Many people find Bridging Visas (BVs) confusing, especially when trying to understand their conditions, travel restrictions, and work rights. Here’s a simple guide to help you understand what they are and how they work.
What is a Bridging Visa?
A Bridging Visa (BV) is a temporary visa that allows you to stay lawfully in Australia while:
– Your substantive visa application is being processed.
– You prepare to leave Australia.
– You seek a review of a visa refusal decision.
Bridging Visas Are Not Substantive Visas
A Bridging Visa is not a substantive visa. This means that:
– If you hold a BV, you are still considered not to hold a substantive visa.
– Some laws and policies that refer to ‘substantive visas’ do not apply to Bridging Visas.
– If you only hold a BV, you may be subject to visa restrictions that apply to non-substantive visa holders.
Types of Bridging Visas and Their Conditions
Here are the most common Bridging Visas and what they allow:
Bridging Visa A (BVA) – Subclass 010
When is it granted?
– When you apply for a new visa while holding a valid substantive visa.
– When applying for a review of a refused visa while holding a substantive visa.
What does it allow?
– Stay in Australia while awaiting a visa decision.
Can you leave and return? ❌ No, if you leave, your BVA will cease.
Bridging Visa B (BVB) – Subclass 020
When is it granted?
– When a BVA holder applies for travel permission.
What does it allow?
– Travel outside and re-enter Australia within a specified period.
Can you leave and return? ✅ Yes, but only within the granted travel period.
Bridging Visa C (BVC) – Subclass 030
When is it granted?
– When you apply for a visa while unlawful (without a substantive visa) or a holder of a BV.
What does it allow?
– Stay in Australia while awaiting a visa decision.
Can you leave and return? ❌ No travel rights.
Bridging Visa D (BVD) – Subclass 041
When is it granted?
– When you are unlawful and need time to make a valid visa application.
What does it allow?
– A short-term stay (up to 5 days) to arrange a valid visa application or departure.
Bridging Visa E (BVE) – Subclass 050/051
When is it granted?
– To unlawful non-citizens who are:
– Making arrangements to leave Australia.
– Seeking to lodge a valid visa application.
– Awaiting an immigration decision (e.g., Ministerial Intervention).
What does it allow?
– Stay in Australia lawfully while awaiting further immigration decisions.
Can you leave and return? ❌ No, it ceases upon departure.
Work Rights – Who Can Work on a Bridging Visa?
Work rights on a Bridging Visa depend on the type of visa and circumstances.
Generally, if you hold a visa with limited or no work rights, you may be eligible to apply for work permission under compelling need to work provisions. This typically applies to visa holders facing financial hardship due to unforeseen circumstances beyond their control. To support your application, you must provide strong evidence, such as bank statements, employment offers, medical expenses, or cost-of-living documentation, demonstrating your inability to support yourself without work. The Department of Home Affairs assesses applications on a case-by-case basis, considering your situation and the supporting evidence. Seeking professional migration advice can help strengthen your application and improve your chances of success.
BVA & Work Rights:
– Default: Whether your BVA will have work rights or not depends on a number of factors such as the previous substantive visa you held and the visa subclass you are planning to apply for.
– Can apply for work rights if the current BVA does not have work rights? ✅ Yes, if you have compelling needs to work.
BVB & Work Rights:
– Same as BVA—if you had work rights on BVA, they carry over to BVB.
BVC & Work Rights:
– Default: No work rights.
– Can apply for work rights? ✅ Yes, but only if the previous visa did not have work restrictions and financial hardship is shown.
– If previous visa had a work restriction (e.g., Student Visa 8105 condition)? ❌ No work rights.
BVE & Work Rights:
– Work rights depend on the case.
– Some BVE holders have no work rights at all.
– Others may apply for work rights based on financial hardship.
– Asylum seekers on BVE may have limited or no work rights.
Practical examples
Client story 1: Partner Visa Applicant on BVA
🔹 Background: Maria, a UK citizen, applies for a Partner Visa (Subclass 820) while on a Visitor Visa (Subclass 600). She is granted a BVA.
🔹 Work Rights? ✅ Yes, as Partner visa applicants on BVA automatically have work rights.
🔹 Outcome: Maria can legally work while awaiting the Partner visa outcome.
Client Story 2: Student Visa Expired – BVC Work Restriction
🔹 Background: Raj, an Indian national, was on a Student Visa (Subclass 500) but let it expire. He later applied for a Graduate Visa (Subclass 485) and was granted a BVC.
🔹 Work Rights? ❌ No work rights because his Student Visa had Condition 8105 (restricted work).
🔹 Outcome: Raj must wait for the 485 Visa grant before he can work full-time.
Client Story 3: Overstayer Granted BVE with No Work Rights
🔹 Background: Hassan overstayed his Visitor Visa by 3 months and later applied for a Protection Visa. He was granted a BVE to remain while his case is processed.
🔹 Work Rights? ❌ No work rights unless he applies separately and proves financial hardship.
🔹 Outcome: Hassan cannot work unless the hardship application is successful.
Client story 4: Business Sponsorship Visa Refusal – Merits Review & BVA
🔹 Background: Ling was on a TSS 482 Visa, and her employer-sponsored PR (186 Visa) was refused. She applied for an AAT review and was granted a BVA.
🔹 Work Rights? ✅ Yes, because BVA maintains the same work conditions as the previous 482 Visa.
🔹 Outcome: Ling can continue working for her sponsor while waiting for the review decision.
Key Takeaways
✔️ Not all Bridging Visas allow work – applicants often need to prove financial hardship to gain work rights.
✔️ BVA is the most common BV, automatically granted when a visa is lodged while on a valid visa.
✔️ BVB is the only bridging visa that allows travel.
✔️ BVC and BVE have the strictest conditions and require separate applications for work rights.
✔️ Case studies help to clarify scenarios where bridging visas are granted and their limitations.
Need help with a specific case or guidance on applying for work rights?
Book a consultation with our expert migration agents! Our migration agents are here to provide tailored advice and support to ensure you navigate your migration journey with confidence.
