Bridging Visas A, B & C
Australia Bridging Visa 2026 | BVA, BVB & BVC Work, Travel and Stay Rights
Bridging visas are temporary visas that can keep a person lawfully in Australia while an immigration matter is being resolved. Bridging Visa A (BVA, subclass 010), Bridging Visa B (BVB, subclass 020) and Bridging Visa C (BVC, subclass 030) are used in different circumstances.
Comprehensive Statutory Overview
Bridging visas are temporary visas that can keep a person lawfully in Australia while an immigration matter is being resolved. Bridging Visa A (BVA, subclass 010), Bridging Visa B (BVB, subclass 020) and Bridging Visa C (BVC, subclass 030) are used in different circumstances. A BVA is commonly associated with an onshore substantive visa application and normally activates when the person's current substantive visa ceases. A BVB is the bridging visa designed to allow the holder to leave and re-enter Australia during a defined travel period while a substantive visa application or judicial review matter is pending. A BVC can apply in situations where the applicant does not hold a substantive visa. Work rights are determined by the conditions attached to the particular bridging visa and are not automatically identical for every holder.
Visa Types
Bridging Visa A
Subclass: 010
Purpose: Allows an eligible person to remain lawfully in Australia while an associated substantive visa application is processed.
Typical Situation: A person in Australia holds a substantive visa and lodges an eligible onshore substantive visa application. If the new visa has not been decided when the current visa expires, the BVA can come into effect.
TRAvel: A BVA does not provide a right to leave and re-enter Australia. If the holder leaves Australia while the BVA is in effect, the BVA ceases.
Activation: The BVA generally comes into effect when the current substantive visa ceases. The holder must continue to comply with the current substantive visa conditions until the BVA becomes active.
Work: Work rights depend on the BVA conditions stated in the grant notification and can differ between applicants.
Bridging Visa B
Subclass: 020
Purpose: Provides a travel facility allowing an eligible bridging-visa holder to leave Australia and return during the approved travel period.
TRAvel: The BVB is granted with a defined travel period. The Department considers reasons for travel and the likely timing of the underlying visa decision when determining the travel facility.
Important: The holder must return to Australia before the BVB travel facility expires. A BVB does not provide an unlimited right to travel.
Bridging Visa C
Subclass: 030
Purpose: Used in specified circumstances where a person has made an eligible substantive visa application but does not hold a substantive visa.
TRAvel: A BVC does not provide the BVB travel facility. Leaving Australia while a BVC is in effect can cause it to cease.
Work: Work conditions vary. A BVC holder with work restrictions can seek another bridging visa with permission to work where the legal requirements are met.
When They Are Granted
Bva:
- Associated with eligible substantive visa applications made in Australia.
- Commonly granted where a person held a substantive visa when lodging the new application.
- Can also be requested in certain circumstances through the Department's bridging visa process.
Bvb:
- Generally used when an existing bridging visa holder has substantial reasons to travel overseas.
- The underlying substantive visa application or judicial review matter must remain relevant to the bridging arrangement.
Bvc:
- Can apply where an eligible substantive visa application has been made but the applicant does not hold a substantive visa.
- The exact eligibility depends on the visa application and immigration circumstances.
Important:A SkillSelect Expression of Interest alone does not create a bridging visa. Home Affairs states that a bridging visa is considered after a valid visa application is lodged, not merely after submitting an EOI.
Work Rights
General Rule:There is no universal work entitlement for all BVA, BVB or BVC holders. The conditions on the individual visa grant determine whether work is permitted and whether restrictions apply.
Bva
Restricted: If the BVA carries work restrictions, the holder must comply with those restrictions unless a later bridging visa with different conditions is granted.
Change Conditions: A BVA holder can apply for another BVA with different or nil conditions where the requirements are met. Home Affairs generally requires evidence of a compelling need to work, commonly including financial hardship, unless another specified basis applies.
Bvb
Work: A BVB's work conditions are those stated on the BVB grant. If a BVB holder needs work rights or other changed conditions, the Department's bridging-visa procedure determines what application is appropriate.
Switch For Work: Home Affairs Form 1005 states that a BVB holder seeking work rights may need to apply for a BVA with nil conditions and then apply for another BVB where travel is still required.
