Bridging Visas
Immigration Law
You may need a temporary bridging visa (BV) to stay in Australia legally while you are waiting for your visa application to be processed. Bridging visas are important when there are changes in your circumstances and visa status.
There are 5 types of bridging visas that can be granted depending on your circumstances and functions. Your eligible family members who were applying for a substantive visa together with you – the primary visa applicant – will be granted the same bridging visa as yours.
BV A for visa applicants who have a current visa, or have lodged an application for a visa or applied to the AAT or the Federal Circuit Courts for review of a visa decision. BVA allows you to stay in Australia after your current substantive visa has expired and while the visa application or visa appeal is being processed. However, if you leave Australia then this visa does not allow return travel to Australia. This visa may come with restrictions on work rights.
BV B is the only bridging visa that allows you to travel in and out of Australia while waiting for the outcome of an application or visa appeal. If you have applied for a substantive visa or to the AAT or the Federal Circuit Courts for a review of a visa decision, and want to leave and return to Australia while your other visa application/ review application is being determined, you need to apply for BV B. You can work if the BVB permits.
BV C visa for applicants who do not hold a BV E or a substantive visa, have applied for a substantive visa or to the AAT or the Federal Circuit Courts for a review of a visa decision. This visa does not come with work rights unless the substantive visa being applied for is one of the SkillSelect visas. You can stay in Australia on a BVC until your other visa application or visa appeal is determined. However, BV C does not allow return travel to Australia after you leave the country.
BV D visa is appropriate where your visa has expired or is due to expired within the next 3 working days, and you want to stay for short period while making arrangement to leave, or if you intend to make a substantive visa application within the next 5 working days. BV D does not come with work right, nor does it allow return travel to Australia after you leave the country.
BV E is relevant to applicants who want to rectify their immigration status, generally if they are currently in Australia as an unlawful non-citizen. This visa allows you to stay in Australia while making arrangements to leave, finalising immigration matters, waiting for an immigration decision, or while your Protection visa application is being processed. This visa does not have work rights and does not allow return travel to Australia after you leave the country.
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