A bridging visa is the quiet workhorse of the Australian migration system
Most onshore applicants never plan to be on one. Then their substantive visa ticks down, the decision on their next application is still months away, and suddenly a bridging visa is the only thing keeping them lawful.
Get the wrong one, or miss a condition code on the grant letter, and the consequences can be brutal. No work rights. No travel. A 35 day countdown after a refusal. A re-entry ban if you overstay.
This guide walks through every bridging visa that matters in 2026, Subclass 010 (BVA), Subclass 020 (BVB), Subclass 030 (BVC), Subclass 040/041 (BVD), and Subclass 050/051 (BVE). It covers who qualifies, what you can and cannot do, what the 2026 visa-hopping reforms changed, and how to work out which bridging visa actually applies to you.
What is a bridging visa?
A bridging visa is a temporary visa that keeps you lawful in Australia between substantive visas, or while you make arrangements to leave. It is not a pathway to permanent residence on its own. It is a legal bridge.
There are five main types in use, each with its own subclass number and rules. They come from Part 050 of Schedule 2 of the Migration Regulations 1994, so the conditions are not negotiable by the case officer in most cases. They are set in legislation.
- Bridging Visa A (BVA), Subclass 010
- Bridging Visa B (BVB), Subclass 020
- Bridging Visa C (BVC), Subclass 030
- Bridging Visa D (BVD), Subclass 040 and 041
- Bridging Visa E (BVE), Subclass 050 and 051
Which one you get depends on the status of your current visa when you lodge, not on what you want. If you are unsure about the next application altogether, our guide to PR eligibility in Australia is a good starting point before anything else.
Bridging Visa A, Subclass 010 (BVA)
The BVA is the most common bridging visa in the country. You get it automatically when you lodge a valid onshore application for a new substantive visa while you still hold a substantive visa. No separate form, no separate fee.
Here is the part most people miss. A BVA is dormant at first. It only activates when your current substantive visa ceases. Up until then, you are living on the original visa, and your conditions come from that visa, not from the BVA.
BVA work rights
Work rights on a BVA usually mirror the visa you held when you applied. If your previous visa let you work, your BVA generally will too. If it did not, you will often see condition 8101 (no work) on the grant. Students moving to another visa commonly carry condition 8105 or 8104 across.
If condition 8101 is on your BVA and you need to work, you can apply for a further BVA with work rights granted, but you must show a compelling need to work, usually financial hardship with supporting evidence.
BVA travel rights
None. If you leave Australia on a BVA, it ceases the moment you depart, and you cannot return on it. If you need to travel, you apply for a BVB before you fly.
How long a BVA lasts
Until one of three things happens. The Department grants your substantive visa, the Department refuses it and a 35 day window starts, or you withdraw your application. If you are refused and apply to the Administrative Review Tribunal in time, the bridging visa generally continues through the review.
Bridging Visa B, Subclass 020 (BVB)
A BVB is the only bridging visa that lets you leave and re-enter Australia while waiting on a decision. Unlike a BVA, it is not granted automatically. You apply for it using form 1006 or online through ImmiAccount.
You usually need to hold a BVA or an existing BVB, and you need a reason to travel. It can be work, family, study, a medical issue, or even a planned holiday, but the Department expects you to state your departure and return dates and the purpose in plain language.
BVB fees and processing
The base Visa Application Charge for a BVB is in the low hundreds of dollars as published on the current visa pricing page. Fees are indexed on 1 July each year, so always check the published table before you pay.
There is no published service standard for BVB processing. In practice, straightforward applications have historically been granted within a few business days, but through late 2025 and into 2026 many applicants have seen delays of four to six weeks, sometimes longer where travel reasons need more evidence. Plan early. Our wider article on visa processing times in Australia has more on how to read Department timeframes.
Travel window
A BVB is granted with a specific travel period. If you come back after that window closes, even by a day, the visa has already ceased and you will not be allowed to board. There is no grace period at the airport.
Bridging Visa C, Subclass 030 (BVC)
A BVC is granted when you lodge a new onshore substantive visa application and you are unlawful at the time, meaning your previous visa has already ceased. It keeps you lawful from the moment the application is lodged, but it comes with sharper edges than a BVA.
BVC work rights
By default, a BVC is granted with condition 8101 attached, meaning no work. You can apply to have this lifted by showing a compelling need to work, generally financial hardship that is well documented. If granted, the Department lifts 8101 through a fresh BVC grant, not by editing the existing one.
