Bridging visa
It seems like you’re describing a Bridging Visa. Bridging visas are indeed temporary visas that allow individuals to remain lawfully in Australia while they await the processing of their substantive visa application or while their immigration status is being resolved. They come into effect when the current substantive visa expires or ceases and provide lawful status until a decision is made on the new visa application.
Yes, that description aligns with the features of a Bridging Visa. Bridging visas allow individuals to stay lawfully in Australia while awaiting the outcome of their substantive visa application or while legal proceedings are ongoing. They may also grant permission to work, depending on the specific conditions attached to the visa. It’s important for applicants to meet all eligibility requirements and to be in Australia at the time of application and, if eligible, at the time of grant.
About this visa
This visa is temporary in nature. Most bridging visas are automatically applied for when you submit an application for a substantive visa. We will inform you if this occurs. You can check if you already have a Bridging Visa A (BVA) using VEVO.
In certain cases, a separate application for a BVA may be necessary, such as when:
- Your application for a substantive visa does not include an application for a BVA.
- You were granted a BVA or Bridging Visa B (BVB) previously, but it has expired, and you meet the criteria for another BVA.
- You wish to obtain a further BVA without work restrictions.
- You have applied for judicial review.
It’s important to note that you cannot use a bridging visa while waiting for a decision on a citizenship application.
In effect
A Bridging Visa A (BVA) becomes effective under the following circumstances:
- When it is granted, especially if your substantive visa has expired since applying for the BVA or if the BVA offers more advantages compared to your current bridging visa.
- When your current substantive visa expires.
- When another bridging visa, which is more advantageous than your current one, expires.
Visa holders are required to adhere to the conditions specified on their visa. Upon the grant of a BVA, you will receive notification regarding the applicable conditions.
If you are holding a substantive visa at the time your BVA is granted, you must continue to abide by the conditions of that substantive visa. Upon the cessation of your substantive visa, the conditions of your BVA will come into effect.
It’s important to note that the BVA does not facilitate return travel to Australia.
Working in Australia
Whether you’re permitted to work in Australia depends on the specific visa conditions attached to your Bridging Visa A (BVA). Your grant letter will outline these conditions, and you can also check for work restrictions in VEVO.
If your BVA doesn’t allow you to work or imposes restrictions on employment, you have the option to apply for another BVA that permits work. Generally, demonstrating financial hardship is necessary to be considered for a work-permitting BVA.
We’ll evaluate your situation regarding your need to work. If you don’t meet the work requirements but remain eligible for a BVA, we’ll grant you a new BVA with the same work prevention or restriction condition as your previous one.
However, you won’t be granted a new BVA allowing work if your current BVA prohibits or limits employment in Australia and:
- Your current BVA was granted due to a judicial review application concerning your substantive visa.
- You’ve applied for a protection visa.
Remaining lawful during judicial review
If the merits review tribunal supports our decision to deny your substantive visa application and you opt for judicial review, you must apply for a bridging visa to uphold your legal status throughout the judicial review process. If you’ve initiated judicial review proceedings, you’re only able to apply for a bridging visa via webform.
With this visa you can
You can remain lawfully in Australia until your substantive visa application reaches a final decision, or if granted in connection with judicial proceedings, until those proceedings conclude.
A Bridging Visa A (BVA) will cease immediately under the following circumstances:
- You depart Australia while your BVA is active.
- You are granted the substantive visa for which you applied.
- You are granted another Bridging Visa (like a BVB) concerning the same substantive visa application associated with this BVA.
- We cancel either your BVA or the substantive visa you held when the BVA was granted.
How long you can stay
In all other scenarios, the cessation of your Bridging Visa A (BVA) will be determined by one of the following outcomes:
- Refusal of your substantive visa application.
- Resolution of your merits or judicial review.
- Withdrawal of your application for the substantive visa, merits review, or judicial review.
- Notification from a merit review tribunal stating it lacks jurisdiction to review your application.
Once you receive notification of an outcome, you can check the duration of your stay in Australia directly through VEVO.
BVA granted on or after 19 November 2016
Your Bridging Visa A (BVA) will expire 35 calendar days after:
- Our decision to refuse your substantive visa application or a decision by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) regarding your associated substantive visa application.
- A determination that your substantive visa application or an application for review by the AAT is invalid.
- Your withdrawal of the substantive visa application or application for review by the AAT.
Your BVA will expire 28 calendar days after:
- A judicial review body confirms the decision to refuse your substantive visa application.
- Your withdrawal of a related judicial review application.
BVA granted before 19 November 2016
Stay longer
Extending your stay in Australia isn’t possible by extending this visa. If you intend to prolong your stay, you must apply for a new visa.
Include family
Cost
Apply from
Your obligations
Travel
Visa label
Eligibility
Have had a substantive visa
You must hold or have held a substantive visa.
