Bridging Visa A, B, C and E: What You Need to Know

What is a bridging visa?

A bridging visa is a temporary Australian visa that allows you to remain in Australia lawfully while you are waiting for a decision on your substantive visa application. It bridges the gap between your current visa and the outcome of your new application — hence the name.

Bridging visas are not substantive visas. They do not replace your substantive visa application — they simply keep you legal in Australia while that application is being processed. Once your substantive visa is granted or refused, your bridging visa ceases.

There are several types of bridging visa in Australia, labelled A through F. By far the most commonly encountered are BVA, BVB, BVC, and BVE. Each has different conditions, different work rights, and different travel implications.

Bridging Visa A (BVA)

The BVA is the most common bridging visa. It is granted automatically — without any action on your part — at the moment you lodge a valid application for a substantive visa while you are still in Australia on a valid visa. You do not need to apply for it separately.

The BVA does not activate immediately. It sits in a "held" state until your current substantive visa expires. Once your current visa expires, the BVA automatically comes into effect, keeping you lawful. This means you do not need to worry about becoming unlawful while awaiting a decision, as long as you applied before your current visa expired.

Work rights on a BVA

The work conditions on a BVA mirror those of the substantive visa you held when you lodged your application. In practice:

• If your previous visa had unrestricted work rights (for example, a 482 or 485 visa), your BVA will also generally allow you to work.
• If your previous visa had no work rights (for example, a Subclass 600 visitor visa), your BVA will also have no work rights by default.

If your BVA has no work rights but you need to work due to financial hardship, you can apply to the Department to have work rights added to your BVA. You will need to demonstrate the hardship. This is not guaranteed and is assessed case by case.

Study rights on a BVA

Similarly, study rights on a BVA depend on the previous visa. Students on a BVA after their student visa expires generally retain study rights, but you should verify your specific conditions.

Bridging Visa B (BVB)

A BVA does not allow you to travel outside Australia. If you leave Australia while on a BVA, the BVA ceases. This means you would have no visa to return on, and you would not be able to re-enter Australia to continue waiting for your substantive visa outcome.

This is where the Bridging Visa B (BVB) comes in. A BVB allows you to travel overseas and return to Australia while your substantive visa application is still being decided. Unlike the BVA, the BVB does not cease when you leave — it has a set validity period for travel and return.

Key details of the BVB:

• You must apply for the BVB before departing Australia. You cannot apply from overseas.
• The BVB is granted for a specified period — typically three months or twelve months — depending on your circumstances and the reason for travel.
• You must demonstrate a compelling reason for travel (such as a family emergency, funeral, or critical business matter). Routine holidays are less likely to be approved, though the Department does consider each case.
• There is an application fee payable at the time of lodgement.
• The BVB expires on a specific date. You must return to Australia before it expires, otherwise you will not be able to re-enter on it.

Bridging Visa C (BVC)

A Bridging Visa C (BVC) is granted in situations where a BVA is not available — most commonly when an applicant lodges a new substantive visa application but the previous visa had already expired, or when the BVA stream is not applicable to the type of application being lodged.

Unlike the BVA, the BVC generally does not include work rights by default. This is an important distinction, particularly for people who transitioned between visa types or whose previous visa had limited conditions.

Similar to the BVA, it is possible to apply to have work rights added to a BVC by demonstrating financial hardship or compelling circumstances, but approval is not automatic.

The BVC also does not allow travel outside Australia. Like the BVA, leaving on a BVC without a BVB ceases the visa. You cannot obtain a BVB while on a BVC under all circumstances — check with a migration agent.

Bridging Visa E (BVE)

The Bridging Visa E (BVE) is fundamentally different from the other bridging visas. It is not about waiting for a visa to be processed — it is about giving an unlawful non-citizen the ability to legally remain in Australia for a short period while they make arrangements to depart.

A BVE is typically granted to people who:

• Have become unlawful (their visa has expired and they did not lodge a new application in time).
• Have had their visa cancelled and are in the process of leaving Australia.
• Are awaiting removal or departure after an unsuccessful application.
• Have requested merits review of a visa refusal and need to remain lawfully during that process.

BVEs generally have very limited rights. Work is typically not permitted, study is usually not permitted, and travel is not permitted (as the purpose is to facilitate departure, not re-entry). The BVE grants just enough legal status to avoid the person being formally classified as "unlawful" while their departure or review is arranged.

How to check your bridging visa conditions

The single most reliable way to check your current visa conditions — including your work rights — is VEVO (Visa Entitlement Verification Online), available at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au.

In VEVO, you can see a full list of the conditions attached to your current visa. The key conditions to look for regarding work are:

• Condition 8101 — "Must not work." If this condition is on your visa, you have no work rights. Full stop.
• Condition 8105 — "Must not work more than 48 hours per fortnight." Commonly seen on student visas and sometimes on bridging visas.
• If neither 8101 nor 8105 appears in your conditions, and the visa type allows work, you generally have full work rights — but always verify.

Employers can also use VEVO (with your permission) to verify your work entitlements before hiring you. Employers who knowingly hire someone without work rights face significant penalties under the Migration Act, so this is a standard pre-employment check for many businesses.

Common questions about bridging visas

Can I travel on a BVA?

No. If you depart Australia while on a BVA, the BVA ceases the moment you leave. You must obtain a Bridging Visa B (BVB) before departing if you intend to travel and return. Apply for the BVB while you are still in Australia.

What happens if I leave on a BVA by mistake?

Your BVA ceases and you will not be able to re-enter Australia on it. Your substantive visa application may also be affected depending on the visa type. This is a serious situation that requires urgent advice from a Registered Migration Agent.

When does my bridging visa end?

A bridging visa ends when: your substantive visa application is granted, your substantive visa application is refused (though some review rights can extend it briefly), you depart Australia (for BVA/BVC/BVE without a BVB), or the specified expiry date is reached (for BVB).

Can I apply for a new visa while on a bridging visa?

Yes, in many cases. If you are lawfully in Australia on a bridging visa, you can lodge a new substantive visa application, which will trigger a new BVA. However, the types of visas you can apply for from within Australia on a bridging visa depend on the specific circumstances — some visa subclasses require onshore applications from the holder of a substantive visa, not a bridging visa. Always seek professional advice before lodging.

Does a bridging visa count towards citizenship residency?

Time spent on a bridging visa generally counts as lawful residence for citizenship purposes, though only time spent as a permanent resident counts towards the one-year permanent residency requirement. The four-year total residency period can include time on both temporary and bridging visas. Check the current citizenship residence requirements carefully as they are subject to change.