BVC travel rights
None, and unlike a BVA, there is no BVB equivalent that pairs with a BVC. If you leave Australia on a BVC, your new visa application is treated as withdrawn the moment you depart. That is a hard line and catches people every year.
BVC and visa refusal
If the application the BVC is tied to is refused, the BVC ceases 35 days after the decision unless you lodge a valid review with the Administrative Review Tribunal in time. A refused BVC can also limit your next onshore options after a visa refusal, especially if section 48 applies.
Bridging Visa D, Subclass 040 and 041 (BVD)
The BVD is short and specific. It exists to give you a few working days of lawful status when you cannot immediately lodge a substantive visa application, or you need to see an officer.
- Subclass 040 is for a prospective applicant, someone who tried to lodge a substantive visa but could not finalise it, usually for a form or fee issue. It generally remains in effect for up to 5 working days.
- Subclass 041 is for a non-applicant, someone in Australia without a visa who cannot be interviewed by an officer straight away.
Both BVD subclasses come with condition 8101 (no work). Subclass 041 also carries condition 8401 (report to immigration). A BVD is almost always a short stepping-stone to either a BVA, a BVC, or a BVE.
Bridging Visa E, Subclass 050 and 051 (BVE)
A BVE is the last-chance bridging visa. It is granted to people who are unlawful, in immigration detention, or awaiting removal, to keep them lawful while they sort their status out or while the Department makes arrangements.
BVE work rights
By default, no work. You can apply to remove condition 8101 with the same compelling need to work test used for BVA and BVC, but expect a higher evidentiary bar. Many BVE holders are also subject to condition 8506 (notify any change of address within two working days) and, for former IMAs, the Code of Behaviour under form 1443.
BVE and Medicare
Medicare access on a BVE is limited. Services Australia generally only enrols a bridging visa holder if they have applied for permanent residency and hold valid work rights or a qualifying family link. A removal pending BVE rarely qualifies.
BVA vs BVB vs BVC vs BVE at a glance
| Feature | BVA (010) | BVB (020) | BVC (030) | BVE (050/051) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| When granted | Lodge onshore with a valid substantive visa | Apply separately while on BVA or BVB | Lodge onshore while unlawful | Unlawful, detained, or removal pending |
| Travel | No | Yes, within set window | No | No |
| Default work rights | Usually mirrors previous visa | Same as underlying BVA | No work (8101) | No work (8101) |
| Application fee | Nil (auto-granted) | Published VAC, indexed annually | Nil in most cases | Nil in most cases |
| Ceases | On substantive grant, refusal (35 days), or withdrawal | At end of travel window or linked BVA event | On substantive grant, refusal (35 days), or departure | At date specified on grant or departure |
How the visa-hopping reforms affect bridging visas
From 1 July 2024, the Government started tightening the rules on switching visa types while onshore, and further adjustments have followed in 2026. The stated aim is to stop people stacking short visas to stay in Australia indefinitely while applications roll over.
The practical effect on bridging visas is threefold.
- Fewer onshore pathways. Since 1 July 2024, Visitor visa (Subclass 600) holders generally cannot apply for a Student visa (Subclass 500) while onshore, which removes the BVA that used to cover that gap. Further onshore switching restrictions have been introduced through 2025 and 2026.
- Sharper scrutiny of BVCs. Unlawful applicants lodging a protection or other substantive application while out of status are facing tighter genuineness checks before any new BVC is granted.
- Re-entry bans for overstay. Under Public Interest Criterion 4013, an overstay can trigger a 3-year exclusion from certain temporary visas, which makes a compliant BVE application even more important if your BVA or BVC has ceased.
We have broken the reforms down in more detail in our guide to the visa-hopping ban in Australia in 2026. Employer-sponsored applicants should also read our update on the 482 and 186 salary threshold increase from July 2026, as the new thresholds feed directly into which onshore applications are still viable.
How long does a bridging visa last?
There is no single answer. The visa is tied to an event, not a calendar.
- BVA and BVC cease 35 days after a refusal on the linked substantive application, or immediately on grant. If you seek review with the ART in time, the bridging visa generally continues.
- BVB ends at the end of the travel period you applied for, or when the linked BVA ends, whichever is earlier.