Apply in Australia
You will need to be in Australia when you apply.
Applied for a substantive visa or judicial review
To be eligible for a Bridging Visa A (BVA), you must have submitted a valid application for a substantive visa that has not yet reached a final decision. Alternatively, you may have initiated judicial review proceedings concerning a decision related to your substantive visa application within the specified timeframe, and these judicial review proceedings are still ongoing.
When applying for a review, have applied in the prescribed timeframe
It’s crucial to apply within the specified timeframe.
For the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, ensure you apply for review within the prescribed timeframe.
If you’ve applied within this timeframe, there might be no need for an additional Bridging Visa.
Regarding judicial review, the application period is 35 days from the date of the Tribunal’s decision.
Failure to apply for judicial review within these statutory limits could impact your eligibility for another Bridging Visa.
Age
You can be any age to apply for this visa.
Conditions
8101 - No work
You are prohibited from working in Australia, meaning you cannot engage in activities for which one would typically receive payment while in the country.
For holders of visitor visas specifically, with our authorization, you may:
- Participate in unpaid work directly related to and credited towards your studies if you are enrolled in a university outside Australia.
- Observe work practices in an industry without actively engaging in the work yourself.
To seek permission for such activities, include a letter detailing your circumstances along with your visa application and supporting documents.
If your circumstances change after your arrival in Australia and you require employment, you must apply for a new Visitor visa (Tourist stream) requesting permission to work. You’ll need to demonstrate:
- Financial hardship due to your new circumstances.
- Likelihood of needing government assistance for you or your family member.
- Compelling personal reasons for seeking employment in Australia, such as a severe accident or illness.
- Inability for you or your immediate family to return home due to circumstances beyond your control.
- No alternative but to work in Australia.
Decisions are made on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the processing office or Minister.
Without our permission and without receiving payment, you may:
- Engage in volunteer work.
- Perform incidental work online for your job in your home country.
- Undertake short-term domestic or caregiving duties for a family member.
8102 - Not work other than in relation to study or training
You are only permitted to work if it is directly related to your course of study or training.
To understand your work rights, the Department collaborates with the Fair Work Ombudsman to ensure compliance with Australian workplace laws. Detailed information on pay rates, shift calculations, leave arrangements, notice, and redundancy entitlements can be found in the Pay and Conditions Tool (PACT). For further guidance on workplace rights and entitlements for visa holders and migrant workers, visit the Fair Work Ombudsman website.
For a comprehensive list of conditions relevant to your visa, refer to the Federal Register of Legislation.
Additionally, you may engage in volunteer work unrelated to your course of study or training under certain conditions:
- It should not interfere with your ongoing studies or training.
- It must benefit the community and not substitute for paid employment typically performed by Australian residents.
- Your involvement must be genuinely voluntary.
Furthermore, you can undertake tutoring or research assistant roles if:
- They are relevant to the field of your occupational training program.
- They contribute to the advancement of your training.
- The position is affiliated with your sponsoring university.
8103 - No paid work
You are strictly prohibited from engaging in any work in Australia without prior written permission from the Minister, which may include:
- Permission for specific types of work.
- Permission for a specific duration.
For a comprehensive list of conditions pertinent to your visa, please refer to the Federal Register of Legislation.
8104 - Work limitation
This condition restricts individuals from working more than 40 hours every fortnight, except if they are family members of a student.
Family members of a student visa holder have specific work restrictions:
- Before the student’s course commences, family members cannot work unless they, or the student visa holder, held another visa permitting work in Australia at the time of applying for the visa.
- Family members can work up to 48 hours per fortnight.
- Family members of a student enrolled in a master’s or doctoral program can work more than 48 hours per fortnight.
A fortnight spans 14 days, commencing on a Monday.
To comprehend your work rights, the Department collaborates with the Fair Work Ombudsman to ensure compliance with Australian workplace laws. Detailed information on pay rates, shift calculations, leave arrangements, notice, and redundancy entitlements can be found in the Pay and Conditions Tool (PACT). For further guidance on workplace rights and entitlements for visa holders and migrant workers, visit the Fair Work Ombudsman website.
For a complete list of conditions pertinent to your visa, consult the Federal Register of Legislation.
8105 - Work limitation
This condition dictates that you cannot engage in work in Australia before your course commences, unless you held another visa allowing work in Australia at the time of applying for this visa. During your course of study or training, you are limited to working no more than 48 hours per fortnight.
A course of study is considered in session during school semesters, including exam periods, or if you undertake another course that contributes to your main course during a term break.
You may work over 48 hours per fortnight only if:
- You hold a student visa granted for a master’s degree by research or a doctorate degree, and your research or doctorate degree has begun.
- The work is a mandatory part of your course, specified in the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) when the course details were recorded.
