice
    My student visa ends on the 5th march, I have applied for 190visa and have been automatically given my BVA.
    I have an overseas holiday booked for the 1st march, and intended to apply for a BVB

    Am I able to travel out of Aus on my student visa and return on a BVB if it’s granted whilst onshore?

    What then happens with my BVA as I would be offshore when it becomes active?

    Thanks in advance
    Carly

    Reply

    1. Hi Carly! 😊

      Great question! Since your student visa expires on March 5, your Bridging Visa A (BVA) will come into effect automatically. However, because a BVA does not allow travel, you’ll need to apply for a Bridging Visa B (BVB) before leaving Australia on March 1. ✅

      To answer your main concern:

      • If your BVB is granted before you leave, you’re all set! You can depart Australia on your student visa and return on the BVB while waiting for your 190 visa decision. ✈️
      • If your BVB is still processing when you leave, this could be problematic. Since leaving on your student visa will cause it to cease, your BVA won’t activate while you’re offshore, which means you may not have a valid visa to return on. That’s why it’s important to ensure the BVB is granted before you travel.

      Also, if your 190 visa is granted while you’re overseas, it will override any bridging visa, and you’ll simply return on your 190 visa—no issues there! 🎉

      If you’re unsure about any of this or want to double-check your timeline, it might be worth booking in a quick chat to make sure everything is in order. It could be the best $97 you’ve spent for peace of mind! 😊

      Regards Nilesh Nandan Immigration Lawyer & Special Counsel MyVisa® Immigration Law Advisory https://myvisa.com.au/

      *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.

      Reply

  2. Hi
    My student visa got reject and my case is with ART however i have a valid BVB which is valid until October 2025 . I need to travel for a short 1 week trip outside of Australia.
    Is it safe to travel will i be stopped at immigration as i am travelling during my term.

    Reply

    1. Hi Kanu,

      Thank you very much for your post and your patience. Here are the first three (3) things that come to my mind:

      1. Your Bridging Visa B (BVB) has a return facility, which means you’re allowed multiple re-entries to Australia until the return facility expires — in your case, October 2025.
      2. It’s very important that you return to Australia before the expiry of the return facility on your BVB. If you don’t return in time, you may not be able to re-enter, and applying for a new BVB from outside Australia is never possible.
      3. It’s extremely rare for someone to have their BVB cancelled at the airport on return — unless there are serious concerns such as false or misleading information in past applications or criminal conduct.

      There may also be other important issues that arise from your particular circumstances.

      Seek specific immigration law advice before taking any further steps.

      You might find the following pages helpful:
      Bridging Visa help
      Visa refusal advice
      AAT Appeals

      🧳✈️

      Regards
      Nilesh Nandan
      BBus(Accy) LLB(QUT) GDLP MBA(IntBus)
      Immigration Lawyer & Special Counsel
      MyVisa Immigration Law Advisory
      https://myvisa.com.au

      Disclaimer: In the interest of speed, my communications are transcribed and transmitted using

      Reply

  3. Hi sir,

    I am currently on a 482 Visa, however I am no longer working for my Sponsor company. Is it possible to apply for a Bridging Visa E if I cannot find a new company to sponsor me? I would use those extra days past the expiry of my 180 days ‘grace period’ for finding a new sponsor to arrange leaving the country.

    Reply

    1. Hi Ciara

      Thank you very much for your post and your patience. Here are the first three (3) things that come to my mind.

      1. A Bridging Visa E (BVE) is generally available to people who are unlawful or close to becoming unlawful in Australia. If your 482 visa has ceased and you’re not holding another visa, a BVE may help you stay lawfully while you make arrangements to depart or explore other options.
      2. The “180-day” reference relates to condition 8607, which gives a limited time to find a new Sponsor after ceasing employment. If you’ve already passed this period, your visa may be at risk or already ceased, depending on timing and circumstances.
      3. It’s possible to apply for a BVE if no new sponsorship or visa is available, but it is not a long-term solution and won’t allow work rights unless there are compelling reasons. If you can find a new Sponsor, a new 482 application may be possible, but timing is critical.

      There may also be other important issues that arise from your particular circumstances.

      Seek specific immigration law advice before taking any further steps.

      You may find these pages helpful:
      Bridging Visa help
      Visa refusal advice
      Sponsor change problems

      Let me know if you’d like to chat with me or my team.

      Regards
      Nilesh Nandan
      BBus(Accy) LLB(QUT) GDLP MBA(IntBus)
      Immigration Lawyer & Special Counsel
      MyVisa Immigration Law Advisory
      https://myvisa.com.au

      Disclaimer: In the interest of speed, my communications are transcribed and transmitted using voice-to-text software – please ignore any unintended typographical or interpretation errors. See Notes and Disclosures at the footer of my work emails.

      Reply

  4. Me, my husband and my 22 months old had 485 visa expired on December.
    We decided to stay and travel during summer time in Australia. And applied visitor 600 visa on shore.
    Waited for 2 months and granted 28/01/2025. Expires 02/02/2025
    They only granted 4 days visa for us.
    Thing is we have rental unit in Sydney. We are not able to leave within 4 days.
    We wish to leave Australia lawfully.

    Is there any way we leave by within March. so we can organise our leave and arrange our place to live in home country. We rented our home till mid March. So we will let the tenants know that we are coming. And we can move in.