- BVD generally runs for 5 working days.
- BVE is granted to a specific end date shown on your grant letter.
Processing times for the substantive visa behind a bridging visa can stretch for months or years depending on the subclass. That is why many BVA holders in 2026 sit on a bridging visa for 12, 18, even 30 months before a partner or skilled visa outcome.
Which bridging visa applies to you? A decision tree
Work through these questions in order. Stop at the first yes.
- Are you in immigration detention, or awaiting removal, or is your visa cancelled? You are looking at a BVE (050 or 051).
- Are you unlawful today, and planning to lodge a new onshore substantive visa in the next few working days? A BVD (040) may bridge the gap, with a BVC to follow.
- Are you unlawful today and ready to lodge an onshore substantive visa right now? That application will usually produce a BVC.
- Do you hold a valid substantive visa and plan to lodge a new onshore application before it ends? You will be granted a BVA automatically.
- Do you already hold a BVA and need to travel overseas and return while your application is pending? You need a BVB.
If your scenario does not slot neatly into one of these, that is a strong sign you need to speak with an Australian immigration lawyer before lodging anything.
Common mistakes that cost people their bridging visa
- Leaving on a BVA or BVC. The visa ceases the moment you depart. People still board flights for weddings and funerals without realising.
- Missing the BVB travel window. Coming back on day one after expiry is still too late.
- Ignoring condition 8101. Working without rights is a breach, and is often picked up at BAS or super fund level.
- Letting the 35 day window lapse after refusal. If you do not lodge the ART review in time, the bridging visa ceases and you become unlawful.
- Forgetting to update your address under condition 8506. A BVE holder with an out of date address is easy to frame as non-compliant.
Frequently asked questions
Can I work on a bridging visa in Australia?
It depends on the conditions printed on your grant letter. A BVA usually carries the work rights of the visa you held before. A BVC, BVD or BVE typically starts with no work (condition 8101). You can apply to have 8101 lifted by showing a compelling need to work, generally with bank statements, bills, and rent ledgers as evidence.
Can I travel overseas on a bridging visa?
Only on a BVB. A BVA, BVC, BVD, or BVE does not allow re-entry. If you leave on one of those, it ceases and your linked substantive visa application may be treated as withdrawn.
How long does a bridging visa take to process in 2026?
A BVA is automatic and usually granted on lodgement of the substantive visa. BVBs have historically been granted in a few business days, but 2026 has seen many applications take four to six weeks. BVCs and BVEs vary widely depending on the case complexity and Home Affairs workload.
Does a bridging visa give me Medicare?
Only in limited cases. Generally you need to have lodged a permanent residency application and to hold work rights or a qualifying family relationship. BVE holders in removal pending scenarios generally do not qualify. Check the rules with Services Australia before assuming cover.
What happens to my bridging visa if my substantive visa is refused?
A BVA or BVC generally ceases 35 days after the refusal. If you lodge a valid application with the Administrative Review Tribunal in that window, the bridging visa usually continues while the review runs.
Can I switch from a BVC to a BVA?
Not directly. The type of bridging visa you hold is locked in by your status at the time you lodged the substantive application. If you were unlawful, you get a BVC, and you stay on a BVC for that application even if your circumstances change.
Do the visa-hopping reforms cancel existing bridging visas?
No. Bridging visas already in effect continue under their existing conditions. The reforms, which began on 1 July 2024 and have been tightened since, restrict which new substantive visas can be lodged onshore, which in turn changes which bridging visas are available going forward.
Can I apply for a bridging visa from outside Australia?
No. Bridging visas are onshore-only by design. If you are outside Australia, you apply for a different visa to return.
The short version
A bridging visa is not a prize, it is a safety net. The right one keeps you lawful, gives you work rights where you qualify, and preserves your appeal options if things go sideways. The wrong one, or a missed condition, can put you into a 35 day countdown you did not plan for.
Check your grant letter the day it arrives. Note the conditions. Diary the dates. And if your situation is complicated, talk to an Australian immigration lawyer before you lodge, not after.
Disclaimer
This article is general information only and is current as at 24 April 2026. It is not legal advice and does not create a lawyer-client relationship. Migration rules, fees, and processing times change regularly, sometimes at short notice. For advice on your specific situation, speak with a registered migration agent or an Australian immigration lawyer before lodging any application or making travel plans.
