Bridging visas in Australia

A bridging visa is the safety net that keeps you lawful in Australia between one substantive visa and the next. Most people who apply for a new visa onshore hold one at some point — and yet bridging visas are among the most misunderstood parts of the system, because their work and travel rights, and when they even come into effect, depend entirely on which type you hold and the conditions attached. Getting that wrong — working when you shouldn't, or leaving without a BVB — can undo an otherwise strong application.

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The bridging visas at a glance

BVA (010): lodged a new substantive visa onshore while holding a substantive visa — keeps you lawful; generally no travel
BVB (020): lets you travel out of and back into Australia while your application is processing
BVC (030): like a BVA but for those who did not hold a substantive visa when applying — generally no travel
BVE (050/051): for people who are unlawful or resolving status — seeking review, or arranging departure

Conditions, work rights and eligibility differ for each and are set on your grant notice — always confirm your specific situation.

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Bridging visa A (BVA)

The most common bridging visa. You're generally granted a BVA when you lodge a valid application for a new substantive visa while you're in Australia and hold a substantive visa. Crucially, the BVA doesn't take effect until your current visa ends — until then you keep your existing visa and its conditions. When it activates, its work rights and conditions may differ from what you had, so check the grant notice. A BVA does not let you travel; to leave and return, you apply for a BVB first.

Bridging visa B (BVB)

The travel version. If you hold (or are eligible for) a BVA or BVC and need to leave Australia and return while your substantive application is still being decided, a BVB gives you a specified travel window. Leaving Australia on a BVA without first obtaining a BVB is a classic, avoidable mistake — you can find yourself stuck offshore with your onshore application at risk.

Bridging visa C (BVC)

Similar in purpose to a BVA, but for people who did not hold a substantive visa at the time they applied for a new one. It keeps you lawful while your application is decided. A BVC generally carries no travel rights, and its work rights may be limited or tied to demonstrating a compelling financial need.

Bridging visa E (BVE)

The status-resolution visa. A BVE is for people who are unlawful, or who need short-term lawful status to make arrangements — for example to depart Australia, to lodge an application, or to seek merits review of a decision. It carries limited rights and specific conditions, and is often the point at which timely, careful advice matters most, because the alternatives (remaining unlawful, detention, or removal) are serious.

Read your grant notice. Your bridging visa's work rights, travel rights, conditions and end event are stated on the grant notification — not assumed from a previous visa. If anything is unclear, confirm it before you act on it.

Bridging visas and refusals

If your substantive application is refused, your bridging visa usually continues for a short grace period, and what happens next often turns on whether you seek review at the Administrative Review Tribunal within the deadline. Applying for review on time generally keeps you lawful while it proceeds; missing the deadline can render you unlawful. These timelines are short — see what to do after a refusal and ART review, and act immediately.

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Frequently asked questions

What is a bridging visa?

A bridging visa is a temporary visa that keeps you lawfully in Australia while your immigration status is being resolved — for example while a substantive visa application is being decided, while you seek merits review of a refusal, or while you make arrangements to depart. It 'bridges' the gap between one substantive visa and the next. There are several types, each for a different situation, with different travel and work rights.

What are the main types of bridging visa?

The most common are: Bridging visa A (BVA), granted when you lodge a valid onshore application for a new substantive visa while holding a substantive visa; Bridging visa B (BVB), which lets you leave and re-enter Australia while your application is processed; Bridging visa C (BVC), similar to a BVA but for people who did not hold a substantive visa when they applied; and Bridging visa E (BVE), for people who are unlawful or who are resolving their status, including seeking review or arranging departure.

When does a bridging visa A come into effect?

A BVA is usually granted when you lodge an eligible onshore application, but it does not come into effect while your current substantive visa is still valid. It activates only when that substantive visa ends. Until then you continue to hold — and be bound by the conditions of — your existing visa. This is why understanding the timing matters: your work rights and conditions can change on the day the bridging visa takes effect.

Can I work or travel on a bridging visa?

It depends on the type and its conditions. A BVA or BVC may carry work rights that mirror or differ from your previous visa, and work rights are sometimes tied to demonstrating financial need. A BVA generally does not allow travel — if you need to leave and return, you usually apply for a BVB before departing. A BVE has limited rights and is granted for specific short-term purposes. Always check the exact conditions on your grant notice before you work or travel.

What happens to my bridging visa if my application is refused?

If your substantive visa application is refused, your bridging visa typically remains in effect for a limited 'grace' period, and its future often depends on whether you seek merits review at the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) within the deadline. Seeking review on time generally keeps you lawful on a bridging visa while the review proceeds. Missing the deadline can leave you unlawful. Refusal timelines are short and unforgiving — get advice immediately.

General information only, not migration advice. Bridging visa types, conditions, work and travel rights, and the effect of a refusal or review are set by the Department of Home Affairs and depend on your individual circumstances; confirm the conditions on your own grant notice and your specific situation. Missing a review deadline can leave you unlawful. No visa outcome is guaranteed (s 15, Migration (Migration Agents Code of Conduct) Regulations 2021). Migration advice is provided by Keshab Chapagain (MARN 1576536) after a paid consultation under a written service agreement.