Bridging visas let you stay in Australia lawfully while your next visa application, review or departure is resolved.
Read our general information on each of the five bridging visa types below. Contact us directly for specific advice.
Bridging visas
A bridging visa is a temporary visa that keeps you lawfully in Australia when your current visa ends before your next one is decided. It is not a visa you hold for its own sake. It exists to cover the gap between one substantive visa and the next, or to keep your status lawful while a review is underway or while you make arrangements to leave.
Most people do not apply for a bridging visa separately. In the majority of cases, a bridging visa is granted automatically when you lodge an eligible application onshore, and it sits dormant until your current visa expires.
There are several types of bridging visas. The five most commonly encountered are Bridging Visas A through E. Which one you receive depends on what you held when you applied, where you were when you applied, and what stage your matter has reached.
Who a bridging visa is for
- people who have applied onshore for a new substantive visa and are waiting for a decision
- people whose substantive visa has expired while an application is being processed
- people seeking merits review of a refusal or cancellation
- people making arrangements to depart Australia
- people who need to travel overseas while an application is being processed
The five most common types at a glance
- Bridging visa A (BVA) – the default, where you applied onshore while holding a substantive visa
- Bridging visa B (BVB) – the travel version, which lets you leave Australia and return
- Bridging visa C (BVC) – where you applied onshore without holding a substantive visa
- Bridging visa D (BVD) – short-term cover where a valid application cannot yet be made
- Bridging visa E (BVE) – for resolving immigration status, review, or departure
What a bridging visa does not do
- it is not a substantive visa, and time held on one generally does not count towards residence requirements
- it does not by itself give you the right to leave and re-enter Australia
- certain bridging visas do not automatically carry the work rights of your previous visa in every case
- it does not necessarily cease as soon as your substantive visa application is decided; depending on the outcome and your circumstances, it may continue for a prescribed period after the decision
Bridging visas
Bridging visa A (BVA)
The BVA is the most common bridging visa. You are generally granted one when you apply onshore for a substantive visa while you still hold a substantive visa. It does not come into effect immediately. It sits inactive until your current visa expires, and only then does it become the visa you hold.
The practical consequence people most often miss is travel. A BVA carries no travel facility. If you leave Australia on a BVA, it ceases, and you have no automatic right to return while your application is processed. If you need to travel, you need a BVB before you go.
When a BVA is granted
- you applied for a substantive visa while in Australia
- you held a substantive visa at the time you applied
- the application was validly made
Bridging visa A work rights
- the conditions that carry over are dependent on the visa you held when you applied, and the subsequent visa you have applied for
- a BVA generally carries the same work conditions as the visa you held when you applied, rather than granting new ones
- if the visa you held allowed unrestricted work, your BVA will generally allow the same
- if the visa you held restricted or prohibited work, that restriction generally carries across• the only reliable way to know your own conditions is to check your visa grant letter and/or conduct a VEVO check
- where a work restriction applies, it may be possible to apply for a further BVA with work rights by demonstrating a “compelling need to work”, commonly shown through financial hardship
Travel on a BVA
- a BVA does not permit you to re-enter Australia after departing
- if you depart, your BVA ceases and your pending application may be affected
- apply for a BVB before booking travel, not after
- contact us before making any travel arrangements while an application is pending
When a BVA comes into effect
- on the day your substantive visa ends
- it remains in effect while your application is being processed
- it ends a set period after your application is decided, or after any review right expires
Bridging visas
Bridging visa B (BVB)
The BVB is the bridging visa that lets you leave Australia and come back while your substantive visa application is still being processed. If you hold a BVA and you need to travel, this is what you apply for.
Unlike the BVA, a BVB is not automatic. You have to apply for it, give the Department a reason for travelling, and specify when you intend to go and return. It is granted with a defined travel period, and you must be back inside Australia before that period ends.
When you need a BVB
- you hold a BVA or an existing BVB
- you have a substantive visa application still being processed
- you need to leave Australia and return before that application is decided
What a BVB gives you
- a specified travel period during which you may depart and re-enter
- the same work and study conditions that applied to your BVA
- lawful status on your return, provided you re-enter within the travel period
Applying for a BVB
- lodge the application before you depart, never after
- allow processing time before your intended departure date
- give the Department your reason for travel and your intended dates
- if you depart before the BVB is granted, your BVA ceases and you may be unable to return
Timing
- apply well ahead of your intended travel, not days before
- if your travel period is going to expire while you are overseas, seek advice before the expiry, not after
- returning after the travel period ends can leave you without a valid visa
Bridging visas
Bridging visas C, D and E
These three cover narrower circumstances. A BVC applies where you lodged an application onshore without holding a substantive visa. A BVD is short-term cover where a valid application cannot yet be made. A BVE covers people resolving their immigration status, pursuing review, or arranging to depart.
All three are more constrained than a BVA or BVB, and all three are circumstances where advice matters more, not less. If you hold one of these, or think you may need to, speak to us before your situation changes.
Bridging visa C (BVC)
- granted where you applied for a substantive visa onshore but did not hold a substantive visa at the time
- carries no travel facility, and there is no BVB equivalent for BVC holders
- work rights are not automatic and generally require an application demonstrating a “compelling need to work”, commonly based on financial hardship
- commonly arises where a previous visa expired before a new application was lodged
Bridging visa D (BVD)
- short-term cover, typically granted where you cannot make a valid application immediately, or cannot be granted a BVE straight away
- valid for a short period only
- generally intended to give you time to obtain advice, lodge a valid application, or make departure arrangements
- carries no travel facility
Bridging visa E (BVE)
- for people who are unlawful, whose visa has been cancelled, or who are seeking merits review of a refusal or cancellation
- also used by people making arrangements to depart Australia
- carries no travel facility, and may be subject to reporting and other conditions, depending on the circumstances
- if you are seeking review of a refusal or cancellation, see our Visa Refusals and Review page
Conditions
Bridging visa conditions
The conditions on a bridging visa are the part people most often get wrong, because they are not uniform. Two people holding the same type of bridging visa can have different work rights, because the conditions usually come from the visa held before, not from the bridging visa itself.
