Bridging Visa
A Bridging Visa is a temporary visa that allows you to remain lawfully in Australia while your current visa has expired and your new visa application is being processed.
Bridging Visa Overview
In Australia’s visa system, besides substantive visas, there is a separate group called Bridging Visas. A Bridging Visa is a temporary visa that allows a person to remain lawfully in Australia after their current visa expires and while they are waiting for a decision on their next substantive visa.
There are five main types of Bridging Visas: A, B, C, D and E. Each type serves a different purpose. Depending on your situation, a Bridging Visa may be granted automatically, or you may need to apply for one to avoid becoming unlawful while staying in Australia.
This article explains the Bridging Visa system in detail and how each type works.
Eligibility for Australian Bridging Visas
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The applicant must be physically in Australia at the time they lodge their next substantive visa application.
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The previous substantive visa has expired, and a decision on the new substantive visa has not yet been made.
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The visa has expired, been refused, or cancelled, and the applicant is required to depart Australia.
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Applicants who have lodged an onshore review or appeal in Australia after a visa refusal (ART / AAT / FCFCA).
Duration of a Bridging Visa
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A Bridging Visa only comes into effect after the previous visa has expired.
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The validity of a Bridging Visa depends on the visa type and the case officer’s assessment of the applicant’s circumstances. It may have a specific expiry date, or it may remain valid until a decision is made on the new visa application or review.
Bridging Visa A
Subclass 010
Visa Activation Conditions and Restrictions
The applicant must have lodged the next substantive visa application before the previous substantive visa expired.
A Bridging Visa A (BVA) usually comes into effect automatically after the previous substantive visa expires, although in some situations an application is required.
A BVA generally does not have a fixed expiry date and remains in effect until a decision is made on the new substantive visa application (whether granted or refused).
Visa conditions are usually the same as those attached to the previous substantive visa.
Work rights are generally the same as the previous visa. If additional work rights are required, a separate application may be made. Special scenarios include:
Onshore partner visa (820/801) or parent visa (804/884/864) lodged before the previous visa expires: the BVA is granted with no conditions.
Subclass 600 Visitor visa to Subclass 500 Student visa: the BVA has no work rights.
Subclass 600 Visitor visa to Subclass 485 Graduate visa or Subclass 189 Skilled Independent visa: the BVA allows full work rights.
Subclass 500 Student visa to Subclass 485 Graduate visa: the BVA requires the holder to maintain valid health insurance.
Subclass 485 Graduate visa to Subclass 500 Student visa: the BVA is granted with no visa conditions.
A BVA does not allow travel outside Australia. If you need to travel, you must apply for a Bridging Visa B (BVB). If you depart Australia while holding a BVA, it will cease immediately and you will not be able to re-enter Australia.
If the new substantive visa is granted, it will automatically replace the BVA.
If the new visa is refused, the BVA remains valid for 35 days from the date of refusal. During this period, you may depart Australia or lodge a review application with the AAT, in which case the BVA will remain in effect until the review outcome is finalised.
If the AAT review is unsuccessful, the BVA remains valid for a further 35 days from the date of the decision. The applicant may lodge an appeal with the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCFCA) within 28 days. If the court appeal is unsuccessful, the applicant must depart Australia before the BVA expires.
If two substantive visa applications are lodged before the previous visa expires, the BVA linked to the first application lodged will take effect.
If the visa application is withdrawn while waiting for a decision (while holding a BVA), the BVA will remain valid for 35 days from the date of withdrawal to allow time to make further arrangements.
If the current substantive visa is cancelled, either voluntarily or by the Department, a BVA will not be granted and the applicant becomes unlawful. For example, if a student visa holder applies for a Subclass 190 visa but later cancels the student visa or has it cancelled due to a breach, they will not receive a BVA and may only apply for a Bridging Visa E (BVE).
Application Fee
N/A
Bridging Visa B
Subclass 020
Visa Activation Conditions and Restrictions
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The applicant must hold a Bridging Visa A (BVA) or Bridging Visa B (BVB) and intend to travel outside Australia.
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An application for a Bridging Visa B (BVB) must be lodged before departing Australia.
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A BVB is not granted automatically and only comes into effect once it has been formally approved by the Department.
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After departing Australia, the applicant must return before the BVB expires. If the visa expires while the applicant is overseas, a new visa must be applied for offshore in order to re-enter Australia.
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A BVB is usually granted as a single-entry visa. In limited circumstances, a multiple-entry BVB may be requested.
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The reason for travel provided in the BVB application must be genuine and accurate. Providing false or misleading information may trigger Public Interest Criterion (PIC) 4020 and affect all future visa applications.
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The permitted travel period on a BVB is determined by the case officer based on the stated travel reason and the timing of the application.
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Processing time: usually 1 to 3 business days.
Application Fee
AUD 190 (If the main applicant and secondary applicants lodge the application at the same time, only the main applicant is charged. No fee is charged for secondary applicants.)
Fees are subject to the latest charges published by the Australian Department of Home Affairs (DoHA).
Bridging Visa C
Subclass 030
Visa Activation Conditions and Restrictions
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At the time the substantive visa application is lodged, the applicant does not hold any substantive visa (for example, the previous visa has expired or the applicant only holds a BVA or BVB), is not in immigration detention, and does not hold a Bridging Visa E (BVE).