    Reply

    1. Hi Jackie,

      Thank you very much for your post and your patience. Here are the first three (3) things that come to my mind:

      1. I’m sorry I didn’t get back to you sooner. I can see that the 2 February 2025 date has already passed, which makes your situation more urgent and potentially more complex.
      2. If you weren’t able to depart Australia by that date, I’d expect that you would have lodged another visa application before that date. If you didn’t, you would have become an unlawful non-citizen once that Visitor visa expired — unless another visa was granted in the meantime.
      3. I’d really like to know what happened since then — and whether there have been any changes or developments in your situation. I may be able to offer some helpful guidance if I know a bit more.

      There may also be other important issues that arise from your particular circumstances.

      Seek specific immigration law advice before taking any further steps.

      You might find the following pages helpful:
      Brid_

      Reply

  5. Hi,
    If i travel on bvb and when i am in home country and my student visa gets canceled, would i still be allowed to re-enter in australia.
    Waiting for your response
    Thank you.

    Reply

    1. Dear Muhammad,

      Thank you for your question.

      Generally, if you are travelling on a Bridging Visa B (BVB) and your student visa is cancelled while you are overseas, your BVB might also be cancelled. This would prevent you from re-entering Australia.

      However, if your student visa application was refused (not cancelled), you may still be able to re-enter Australia on your BVB. In this case, you could consider applying for a review of the student visa refusal at the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART).

      It is important to note that each case is unique and the specific circumstances of your situation will determine the outcome. We recommend that you seek professional advice from a registered migration agent or immigration lawyer for further guidance.

      Kind regards,
      Nilesh Nandan

      *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.

      Reply

  6. Hi Nilesh,
    My current 408 temporary activity visa expired on January 24th. I submitted an application for a carer visa by post on January 17th, which, according to Australia Post, was delivered to Perth on January 21st, then redirected to Melbourne and delivered on January 23rd. Since this is a paper application, I have not automatically received a Bridging Visa A. Upon contacting the department, I was informed that, according to their policy, they would consider granting a Bridging Visa A effective from the date the application was received or stamped. However, I don’t have evidence of my application’s delivery or being stamped, aside from the tracking information from Australia Post. The immigration officer mentioned that I could technically be considered unlawful, but the department would review the circumstances and potentially grant me a visa from the date of receipt. I am worried about being classified as unlawful in the country and receiving a Bridging Visa C instead of a Bridging Visa A, as I intend to leave and re-enter the country soon.
    Please advise. Thank you

    Reply

    1. Hi Ruby,

      Thank you very much for your post and your patience. Here are the first three (3) things that come to my mind:

      1. You’ve done the right thing by lodging your Carer visa application before your 408 visa expired. The Department does sometimes accept the date of delivery as the application date — especially where tracking confirms it arrived before expiry. This could support a Bridging Visa A grant.
      2. As these dates have now expired, please do let me know what happened in the end. I’d genuinely like to know for myself and to be able to share this experience with others who might be in a similar position. And again — my apologies for not responding sooner.
      3. If you’ve been issued a Bridging Visa C, unfortunately it does not include a travel facility, and you can’t apply for a Bridging Visa B. You would need to wait for a decision on the Carer visa — and if refused, wait until the matter is finalised by a Tribunal or court before making any travel plans.

      There may also be other important issues that arise from your particular circumstances.

      Seek specific immigration law advice before taking any further steps.

      You might find the following pages helpful:
      Bridging Visa help
      Partner visa options
      Visa refusal advice

      📬🧳

      Regards
      Nilesh Nandan
      BBus(Accy) LLB(QUT) GDLP MBA(IntBus)
      Immigration Lawyer & Special Counsel
      MyVisa Immigration Law Advisory
      https://myvisa.com.au

      Disclaimer: In the interest of speed, my communications are transcribed and transmitted using voice-to-text software – please ignore any unintended typographical or interpretation errors. See Notes and Disclosures at the footer of my work emails.

      Reply

  7. Nilesh,
    My working holiday visa will expire in a couple of weeks and my boss has decided to sponsor me on the 494 visa.
    I have completed all the necessary processes and the final step is to lodge for the sponsorship. However, as its low season and my employer is unable to give me my full time hours, we are unable to lodge. I’m required to work the full 38 hours in order to lodge.
    We have decided that in April (when the season picks back up and I can work 38+ hours a week without a problem), we will make the final lodgement for the sponsorship.
    In the meantime, I have been advised to apply for the 600 visitor visa, so I can remain in the country without working.
    My question is: When applying for the 600 vistor visa, is the best option for me to explain my sponsorship situation or not to mention it at all? Personally, I wanted to explain it but my employer thinks it could lead to the vistor visa being rejected?
    Thanks for any help you can shed on this tricky situation.
    Best regards,
    Hannah

    Reply

    1. When applying for a 600 Visitor Visa, it is important to demonstrate that you are a genuine visitor whose primary purpose is to visit Australia temporarily. This involves showing:
      • Evidence of ties to your home country, such as employment, property, or family commitments, to demonstrate your intention to return.
      • A clear travel plan or itinerary, including reasons for your visit and planned departure date.
      • Financial capacity to support yourself during your stay without working.

      Your application should focus solely on meeting these requirements at the time of lodgement. If, after being granted the visa, you later decide to apply for another visa while in Australia, this change of intention is permissible under Australian law. It is essential, however, that your initial application reflects your genuine intent to visit temporarily.

      Regards Nilesh Nandan Immigration Lawyer & Special Counsel MyVisa® Immigration Law Advisory https://myvisa.com.au/

      *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.

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *