Bridging visas A, B, C and E 010 to 051
Keep you lawful while an onshore application or review is decided. Travel needs a Bridging B.
In force
Who it is for
People in Australia waiting for a decision on a visa application or review, or arranging to leave.
Main requirements
- Bridging A (010): you held a substantive visa and lodged a valid onshore application. It starts when your substantive visa ends. Work rights follow the visa you applied for; you can ask to remove a no-work condition for financial hardship.
- Bridging B (020): lets a Bridging A or B holder leave and return within a set period. Apply between 3 months and 2 weeks before travel, and wait for the grant before you leave.
- Bridging C (030): you did not hold a substantive visa when you applied. Often no work rights unless a compelling need to work is shown.
- Bridging E (050 and 051): you are unlawful or hold a Bridging E or D and are arranging to leave, applying for a visa, seeking review or seeking ministerial intervention. Conditions can be strict.
- No bridging visa is linked to an application lodged outside Australia, or to an invalid onshore Student application.
Where you apply from
In Australia.
Your journey, step by step
From the first enquiry to the decision and after, with how a registered migration agent helps at each step. No step promises an outcome.
- Check your status
Check your bridging visa and its conditions in VEVO.
How a registered migration agent helpsA registered migration agent checks status and work rights. - Before travel
Apply for a Bridging B in time.
How a registered migration agent helpsA registered migration agent times the Bridging B application. - Work rights
Ask to vary a no-work condition with evidence of hardship.
How a registered migration agent helpsA registered migration agent prepares the request. - After a refusal
Protect lawful status by seeking review on time.
How a registered migration agent helpsA registered migration agent lodges review before the deadline.
Government charges from 1 July 2026
Paid to the Department of Home Affairs, not to us.
| Applicant or item | Charge (A$) |
|---|---|
| Bridging A, C and E | Nil |
| Bridging B | A$575 |
| Bridging D (040) | No charge listed |
| Bridging F (060) | Nil |
Bridging D (040) and Bridging F (060) are listed in the Home Affairs pricing table. Home Affairs does not currently publish a Bridging D page. Check every charge in the Home Affairs Visa Pricing Estimator.
Processing times
Home Affairs Global visa processing times. A guide only, not a promise.
| Processing time | Not published. Home Affairs processing times |
|---|
Common refusal reasons
- Leaving Australia on a Bridging A, which ends it.
- Working without permission.
- Overstaying after a refusal.
Document checklist
Tick items as you gather them. Your ticks stay on this device only.
- Bridging B
- Work rights
Recent and upcoming changes
No recent changes are listed for this visa. Check the Home Affairs page for the latest information.
Talk it through before you apply.
The first 15 minutes are free and general. Personal advice starts after a written service agreement.
Information checked 22 October 2026. General information only, not advice for your situation. Rules and charges change; check the official sources before you act.