A Bridging Visa allows you to remain lawfully in Australia after your substantive visa expires while a new visa application is being processed, as Nanak Migration Group, a registered migration agent (MARN 2619467), explains. There are several bridging visa types — Bridging Visa A (BVA), B (BVB) and E (BVE) are the most common — each with different work rights, travel conditions and duration. Your bridging visa generally comes into effect automatically when your substantive visa ceases, provided a valid application is on hand.
Types of Bridging Visa
Australia has five types of bridging visa — BVA through BVE — each applying in different circumstances. The table below is a general guide. Conditions on any individual bridging visa are specified in the grant notice.
General guide only. Individual conditions vary — always check the visa grant notice and the VEVO system for the specific conditions that apply to your bridging visa.
When a Bridging Visa Comes Into Effect — and When It Ceases
Understanding the timing of bridging visa activation and cessation is critical to maintaining lawful status in Australia.
A Bridging Visa A is generally granted before it is needed — while the applicant still holds a valid substantive visa. The BVA only comes into effect when the substantive visa ceases (either by expiry, cancellation, or the grant of the pending application). A person who holds a valid substantive visa and a pending BVA holds both, but the BVA is dormant until the substantive visa ceases.
If a further substantive visa application is lodged before the current substantive visa expires, a BVA is generally granted and the person's lawful status is continuous. The BVA activates the moment the substantive visa ceases, with no gap in lawful status. This is sometimes called the same-day or automatic bridging arrangement.
A bridging visa generally ceases when: the pending application is decided (the BV is replaced by the new substantive visa, or ceases at refusal); the BV holder departs Australia on a BVA (most common); the BV conditions are breached; or the BV holder is granted another visa. Check the specific conditions in your visa grant notice.
A person who allows their bridging visa to cease without another visa in place becomes an unlawful non-citizen. Unlawful non-citizens are liable to detention and removal. If there is any risk that a bridging visa may lapse, seek advice from a registered migration agent immediately. A Bridging Visa E may be the only option for an unlawful non-citizen to regain lawful status.
Applying for a Bridging Visa B to Travel
If you hold a BVA and need to leave Australia temporarily, a Bridging Visa B must be applied for before you depart. Do not depart on a BVA.
A Bridging Visa B (BVB) is specifically designed for BVA holders who need to travel outside Australia and return. It replaces the BVA for travel purposes and is granted for a specified travel period during which the holder must return to Australia. If the holder returns within the travel period, the BVB ceases and the BVA is reinstated.
A BVB must be applied for before the BVA holder departs Australia. It cannot generally be applied for from overseas. Departing on a BVA without first obtaining a BVB causes the BVA to cease, leaving the person without a visa to return on.
The BVB specifies a travel period — a date by which the holder must return to Australia. Returning after the travel period expires means the person re-enters without a valid visa, which may create serious immigration problems. The travel period on a BVB is typically limited and may be shorter than the duration of the underlying pending application.
Before any international travel, a person on a bridging visa should check their visa conditions and travel entitlements on the VEVO system (Visa Entitlement Verification Online). If there is any uncertainty about travel rights, seek advice from a registered migration agent before purchasing flights or departing.
Work Rights on a Bridging Visa
Whether you can work in Australia on a bridging visa depends on the specific conditions granted — not on the type of bridging visa alone.
The work rights on a Bridging Visa A are generally the same as those on the most recently held substantive visa. If the substantive visa allowed unlimited work rights, the BVA generally also allows unlimited work rights. If the substantive visa had no work rights (for example, a Visitor Visa 600), the BVA generally also has no work rights.
A person whose BVA does not include work rights may be able to apply for work rights to be added to the BVA if they can demonstrate financial hardship or compelling need. The criteria for granting work permission are assessed by the Department of Home Affairs and are not automatically available. An application must be made.
Bridging visa conditions — including work rights — are specified in the individual visa grant notice. General guidance about work rights should always be verified against your specific grant notice, which is the authoritative record of your conditions. The VEVO system can also be used to check current visa conditions.
Working in Australia without work rights — whether on a bridging visa or any other visa — is a serious breach of visa conditions. It may result in visa cancellation, being barred from future applications, and other consequences. If you are unsure whether your bridging visa includes work rights, seek advice before commencing employment.
Bridging Visa E and Unlawful Status
The Bridging Visa E is generally available to people who are in Australia unlawfully. Understanding this pathway — and its limitations — is important for people in this situation.
A Bridging Visa E is typically granted to a person who is in Australia without any valid visa — an unlawful non-citizen. An unlawful non-citizen cannot apply for most other visa subclasses while in Australia (because of the Section 48 bar, which applies after a visa refusal or cancellation). The BVE provides temporary lawful status while a matter — such as an ART review application or a departure arrangement — is resolved.
A Bridging Visa E often comes with strict compliance conditions — including regular reporting to the Department of Home Affairs, restrictions on employment, and restrictions on travel within Australia. Breaching a BVE condition may result in the BVE being cancelled and the person again becoming an unlawful non-citizen. Conditions must be carefully observed.
A BVE provides lawful status — it does not resolve the underlying visa issue. The person still needs to either depart Australia voluntarily, lodge a valid visa application (if one is available to them), or pursue other avenues (such as an ART review or ministerial intervention). Seek advice from a registered migration agent about which options remain available.
In some circumstances, voluntarily departing Australia on a BVE — rather than waiting indefinitely — may preserve more options for future applications than remaining in Australia without a clear pathway. A registered migration agent can advise on the options and implications for future visa applications before a decision to depart is made.
Frequently Asked Questions
This information is general in nature and does not constitute immigration assistance or legal advice for any individual situation. Requirements including occupation lists, fees and processing criteria change without notice.
Nanak Migration Group Pty Ltd makes no representation that information on this site is complete, current or applicable to your circumstances. Nothing here guarantees, implies or represents any visa outcome, approval likelihood or processing time.
Obtain advice tailored to your situation from a registered migration agent or Australian legal practitioner. Navpreet Aulakh, MARN 2619467, is registered with the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority.
Bridging visa types, conditions, and eligibility are set by the Migration Act 1958 and Migration Regulations 1994, which are subject to change. Conditions on any individual bridging visa are specified in the visa grant notice — this page provides general guidance only. Obtain advice from a registered migration agent for your specific circumstances.
Information current as at July 2026. Verify all requirements with the Department of Home Affairs (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au) before lodging any application.