A course is not considered in session during scheduled breaks, if deferred or suspended according to Standard 9 of the National Code of Practice for Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students, if you have completed your course as listed on your confirmation of enrollment, or if your enrollment has been canceled due to the default of your education provider until you obtain a new enrollment and commence the course.
A fortnight spans 14 days, starting on a Monday.
For instance, if you work 15 hours in week 1, 30 hours in week 2, 30 hours in week 3, and 10 hours in week 4, you have worked 85 hours over the fortnight, which exceeds the 48-hour limit.
Employers seeking to hire student visa holders should request evidence of course commencement, such as a confirmation of enrollment or a letter from the education provider. Employers should ensure that students do not exceed their visa’s work limits.
To understand your work rights, the Department collaborates with the Fair Work Ombudsman. Detailed information on pay rates, shift calculations, leave arrangements, and other entitlements can be found in the Pay and Conditions Tool (PACT) and the Fair Work Ombudsman website.
For a complete list of conditions relevant to your visa, consult the Federal Register of Legislation.
8107 - Work limitation
The visa you possess was granted either to authorize your employment by a specific employer or to undertake specific activities in Australia.
You are strictly prohibited from ceasing employment with your designated employer. Furthermore, you are not permitted to work in a different position, occupation, or for another employer or for yourself. It is imperative that you continue the activity for which the visa was granted and refrain from engaging in any other activities, whether for yourself or anyone else.
If it is mandatory to perform the occupation for which you were nominated, you must hold a valid license, registration, or membership.
Note: For Temporary Activity visa (subclass 408) Australian Government endorsed events (COVID-19 Pandemic event) visa holders, a temporary less restrictive policy on visa condition 8107-work limitation applies, allowing visa holders to work without restrictions. For further information, please visit the Temporary Activity visa (subclass 408) Australian Government endorsed events (COVID-19 Pandemic event) page on the homeaffairs.gov.au website.
For detailed information on your work rights, the Department collaborates with the Fair Work Ombudsman. You can find information on pay rates, shift calculations, leave arrangements, notice, and redundancy entitlements in the Pay and Conditions Tool (PACT) and on the Fair Work Ombudsman website.
For a comprehensive list of conditions pertinent to your visa, please consult the Federal Register of Legislation.
Additional Information: For 457 visa holders, it is mandatory to remain employed by the same employer and to work only in the nominated occupation. Medical practitioners and general managers must work in their nominated occupation but can work for employers other than their sponsor or its associated entity. If you are in Australia for a nominated activity under visa subclasses 407, 401, 420, you must perform the nominated activity. If you hold a subclass 400, 403, 408, or 407 visa, you must only undertake the activities for which your visa was granted. If you cease employment or the activity for which your visa was granted, you may have to leave Australia or apply for a new visa appropriate to your circumstances.
8108 - Work limitation
You are not allowed to work for the same employer in Australia for more than 3 months without first seeking and obtaining written permission from the Department.
To understand your work rights comprehensively, the Department collaborates with the Fair Work Ombudsman. Information on pay rates, shift calculations, leave arrangements, notice, and redundancy entitlements can be accessed through the Pay and Conditions Tool (PACT) and the Fair Work Ombudsman website.
For a detailed list of conditions pertinent to your visa, please refer to the Federal Register of Legislation.
8111 - Work limitation
You are restricted from working in Australia except within the household of the visa holder’s sponsor.
Furthermore, you must depart Australia once the sponsor has permanently left the country.
To comprehend your work rights thoroughly, the Department collaborates with the Fair Work Ombudsman. Detailed information on pay rates, shift calculations, leave arrangements, notice, and redundancy entitlements can be accessed through the Pay and Conditions Tool (PACT) and the Fair Work Ombudsman website.
For an exhaustive list of conditions applicable to your visa, please consult the Federal Register of Legislation.
8112 - Must not engage in work that might otherwise be carried out by an Australian citizen or permanent resident
You are prohibited from undertaking work in Australia that could be performed by an Australian citizen or permanent resident.
For comprehensive understanding of your work rights, the Department collaborates with the Fair Work Ombudsman. Detailed information regarding pay rates, shift calculations, leave arrangements, notice, and redundancy entitlements is available through the Pay and Conditions Tool (PACT) and the Fair Work Ombudsman website.
For a complete list of conditions pertinent to your visa, please refer to the Federal Register of Legislation.
8114 - Superyacht crew
You are exclusively permitted to work in Australia as a member of the crew of a superyacht.
For a thorough understanding of your work rights, the Department collaborates with the Fair Work Ombudsman. Detailed information regarding pay rates, shift calculations, leave arrangements, notice, and redundancy entitlements can be accessed through the Pay and Conditions Tool (PACT) and the Fair Work Ombudsman website.
For a comprehensive list of conditions applicable to your visa, please refer to the Federal Register of Legislation.
