Bridging visas are among the most misunderstood aspects of Australian immigration, yet they’re critically important for maintaining lawful status while your substantive visa application processes. If you’ve applied for a new Australian visa while already in the country, you’ll likely hold a bridging visa. Understanding its conditions, rights, and limitations can prevent serious immigration consequences.
What Is a Bridging Visa?
A bridging visa is a temporary visa allowing you to remain lawfully in Australia while awaiting a decision on your substantive visa application (like a partner visa, skilled visa, or student visa). It “bridges” the gap between your current visa expiring and your new visa being granted.
Bridging visas are only available to people already in Australia. They don’t grant entry if you’re overseas. They’re automatically granted in most cases when you lodge a valid substantive visa application, though some types require separate applications.
Why Bridging Visas Matter
Without a bridging visa, you become an unlawful non-citizen the moment your current visa expires. Being unlawful carries severe consequences including detention, deportation, and a three-year exclusion period preventing your return to Australia. Even brief periods of unlawfulness can permanently damage future visa prospects.
Bridging visas prevent this by maintaining your lawful status while the Department of Home Affairs processes your application, which can take months or even years depending on visa type and complexity.
The Five Types of Bridging Visas
Bridging Visa A (Subclass 010): The Most Common
A Bridging Visa A is automatically granted when you lodge a valid substantive visa application while still holding a valid visa. This is the bridging visa most applicants receive.
Key features: It comes into effect when your current substantive visa expires. It remains valid until your new visa application is decided (plus 35 days after receiving the decision). No international travel rights. If you leave Australia on a BVA, it immediately ceases and you can’t return. Work rights typically match your previous visa, though you can apply for a new BVA with work rights if experiencing financial hardship.
Common scenarios: Partner visa applicants whose temporary visas expire during processing, student visa holders applying for skilled visas, temporary visa holders transitioning to permanent residency.
Bridging Visa B (Subclass 020): For Necessary Travel
A Bridging Visa B allows temporary travel outside Australia while your substantive visa processes. You must hold a BVA before applying for a BVB.
Key features: It permits one or multiple trips outside Australia during a specified travel period (usually up to 3 months, sometimes up to 12 months). You must return to Australia before the travel period expires. Work rights match your BVA. It costs $160 to apply. It must be granted before you leave Australia. Leaving on a BVA causes it to cease.
When you need a BVB: Family emergencies overseas, work commitments requiring international travel, attending important events abroad. You’ll need to demonstrate a genuine reason for travel and intent to return.
Application tip: Apply at least two weeks before planned travel to allow processing time. Don’t book international flights until your BVB is granted.
Bridging Visa C (Subclass 030): When You Weren’t Lawful
A Bridging Visa C is granted when you lodge a substantive visa application while unlawful (your previous visa has expired) or while holding another bridging visa like a BVC.
Key features: Granted automatically when unlawful non-citizens lodge valid substantive visa applications. No travel rights. Leaving Australia means you can’t return. No automatic work rights. You must apply separately and prove financial hardship. Remains valid until your substantive visa application is decided.
Common scenarios: People who overstayed their visa by mistake before applying for a new one, individuals whose previous visa application was refused while on a bridging visa.
Work rights application: If your BVC doesn’t allow work and you’re experiencing financial hardship, apply through ImmiAccount with evidence like bank statements showing insufficient funds, employment offers, and explanation of circumstances. Processing times vary, and approval isn’t guaranteed.
Bridging Visa D (Subclass 040/041): The Emergency Visa
A Bridging Visa D is a short-term visa valid for only 5 working days, granted to people whose substantive visa will expire within 3 working days or who have no valid visa.
Key features: Five-day validity period. No work rights under any circumstances. No travel rights. Provides brief lawful status to lodge a substantive visa application, apply for another bridging visa, or arrange departure.
When granted: Emergency situations when your visa is expiring imminently and you haven’t yet lodged another application, or when you need time to regularize your status.
Critical: Use this time immediately to lodge a proper visa application or arrange departure. Don’t waste the 5-day window.
Bridging Visa E (Subclass 050/051): For Complex Situations
A Bridging Visa E is granted in various circumstances including after immigration detention release, merits review proceedings, or to unlawful non-citizens making arrangements to depart.
Key features: Usually no work rights (can apply with financial hardship evidence, but approval is uncertain). No travel rights. Validity period varies by circumstances. Often comes with reporting conditions.
Common scenarios: People released from immigration detention pending departure arrangements, individuals awaiting merits review at the Administrative Review Tribunal, unlawful non-citizens who can’t depart immediately due to circumstances beyond their control.
Bridging Visa E work rights: While rare, work rights can be granted if you demonstrate severe financial hardship and your circumstances warrant it. The Department considers each case individually.
