Knowledge Centre
Bridging Visas Explained: A, B, C and E
Written and reviewed by the Reliance Law Group immigration team · Last reviewed August 2026
Bridging visas are the least understood part of the migration system and the part most people end up relying on. They are not a lesser visa or a waiting room. They are what keeps you lawful, and their conditions decide whether you can work, whether you can travel, and in some cases whether your main application survives.
The one thing to remember: a bridging visa A does not let you leave Australia and return. If you need to travel, you must obtain a bridging visa B before you go.
The main types
| Type | Who gets it | Work | Travel |
|---|---|---|---|
|
BVA |
Applied onshore while holding a substantive visa |
Usually inherits previous conditions |
No |
|
BVB |
BVA holders who need to travel |
As per BVA |
Yes, for a set period |
|
BVC |
Applied onshore without a substantive visa |
Often restricted |
No |
|
BVE |
Unlawful or resolving status |
Often none |
No |
Bridging visa A
The most common. It is generally granted automatically when you lodge an onshore application while holding a valid substantive visa. Importantly, it does not come into effect immediately. It activates when your previous substantive visa expires, and until then your old visa and its conditions govern your status.
Work rights usually mirror your previous visa. If your previous visa had a work limitation, expect the same on the bridging visa.
Bridging visa B
The travel permission. You apply separately, state your reason for travel and your intended dates, and if granted you receive a travel facility valid for a defined period. This visa will retain the same conditions as your previous Bridging visa A. It is important to be back in Australia when your travel rights expire, and they can usually be reapplied for again if required.
Leave without one and you generally cannot use the bridging visa A to return, which for someone waiting on a partner or skilled application can mean being locked out of the country their application is in. Apply before you book, not after.
Bridging visas C and E
These apply where you did not hold a substantive visa when you applied, or where you are resolving your immigration status. Conditions are tighter, work rights are often absent or need to be applied for on financial hardship grounds, and a bridging visa E in particular is associated with resolving status or arranging departure.
If you are on a BVC or BVE, the situation generally warrants advice rather than self-management, because the underlying issue is usually more serious than the bridging visa itself. Our bridging visas page explains each type.
Why the conditions matter so much
Working without permission or beyond your hours, or travelling on the wrong bridging visa, can breach your conditions. Breaches can lead to cancellation, and cancellation can undermine the substantive application you were waiting on. The bridging visa is not a technicality; it is the thing holding your status together while a decision is made.
Check the grant notice for your specific conditions rather than assuming they match someone else’s. Two people on the same bridging visa type can have different conditions depending on what they applied for and what they held before.
Frequently asked questions
It depends on the type and on the visa you held previously. A BVA usually carries your previous work rights; a BVE may carry none. Check your grant notice.
Not on a BVA alone. You need a BVB, applied for and granted before you leave. Departing without one generally means you cannot return on the bridging visa.
Generally when your previous substantive visa expires, not on the day it is granted. Until then your substantive visa governs your status and conditions.
It generally ends a set period after the decision. If refused and you seek review, a further bridging visa may be available while the review runs.
Sometimes, on application and usually requiring evidence of financial hardship. It is not automatic, and advice is worthwhile.
Speak to an immigration lawyer
Get clear, fixed-fee advice on your matter from Reliance Law Group’s immigration lawyers in North Sydney.