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Bridging Visas

Bridging visas are temporary visas granted to allow you to remain in Australia while you are waiting for an application to be processed, or to provide lawful status while you make arrangements to depart the country.

Bridging visas A, B, and C are generally associated to a substantive visa application or judicial review process, and cannot be granted as independent visas.

You cannot apply for, or be granted bridging visas if you are offshore at the time of application, or if your substantive visa you are applying is an offshore category visa.

Bridging Visa A (BVA – WA010)

If you are in Australia on a substantive visa, and apply for another substantive visa application, you will be granted a BVA to ensure you have a lawful status during the processing of your application should it take longer than the validity of the visa you are currently holding.

BVAs do not have a travel facility, therefore may cease if you leave Australia without the appropriate visa and you may not be able to re-enter on your return. If you need to travel, check whether you need to apply for a Bridging visa B.

Whether you will be entitled to work on a BVA would depend on conditions on the substantive visa you held, and the type of substantive visa you have applied for. If your BVA does not allow you to work, you may be able to apply for another BVA without restrictions if you can demonstrate you are in financial hardship.

Bridging visa B (BVB – WB020)

If you are in Australia as the holder of a BVA or BVB and waiting for the finalisation of your visa application or judicial review matter, and have a compelling need to travel during the processing you can apply for a BVB for this purpose. The length of the travel facility is considered on case by case basis, but is generally granted for a period of three months.

Bridging visa C (BVC – WC030)

If you are in Australia and at the time you apply for your substantive visa, you do not hold a substantive visa, that is, you are either

  • the holder of a BVA, BVB or BVC, or
  • unlawful and have not held a BVE since your last substantive ceased

then you will eligible for the grant of a BVC to enable to remain lawful whilst awaiting the processing of this application.

BVCs generally do not allow you to work unless you are an applicant for certain Skills visa subclasses, however you may be eligible to apply for permission to work if you can demonstrate you are in financial hardship.

The BVC does not allow you to travel and re-enter during the processing of your visa application. If you leave, it will cease and you will need to apply for another suitable visa to return to Australia.

Bridging visa E (BVE – WE050)

You may be eligible to for a BVE to remain in Australia lawfully, if you are

  • currently unlawful
  • the holder of a BVE 050 or
  • the holder of a BVD 041

And you meet one of the following:

  • making arrangements to leave Australia
  • seeking ministerial intervention
  • applying for, or have applied a substantive visa
  • seeking merits review visa cancellation or citizenship decision
  • seeking judicial review of substantive visa or citizenship decision

The conditions on the BVE is dependent on purpose of the grant.

As with the BVC, the BVE does not have a travel facility to enable you to return should you depart Australia. If you leave, it will cease and you will need to apply for another appropriate visa to return to Australia.