Bridging Visa A (Subclass 010) Australia

Bridging Visa A allows you to stay lawfully in Australia until your substantive visa application is finally determined, or where granted in association with judicial review, until those proceedings are completed.

Bridging Visa A (BVA) Australia

This is a temporary visa that is applied automatically when you apply for another substantive visa while you already are in Australia. This helps you to stay lawfully in Australia as long as your visa application is processed, or as long as your refused visa application is under merits review at the tribunal.

When you need to apply for a BVA

• A separate application for bridging visa a (BVA), may be necessary when your substantive visa application did not also constitute an application for a BVA; or
• You were granted a BVA or a Bridging visa B (BVB) but this has ceased and you meet the requirements for another BVA; or
• You are seeking a further BVA without work restrictions; or
• You have applied for judicial review.

You can't use a bridging visa while you wait for a citizenship application to be decided.

When you dont need to apply for a BVA

You must apply within the prescribed time frame for your bridging visa a to continue. If you are applying for merits review at Administrative Appeals Tribunal, then you must apply for review within the prescribed time frame which is usually 21 days. If you have applied within the prescribed time frame, you may not need to apply for a further Bridging Visa.

However if you are applying for Judicial Review, then the time frame for applying for judicial review is 35 days from the date of the Tribunal's decision. If you have not applied for judicial review within the statutory time limits, this may affect your eligibility to apply for a further Bridging Visa.

Remaining Lawful During Judicial Review

If a merits review tribunal upholds our decision to refuse your substantive visa application and you apply for judicial review, you will need to apply for a bridging visa to maintain your lawful status during the judicial review proceedings. If you have applied for judicial review you can only apply for a bridging visa by webform.

Bridging Visa A Fees

There is no fees associated with the application or processing of BVA application.

Bridging Visa A Processing Time

There are no defined processing times for this visa. Normally its grant is automatic and instantaneous upon lodging of another substantive visa while applicant is onshore inside Australia. Sometimes due to system work load, it might take up to 2 - 3 days for this visa to be granted.

If you are unlawful when you apply for a substantive visa while being onshore in Australia, then it may take couple of days for the bridging visa a to be granted.

Bridging Visa A Eligibility

If you wish to be granted a bridging visa a then you must meet certain criteria. Some of the main criteria are as follows:

• You must be present in Australia.
• You either hold or must have held a substantive visa on the day or before you lodged new substantive visa application.
• You must fulfill the requirements criteria for the grant of this visa within the prescribed time frame; such as applying to AAT review within 21 days, or applying for judicial review within 35 days.
• There is no age restriction to apply for this visa.
• You must meet character and health criteria for this visa to be granted.

Bridging Visa A Work Rights

The visa holder will have same work rights as they had on their previous substantive visa. If your bridging visa a does not allows you to work, then you can apply for another bridging visa a with work rights. You will need to show financial hardships to request grant of work rights.

The Department of Home Affairs will assess your circumstances in relation to your claim that you need work rights. If you do not meet the requirements for work, and you are still eligible for a BVA, the department will grant you a new BVA with the same work prevention condition or work restriction condition that was on your previous BVA. You cannot be granted a new BVA that lets you work if your current BVA prevents or restricts you from working in Australia and either:

• Your current BVA was granted to you because you have applied for judicial review of the decision made on your substantive visa application; or
• You have applied for a protection visa.

Bridging Visa A Conditions

Your bridging visa a might be granted with conditions. Usually your previous substantive visa conditions will be passed on to your bridging visa a. However it will also depend on what new visa your are applying for. There are no conditions on an associated BVA granted to a person who have applied for the following onshore visas:

• Subclass 820 (Partner)
• Subclass 801 (Partner)
• Subclass 804 (Aged Parent)
• Subclass 884 (Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary))
• Subclass 864 (Contributory Aged Parent)
• Business Skills - Business Talent (Permanent) (Class EA) visa
• Business Skills (Provisional) (Class EB) visa
• Business Skills (Permanent) (Class EC) visa
• Employer Nomination (Permanent) (Class EN) visa
• Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) (Class PE) visa
• Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) (Class PS) visa
• Regional Employer Nomination (Permanent) (Class RN) visa
• Skilled Independent (Permanent) (Class SI) visa
• Skilled Nominated (Permanent) (Class SN) visa
• Skilled Regional Sponsored (Provisional) (Class SP) visa
• Skilled (Residence) (Class VB) visa

Bridging Visa A (BVA) Australia Frequently Asked Questions

What is a bridging visa?

Bridging visa is a temporary visa that allows you to stay in Australia lawfully, while your current substantive visa has ceased, and your new substantive visa application is still under processing.

Can i leave Australia on bridging visa a?

No, you can not leave Australia while you are on bridging visa a. If you need to travel outside Australia while you are holder of bridging visa a, then you will need to apply for and be granted bridging visa b, which will allow you to return to Australia.

Can i work on bridging visa a?

Yes, you can work on bridging visa a if you had work rights on your substantive visa that ceased

How to apply for work rights on bridging visa a?

You will need to apply for bridging visa a requesting work rights from the same online application for which you were granted bridging visa a in the first place.

Can i buy a house on bridging visa?

No, you can not buy a house while you are on a bridging visa.

Can you get medicare on bridging visa a?

You can get medicare while being on a bridging visa only if you have applied for a permanent visa.

How do i get a bridging visa a?

Usually you get bridging visa a automatically when you apply for substantive visa while being onshore in Australia.

Is a bridging visa a substantive visa?

No, bridging visa is not a substantive visa.

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Disclaimer: ‘Atlantis International Pty Ltd’ and its associates are independent consulting entities which are not associated in anyway with the Australian ‘Department of Home Affairs’ (DOHA). Information on this website does not constitute personal migration advice. For a customized migration advice based on your personal circumstances, please call and talk to one of our Immigration Consultants or register your interest with our Associates.