The only reliable way to know your own conditions is to check your grant letter and VEVO. Do not assume your conditions match someone else’s, and do not assume they carried across unchanged from your previous visa.
Where your conditions come from
- inherited from the substantive visa you held when you applied, in most BVA cases
- imposed at grant, in most BVC, BVD and BVE cases
- set out in your grant letter, which you should keep
- visible at any time through Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO)
Work conditions
- some bridging visas carry a condition prohibiting work entirely
- some carry a condition limiting the hours you may work
- some carry no work restriction at all
- working in breach of a condition is a serious matter and can affect your current application and future visas
Study
- study is generally permitted on a bridging visa, but fee arrangements differ from those available to permanent residents
- check with the education provider directly before enrolling, as requirements and fees vary by state and territory
Health cover
- bridging visas do not generally carry the mandatory health insurance condition that applies to some temporary work visas
- Medicare eligibility on a bridging visa depends on your circumstances, including whether you have applied for a permanent visa
- because eligibility varies, we recommend confirming your own position rather than relying on general guidance
- see our health insurance page for the requirements that apply to other visa types
Checking your own conditions
- use VEVO to confirm the conditions currently attached to your visa
- keep your grant letter, which records the conditions imposed at grant
- tell the Department if your circumstances change
Pricing
Bridging visas
Government application charges for bridging visas vary by type, and some carry no charge at all. Because these figures change, we link to the Department’s published fees rather than reproduce them here.
In most cases a bridging visa is part of a larger matter rather than a standalone engagement, so the professional fee sits within the fee for the substantive application we are acting on.
Pricing
- Government fees: refer to the Department’s fees and charges page
- Professional fees: refer to our pricing guide, or use our cost calculator
- Where a bridging visa forms part of a substantive application we are handling, it is generally covered by that engagement
186 / ENS Visas
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a bridging visa?
A bridging visa is a temporary visa that lets you stay in Australia lawfully while your next visa application is decided, while you seek review of a decision, or while you arrange to leave. It bridges the gap between one substantive visa and the next. It’s not a substantive visa in its own right, and in most cases you do not apply for it separately. It is usually granted automatically when you lodge an eligible onshore application, and it only comes into effect once your current visa expires.
What are the types of bridging visa (A, B, C, D, E)?
There are several types of bridging visas. The five most commonly encountered are Bridging visas A through E (there are also Bridging F and Bridging R visas for more specialised circumstances).
Bridging visa A is the default for many applicants, granted when you apply onshore while holding a substantive visa. Bridging visa B is the version that permits travel out of and back into Australia. Bridging visa C applies where you lodged onshore without holding a substantive visa. Bridging visa D is short-term cover where a valid application cannot yet be made. Bridging visa E covers people resolving their status, seeking review, or arranging to depart. Which one you hold is determined by your circumstances at the time you applied, not by choice. The differences between them matter most for work rights and travel facility.
Can I work on a bridging visa?
It depends on the conditions attached to your particular visa, not on the type alone. A bridging visa A generally carries the same work conditions as the visa you held when you applied, so if that visa allowed unrestricted work, your bridging visa A work rights will generally be the same, including full-time work. Bridging visas C, D and E do not carry automatic work rights in the same way, and work permission generally has to be applied for. Check your grant letter or VEVO to confirm your own position, and speak to us before starting work if you are unsure. Working in breach of a visa condition can affect both your current application and your future visa options.
Can I travel overseas on a bridging visa?
Only on a bridging visa B. No other bridging visa carries a travel facility. If you hold a bridging visa A and you leave Australia, your visa ceases and you have no automatic right to return while your application is being processed. Apply for a bridging visa B before you book travel, and allow processing time before your intended departure. If you hold a bridging visa C, D or E, travel is more constrained again, and you should seek advice before making any arrangements.
How long does a bridging visa take to process?
A bridging visa A is generally granted at the same time as, or shortly after, the substantive visa application it relates to, so there is usually no separate wait. A bridging visa B is applied for separately and does take processing time, which is why we recommend applying well before you intend to travel. Processing times change, so we do not publish figures that date. The Department publishes current processing times on its website.
Do I need health insurance on a bridging visa?
Bridging visas do not generally carry the mandatory health insurance condition that applies to some temporary work visas, but your access to Medicare depends on your own circumstances, including whether you have applied for a permanent visa. Because the position varies from person to person, we recommend confirming your own eligibility rather than relying on general guidance. If you are not eligible for Medicare, private cover is worth arranging.
Disclaimer
The information contained here is offered for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or give rise to an attorney-client relationship between you and our firm. The information: (i) must be regarded as a practical guide for general information and not a process guide for determining the specific immigration requirements of the countries covered, (ii) should not be a substitute for a more indepth analysis of applicable facts and circumstances conducted by competent professionals, and (iii) does not represent an opinion from Hannan Tew or any of its agents with regard to the laws of any of the jurisdictions concerned. The information does not guarantee the outcome or approval of any particular immigration application.
What can we do for you?
A bridging visa is rarely the real issue. It is usually a symptom of something larger – an application in progress, a refusal under review, or a visa that expired sooner than expected. Our team advises on the substantive matter behind the bridging visa, including whether your current status is secure, whether you can travel, and what your options are if something has gone wrong. If you are unsure what you hold or what you are permitted to do, contact us or book a consultation.
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