8115 - Limited activities
The holder must not work in Australia other than by engaging in a business visitor activity.
8303 - Not be disruptive
You are strictly prohibited from engaging in activities that disrupt or incite violence against the Australian community or any group within it.
For example, this includes promoting extremist ideologies or causing disturbances that hinder the functioning of the Australian community.
8501 - Maintain adequate health insurance
It is mandatory for you to possess and continuously maintain adequate health insurance coverage for the entire duration of your stay in Australia.
For further clarification on how this condition may specifically apply to your situation, please refer to your visa details.
8539 - Live, study and work in a specified area
While you are in Australia, you are required to reside, work, and study exclusively within an area designated by us as a regional or low-population growth metropolitan area of Australia.
Your visa grant letter will outline the specific regional and low-population growth metropolitan areas where these conditions apply.
Should you wish to remain in Australia but prefer not to reside in a specified area, you must apply for a different visa.
For comprehensive understanding of your work rights, the Department collaborates with the Fair Work Ombudsman. Detailed information regarding pay rates, shift calculations, leave arrangements, notice, and redundancy entitlements can be accessed through the Pay and Conditions Tool (PACT) and the Fair Work Ombudsman website.
8547 - Not work for one employer for more than 6 months
You are prohibited from being employed by a single employer for a period exceeding 6 months without obtaining prior written permission from the Secretary. Please refer to the section on “Work for the same employer for 6 months” for further details.
For a comprehensive understanding of your work rights, the Department collaborates with the Fair Work Ombudsman. Detailed information on pay rates, shift calculations, leave arrangements, notice, and redundancy entitlements can be accessed through the Pay and Conditions Tool (PACT) and the Fair Work Ombudsman website.
8549 - Live, work and study in a designated area
While you are in Australia on this visa, you are required to reside, work, and study exclusively within a designated area as specified in your visa grant letter. If you have held multiple visas subject to this condition, the designated area applicable at the time of the first visa grant will continue to apply.
You can locate the designated area information in your visa grant letter or refer to the complete listing of Designated Areas of Australia on the website.
Former holders of Norfolk Island Immigration permits under the TP-159 visa category granted because of possession of a Norfolk Island immigration permit on 30 June 2016, or as a dependent child of such a holder, are obligated to live, work, and study solely on Norfolk Island, unless specific conditions are met regarding age, dependency, residence for studying purposes elsewhere in Australia, and compliance with condition 8105 concerning student work, which is not enforced on this visa.
For detailed information on your work rights, the Department collaborates with the Fair Work Ombudsman to ensure compliance with Australian Workplace laws. Pay rates, shift calculations, leave arrangements, and other employment-related information can be accessed through the Pay and Conditions Tool (PACT) and the Fair Work Ombudsman website.
For a comprehensive list of conditions applicable to your visa, please consult the Federal Register of Legislation.
8607 - Must only work in nominated occupation
Your employment is restricted to the occupation specified in your most recent Subclass 482 (Temporary Skill Shortage) visa application. Any deviation from this nominated occupation requires obtaining a new Temporary Skill Shortage visa.
You are required to commence employment within 90 days of either arriving in Australia (if you were outside Australia when the visa was granted) or receiving your visa (if you were in Australia when the visa was granted). Additionally, you must not cease working for more than 60 consecutive days.
Your employment is limited to the following conditions based on the stream and sponsor of your visa:
- Labour agreement stream: Work must be conducted for the sponsor that nominated you.
- Medium or Short-term stream with an Australian business sponsor: Work must be performed for the sponsor that nominated you or an associated entity.
- Medium or Short-term stream with an overseas business sponsor: Work must be completed for the sponsor that nominated you.
Should you wish to change employers, your prospective employer must secure a nomination approval before you can commence work for them.
Exemptions may apply for certain occupations specified by the Minister in an instrument. If you fall under an exempt occupation:
- You do not require a new nomination to change employers as long as you continue to work in the same occupation and your visa remains valid.
- Your original sponsor remains responsible for certain obligations until you are renominated by another sponsor or your visa ceases to be valid.
It’s important to note that if you intend to pursue permanent residency through the Employer Nomination Scheme subclass 186 visa in the Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream, you must be nominated by the same sponsor as the one who sponsored you while holding your subclass 482 visa, regardless of your occupation.
Furthermore, if a license, registration, or membership is mandatory for the job specified in your visa, you must hold and comply with its provisions. You must notify us promptly if your application for the required license, registration, or membership is refused, or if it ends, is canceled, or revoked.
For comprehensive information on your work rights, the Department collaborates with the Fair Work Ombudsman. Detailed guidance on pay rates, shift calculations, leave arrangements, notice, and redundancy entitlements is available through the Pay and Conditions Tool (PACT) and the Fair Work Ombudsman website.
For a complete list of conditions relevant to your visa, please refer to the Federal Register of Legislation.