Work Rights on Bridging Visas
Work rights vary significantly between bridging visa types and even between different grants of the same type.
Automatic work rights: BVA usually carries the same work rights as your previous substantive visa. If your previous visa allowed unrestricted work, your BVA typically does too.
No automatic work rights: BVC, BVD, and BVE don’t automatically include work rights. You must apply separately.
Applying for work rights: Lodge through ImmiAccount using Form 1005 or apply online. You must demonstrate financial hardship through bank statements showing insufficient funds for living expenses, evidence of employment offers, proof of debts or financial obligations, and explanation of why you can’t support yourself without working.
Processing times: Variable, from days to weeks. Approval isn’t guaranteed. The Department has discretion.
Penalty for illegal work: Working without permission can result in bridging visa cancellation, making you unlawful and subject to detention and removal.
Travel Rights and Restrictions
Most bridging visas don’t permit international travel. The critical rules:
BVA and BVC have no travel rights. Leaving Australia causes these visas to cease immediately. You can’t re-enter Australia on a BVA or BVC.
BVB is specifically designed for travel. It allows departure and return within the specified travel period. You must return before the period expires. Failing to do so can leave you stranded overseas needing to apply for a new visa.
BVD and BVE have no travel rights under any circumstances.
Important exception: If you hold a substantive visa alongside your bridging visa (which occurs before your substantive visa expires), you can potentially travel on your substantive visa. However, your bridging visa will cease when you leave, requiring reinstatement upon return. This process must happen before your substantive visa expires, or you become unlawful. Always seek professional advice before traveling in these circumstances.
Common Bridging Visa Conditions
Bridging visas come with conditions you must follow. Breaching conditions can result in cancellation:
8101 (No work): You’re prohibited from working. Violating this is serious.
8104 (Limited work): You can work maximum specified hours (often 40 hours per fortnight for students).
8501 (Maintain health insurance): You must hold adequate health insurance. This is standard for most bridging visas.
8558 (Reporting): You must report to the Department at specified intervals (common on BVE).
Check your visa grant notice for specific conditions. These vary by case and visa type.
What Happens When Your Substantive Visa Is Decided
If your substantive visa is granted, your bridging visa ends 35 days after you’re notified of the substantive visa grant (for BVA) or immediately upon grant (for most others). You transition to your new substantive visa with its conditions and rights.
If your substantive visa is refused, you have 35 days to decide your next steps. During this time, your bridging visa usually remains valid. Options include lodging a new substantive visa application (if eligible), seeking merits review at the Administrative Review Tribunal, or arranging departure from Australia.
If you take no action within 35 days, your bridging visa expires and you become unlawful.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Traveling without a BVB: This is the most common mistake. Many people think their BVA allows travel. It doesn’t. Leaving Australia on a BVA means you can’t return, potentially jeopardizing your substantive visa application.
Working without permission: Always verify your work rights before starting employment. Employers should check your VEVO status.
Not applying for work rights when needed: If you don’t have work rights and are experiencing financial hardship, apply rather than working illegally.
Letting your bridging visa expire: Monitor expiry dates and take action before your bridging visa ends.
Not updating contact details: The Department must be able to contact you about your application. Update your details through ImmiAccount immediately if they change.
Bridging Visa Duration
Most bridging visas have no fixed end date. They remain valid until your substantive visa application is decided. This can be months or years depending on visa type. Partner visas take 12 to 30 months processing. Skilled visas take 6 to 18 months depending on subclass. Protection visas have variable, often extended periods.
Some bridging visas have specified periods (like BVB travel periods or 5-day BVD validity) that must be carefully monitored.
How to Check Your Bridging Visa Status
Use VEVO (Visa Entitlement Verification Online) to check your current visa type and conditions, whether you can work, visa expiry date (if applicable), and any travel restrictions.
Access VEVO through the Department of Home Affairs website or the my VISA app. You’ll need your passport number, date of birth, and visa grant number or evidence number.
Getting Professional Help
Bridging visas involve complex rules, and mistakes have serious consequences. Consider consulting a registered migration agent or immigration lawyer if you’re unsure which bridging visa you hold or need, you need to travel but don’t have a BVB, your substantive visa was refused and you’re on a bridging visa, you need work rights but aren’t sure how to apply, or your bridging visa is about to expire and you’re uncertain about next steps. Book your consultation for Bridging Visa help.
Final Thoughts
Bridging visas serve a crucial function in Australia’s immigration system. They keep you lawful while complex applications process. Understanding your bridging visa type, conditions, work rights, and travel restrictions prevents immigration problems that can be difficult or impossible to fix.
The key principles: never assume you can travel without a BVB, always verify work rights before starting employment, monitor your visa conditions and expiry dates, and seek professional advice when uncertain. Your lawful status in Australia depends on getting these details right.
