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Bridging Visa A, B, C or E: Work, Travel and Key Differences
Updated: Oct 10
A bridging visa can help an eligible person remain lawfully in Australia while an immigration matter progresses. But the letter A, B, C or E does not tell you everything about work, travel or when the visa ends. Your grant notice and current in-effect visa are essential.
Information checked on 10 October 2026. Use this guide to identify the right questions before booking travel or accepting work.
Bridging Visa A: commonly linked to an onshore application
A BVA is commonly associated with a valid onshore application made while a person holds a substantive visa. Home Affairs explains that a bridging visa may allow continued lawful stay when the existing substantive visa expires and the new application has not been decided.
Being granted a BVA does not necessarily mean it has already come into effect. Check the commencement details and the conditions of the visa currently operating.
Bridging Visa B: travel requires a granted travel facility
A BVB can permit departure and return within the specified travel period. Home Affairs advises eligible BVA holders who need to travel and return during processing to obtain a BVB before leaving.
Applying for a BVB is not the same as receiving one. Check the decision, travel period, return date and each family member’s position before departing. A flight booking does not create a right of re-entry.
Bridging Visa C: different eligibility and travel consequences
A BVC may be relevant to a valid substantive visa application made without holding a substantive visa, subject to the applicable requirements. Home Affairs states that a BVC holder cannot be granted a BVB on that basis to travel and return while the substantive application is processed.
Do not book overseas travel on the assumption that every bridging visa can be converted to a travel visa. Obtain advice about your actual options.
Bridging Visa E: resolving immigration status
A BVE is used in specified status-resolution circumstances, including some situations involving departure arrangements or an immigration matter. It should not be treated as a general substitute for a substantive visa.
If you have become unlawful or are unsure whether a visa has ceased, seek prompt advice. A pending intention to apply is different from a visa grant that authorises stay.
Work rights must be checked individually
Different grants can carry different conditions. Do not assume every BVA allows unrestricted employment or every BVE has the same restrictions.
Give an employer the appropriate evidence of current work rights. If work is not permitted, ask whether an application to change the position is available and what evidence is needed. Financial hardship alone does not mean permission has already been granted.
Read the grant as a set of dates and conditions
Record:
The visa subclass and grant date.
When the visa comes into effect.
The event or date that ends it.
Work and other conditions.
Any permitted travel period.
The application or review to which it relates.
Check VEVO for the current in-effect visa. If the grant notice and what you see online appear inconsistent, ask for clarification instead of choosing the interpretation that is most convenient.
Refusal or review can change the position
A substantive visa decision can affect a bridging visa. A review application can also raise separate eligibility and timing questions. Do not assume the original grant continues indefinitely while you consider your options.
Keep every new Department or Tribunal letter with the visa records. A lawyer or agent assessing work or travel needs the latest correspondence, not only the first grant.
Frequently asked questions
Can I travel because my bridging visa has been granted?
Only if your actual visa and travel facility permit the journey. A BVA or BVC is not a substitute for BVB travel permission.
Does an EOI give me a bridging visa?
No. A SkillSelect expression of interest is not a substantive visa application.
Can family members rely on my travel permission?
Check each person’s grant and inclusion. Do not assume a family member has permission simply because the main applicant does.
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Official sources
General information only, not advice about your individual circumstances. Rules and program settings can change. Check the official guidance and seek an assessment from a registered migration agent or Australian legal practitioner before acting.