Bvc
Restricted Work: A BVC can have work restrictions. Eligible BVC holders may apply for another bridging visa with permission to work where they demonstrate the required compelling need, generally financial hardship.
PRotection Visa Cases: Specific rules can apply to protection-visa applicants and judicial-review situations.
Visa Conditions:Always check VEVO and the current bridging-visa grant notice rather than assuming that the conditions of the previous substantive visa automatically continue unchanged.
TRAvel Rules
Bva
Status: No return travel facility.
Effect Of Departure: If a person departs Australia while a BVA is in effect, the BVA ceases.
Bvb
Status: Travel permitted during the defined travel period.
Approval: The holder must obtain the BVB before departing Australia.
TRAvel Period: Home Affairs determines the travel facility by considering the reasons for travel and the likely timing of the substantive visa decision.
After TRAvel Period: A person who remains overseas after the BVB travel facility expires cannot rely on that expired travel facility to return to Australia.
Bvc
Status: No general travel facility.
Departure: Leaving Australia while a BVC is in effect can cause the bridging visa to cease.
Important:BVB travel is permission to travel and return during a specified period; it is not the same thing as permanent travel rights or an unrestricted resident return facility.
Documents And Forms
Bva And Bvc
Form: Form 1005
Use: Application for a Bridging visa A, B or C, including certain applications for a new bridging visa, changed conditions or replacement after cessation.
Bvb
Form: Form 1006
Use: Application for Bridging Visa B when permission to travel is required.
Supporting Documents:
- Passport or identity documentation.
- Evidence of the associated substantive visa application.
- Current bridging-visa details where applicable.
- Evidence supporting requested work conditions or financial hardship where relevant.
- Evidence explaining the reasons for travel for a BVB application.
- Evidence of judicial review or review proceedings where the application is connected with review of a migration decision.
Online Lodgement:Home Affairs provides an online bridging visa application process for BVA, BVB and BVC applications. If the substantive application was lodged through ImmiAccount and no review has been lodged, the Department directs applicants to use ImmiAccount where eligible.
Location:For a BVA, BVB or BVC application through the relevant webform, the applicant generally must be in Australia and not in immigration clearance.
Cessation And Status
General Rule:A bridging visa does not last indefinitely merely because an underlying application is taking a long time. Its commencement, cessation and replacement depend on the relevant visa application and the specific bridging-visa conditions.
Substantive Decision:What happens after the substantive visa is decided depends on the outcome, the type of bridging visa and any other visa held. There is no single universal cessation period that applies after every substantive-visa decision.
Withdrawal Example:Home Affairs specifically states that where an associated substantive visa application is withdrawn, bridging visas granted on or after 19 November 2016 can cease 35 calendar days after withdrawal, while older bridging visas granted before that date can cease after 28 calendar days.
Departure:A BVA or BVC that is in effect can cease when the holder departs Australia. The BVB is the relevant bridging visa for maintaining a travel facility during the pending matter.
Cancellation:A bridging visa can also cease or be affected by cancellation, grant of another visa, finalisation of the associated immigration matter or other circumstances specified by migration law.
Family And Review Situations
Family:Eligible family members can sometimes be included in substantive visa applications, but a separate bridging visa and eligibility analysis may apply. The bridging visa does not automatically give every family member the same rights unless they hold the appropriate visa.
Review:BVA, BVB and BVC can be relevant while a person seeks merits or judicial review of certain migration decisions. The correct bridging visa depends on the review pathway and circumstances.
Judicial Review:Form 1005 specifically provides for certain bridging visa applications while awaiting judicial review and requires evidence such as the relevant court registration or review documentation.
PRotection Visa:Protection visa applicants can be subject to specialized bridging-visa and work-right rules, particularly where a BVC carries work restrictions.
Important Rules
EOI:Submitting a SkillSelect EOI does not itself grant a bridging visa.
Bva TRAvel:Do not leave Australia while relying on a BVA unless you have obtained an appropriate BVB before departure.
Bvb TRAvel:The BVB travel facility has a defined start/end period. It is not permission to remain overseas indefinitely.
Work Rights:Never assume that a BVA, BVB or BVC automatically allows unrestricted work. Check VEVO and the current grant conditions.
Financial Hardship:Financial hardship can be relevant when requesting work rights on a bridging visa, but approval is not automatic.