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The commencement date of a Bridging Visa C (BVC) depends on the applicant’s visa status at the time of application. The exact start date will be specified in the grant notice.
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A BVC usually does not have a fixed expiry date and remains in effect until a decision is made on the next substantive visa application (whether granted or refused).
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Travel outside Australia is not permitted while holding a BVC, and a BVB cannot be applied for.
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If the next substantive visa is a skilled or business investment visa (such as Subclass 189, 190, 491 or 188), the BVC is usually granted with work rights. For other visa types, work rights are not granted by default, but a work rights waiver may be requested.
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If the new visa is refused, the BVC remains valid for 35 days from the date of refusal. During this period, the applicant may depart Australia or lodge a review application with the AAT, in which case the BVC will remain in effect until the AAT decision is finalised.
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If the AAT review is unsuccessful, the BVC remains valid for a further 35 days from the date of the decision. An appeal to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCC) may be lodged during this period. If the court appeal is unsuccessful, the applicant must depart Australia before the BVC expires.
Application Fee
N/A
Bridging D
Subclass 040/041
Visa Activation Conditions and Restrictions
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申请人的上一个实质性签证已经过期，过桥签证D（BVD）可以让持有者在非常短的时期内在澳洲合法居留，在3个工作日内必须申请另一个实质性签证；或
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若申请人不打算再申请新的实质性签证，则必须安排离开澳洲，或申请过桥签证E。
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无工作权利。
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出境后不能再次入境澳洲。
Application Fee
N/A
Bridging Visa E
Subclass 050/051
Visa Activation Conditions and Restrictions
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If the applicant’s previous substantive visa has expired, a Bridging Visa D (BVD) allows the holder to remain lawfully in Australia for a very short period, during which another substantive visa must be applied for within 3 business days; or
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If the applicant does not intend to apply for a new substantive visa, they must make arrangements to depart Australia or apply for a Bridging Visa E (BVE).
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No work rights are granted.
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Once the holder departs Australia, re-entry is not permitted.
Application Fee
N/A
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do some people receive a Bridging Visa automatically, while others do not?
Whether a Bridging Visa is granted automatically depends on the type of visa you apply for, where the application is lodged (onshore or offshore), and whether you held a valid substantive visa at the time of application.
For example, applicants who lodge a permanent visa offshore will not receive a Bridging Visa. In contrast, applicants who lodge an onshore substantive visa (such as a Partner visa 820 or a Graduate visa 485) are usually granted a Bridging Visa A automatically.
Is a Bridging Visa a “real visa” or just a status protection mechanism?
A Bridging Visa is a real visa. However, its legal purpose is not long-term stay, but to allow a person to remain lawfully in Australia while waiting for a visa outcome.
In essence, it acts as a legal buffer under the Migration Act, allowing continued lawful stay rather than granting settlement rights.
What happens if I leave Australia immediately after receiving a BVA?
Once you leave Australia, a Bridging Visa A (BVA) ceases immediately. You will not be able to re-enter Australia unless you have been granted a Bridging Visa B (BVB) beforehand.
If you depart without a BVB, you lose your lawful status even if your visa application is still under assessment.
Does “no expiry date” on a Bridging Visa mean I can stay indefinitely?
No. A Bridging Visa is only valid while your substantive visa application is under consideration.
Once a decision is made—whether approval or refusal—the Bridging Visa ends automatically.
Why do some BVA holders have work rights while others do not?
Work rights are determined based on the type of substantive visa applied for and the applicant’s circumstances.
Some visa categories (such as Partner visas, certain Graduate visas, or employer-sponsored pathways) usually include work rights, while others may require a separate work rights request.
If my visa is refused, can I still stay on a Bridging Visa?
If you have review rights, your BVA or BVC usually remains in effect after you lodge an application with the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART).
After the ART decision is issued, the Bridging Visa normally remains valid for a further 35 days.
If I change employers or occupations while on a BVA, will it affect my visa application?
It depends on the visa type. Employer-sponsored and skilled visas (such as 482, 186, 189) are directly affected by changes in employment.
Partner visas and most student-related visas are generally not impacted by employment changes.
Is Bridging Visa E (BVE) the “last option”?
Yes. A BVE is usually granted only to people who no longer hold lawful status, allowing them to remain in Australia temporarily to depart, appeal, or apply for another visa.
BVEs often come with strict conditions such as no work rights or reporting requirements. Breaching these conditions may result in unlawful status.
Can the Department question me if I apply for BVE multiple times?
Yes. Repeated BVE applications may be viewed as misuse of the system.
Under migration law, repeated use of a BVE to delay departure may be considered a non-genuine attempt to remain in Australia and may affect future visa applications.
What happens if I lose my appeal and still do not leave Australia?
Your Bridging Visa will cease after the 35-day period. You will become unlawful and may face detention, removal, or future visa bans of 3 or 5 years.
Note: This FAQ is general information only and not legal advice. Settings (e.g., eligibility tests, exemptions, and evidentiary rules) can change; always check the latest legislative instruments before applying.
