Bridging Visas | Wintr Consulting

Bridging Visas

Maintaining lawful status while awaiting a visa decision, appeal, or making arrangements to depart.

A bridging visa is a temporary visa granted to visa applicants in Australia to preserve their lawful status while they await a decision on a substantive visa application, appeal a decision, or make arrangements to depart Australia.

Bridging visas are not substantive visas themselves; they simply “bridge” the gap between visa statuses. Each Bridging visa serves a purpose while a visa applicant awaits the final decision of their substantive visa, and each may be complex depending on the circumstances.

Key Purposes

To maintain lawful status while an onshore substantive visa application is being processed.
To await merits review at the ART or judicial review of a visa decision.
To enable lawful stay while making arrangements to depart Australia when necessary.
To permit travel overseas and return (in specified subclass) while awaiting a visa decision.

Types of Bridging Visas

Bridging Visa A (BVA) – Subclass 010

A Bridging Visa A allows you to stay lawfully in Australia after your current substantive visa expires, while your new onshore visa application is processed.

Usually granted automatically when you lodge a valid onshore visa application.
Does not allow you to travel outside Australia. If you leave, the BVA will generally cease.
Work and study rights depend on the conditions attached to your previous visa.

Bridging Visa B (BVB) – Subclass 020

A Bridging Visa B allows you to travel overseas and return to Australia while your new visa is being processed.

You must hold a Bridging visa A or a previous Bridging visa B.
You must apply for it before leaving Australia.
Provides a limited travel period, specified on the visa grant.
After you return, it operates in the same way as a Bridging Visa A.

Bridging Visa C (BVC) – Subclass 030

A Bridging Visa C is for applicants who lodge a substantive visa application after their previous visa has expired.

You must be in Australia and have become unlawful before applying.
Does not allow travel outside Australia; if you leave, the visa will cease.
Work rights are restricted, but you can request permission to work in cases of financial hardship.

Bridging Visa D (BVD) – Subclass 040/041

A Bridging Visa D gives you a short lawful period (usually up to 5 working days) if your visa has expired and you are:

Making arrangements to depart Australia, or
Preparing to lodge a new substantive visa application.
It does not allow travel outside Australia and generally has no work rights.

Bridging Visa E (BVE) – Subclass 050/051

A Bridging Visa E is for people who are unlawful, or whose visa has been cancelled, to remain lawfully in Australia while they:

Make arrangements to depart,
Finalise immigration matters, or
Wait for an immigration decision.
It does not allow travel outside Australia and generally has no work rights.

Important Considerations

Bridging visas are often misunderstood because they cannot be applied for independently in most situations.

Many people assume they can apply for a Bridging Visa A to stay lawful after their current visa expires, but that is not the case.

A Bridging Visa A is only granted automatically when a valid onshore visa application is lodged while the applicant still holds a substantive visa.

If the person’s visa has already expired, other bridging visas—such as a Bridging Visa C—may apply, depending on their circumstances and any pending applications.

These distinctions are outlined by the Department of Home Affairs but can be difficult to navigate without professional guidance.

Misunderstanding how and when a bridging visa is issued can easily lead to an unlawful stay or loss of work rights.

It is common for visa holders in Australia to hold more than one bridging visa over time as they move through new applications.

Each bridging visa operates differently in terms of when it comes into effect, when it ceases, and what conditions apply.

Managing these overlaps requires careful attention to timing, lawful status, and eligibility for work or travel.

Understanding which bridging visa is active and what it allows is essential to maintaining lawful presence in Australia while awaiting the outcome of a substantive visa application.