Visitor Visa:A Visitor visa does not provide work rights merely because an applicant is waiting for a substantive work or permanent visa.
Address:Maintaining a current residential address with the Department is important during prolonged bridging periods because Home Affairs uses the information to communicate about applications.
New Application:If a bridging visa has ceased, a person may in some circumstances be eligible to apply for a new bridging visa, but eligibility depends on the reason for cessation and the underlying immigration matter.
Key Eligibility Requirements & Statutory Criteria
BVA
Bridging Visa A - Subclass 010
Commonly granted in association with an eligible onshore substantive visa application. It normally becomes active when the current substantive visa ceases.
BVB
Bridging Visa B - Subclass 020
Used where a BVA or another eligible bridging arrangement holder needs to travel overseas and return to Australia while the underlying immigration matter is still being processed.
BVC
Bridging Visa C - Subclass 030
Can be granted in specified circumstances to people who have made an eligible substantive visa application but do not hold a substantive visa.
Work Conditions
Check the Grant Notice
Work rights depend on the actual conditions attached to the bridging visa. Where work is restricted, an eligible holder can apply for another bridging visa with different or nil conditions.
Step-by-Step Application Roadmap
1
Lodge the Substantive Visa
Where required, lodge a valid substantive visa application while in Australia. An associated bridging visa may then be granted depending on the visa and circumstances.
2
Check the Bridging Visa
Open the grant notification and check the subclass, activation date, work conditions and any other conditions. Verify the current status through VEVO.
3
Wait for Activation
If the bridging visa is not yet in effect, continue complying with the current substantive visa. A BVA commonly activates when the existing substantive visa expires.
4
Apply for Changed Work Conditions if Needed
If the bridging visa restricts work, use the Department's BVA/BVC process to request a bridging visa with different conditions and provide the required evidence.
5
Apply for BVB Before Travel
If you need to leave and return while the substantive application is pending, apply for a BVB and obtain the grant before departure.
6
Return During the Travel Facility
Return to Australia before the BVB travel period ends. Do not assume that a later arrival will automatically preserve the bridging arrangement.
7
Maintain Contact Details
Keep Home Affairs updated about address and other material changes and respond to requests for information through the appropriate channel.
Frequently Asked Questions (Home Affairs FAQs)
No. A BVA does not provide a right to leave and return to Australia. If you depart Australia while a BVA is in effect, the BVA ceases. If you need to travel and return while your substantive visa application is pending, you generally need a Bridging Visa B before leaving.
BVA (subclass 010) commonly keeps eligible applicants lawful while an onshore substantive visa is processed. BVB (subclass 020) provides a defined travel facility allowing the holder to leave and return to Australia. BVC (subclass 030) is used in specified situations where a person has made an eligible substantive visa application but does not hold a substantive visa.
It depends on the conditions on your particular BVA. Some BVAs permit work and others restrict it. If your BVA does not permit the work you need to undertake, you can apply for another bridging visa with different conditions where you meet the relevant requirements, including the applicable financial-hardship test.
If you are eligible, apply using the Department's BVB process and Form 1006 or the applicable online process. You need to provide the reasons for travel and should obtain the BVB before leaving Australia. The Department grants a defined travel period rather than an unlimited travel facility.
A BVC does not provide the BVB travel facility. Leaving Australia while a BVC is in effect can cause the bridging visa to cease, so a person who needs to leave and return should first determine whether they are eligible for a BVB or another visa that provides a lawful return pathway.
There is no single rule for every bridging visa and every event. For example, Home Affairs states that a bridging visa granted on or after 19 November 2016 in association with a withdrawn substantive visa application generally ceases 35 calendar days after withdrawal, while certain older bridging visas granted before that date cease after 28 days.
Official Statutory References
Cross-referenced directly with official Australian government sources:
STATUTORY BENCHMARK METRICS
BVA
Subclass 010 - Bridging Visa A
BVB
Subclass 020 - Bridging Visa B with a defined travel facility
BVC
Subclass 030 - Bridging Visa C
Primary Purpose
Maintain lawful status while an immigration matter is being resolved
Travel
BVB is the bridging visa that provides a facility to leave and re-enter Australia
Work
Depends on the conditions attached to the individual bridging visa
Main BVA/BVC Form
Form 1005 where a separate bridging application is required
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