Bridging Visas for General Skilled Migration
A bridging visa will ensure you remain lawful during the processing of your application for a General Skilled Migration (GSM) visa, if the application was made in Australia and can be granted while you are in Australia. The bridging visa will remain in effect when the current visa you hold ceases, or if you do not hold another visa, until your GSM visa application is decided. It will also keep you lawful if your visa application is refused and you seek merits review of this refusal decision
In most cases your application for an onshore GSM visa will also be an automatic application for an associated bridging visa. The type of bridging visa you are granted will depend on whether you hold a substantive visa when you make your GSM visa application.
If you hold a current substantive visa when you make a valid application for a GSM visa that can be granted while you are in Australia, you may be eligible for the grant of a Bridging Visa A. If you are not a current substantive visa holder when you lodge your GSM visa application, you may be eligible for the grant of a Bridging Visa C.
You will be notified in writing if you are granted a bridging visa.
Bridging Visa A (subclass 010)
A Bridging Visa A will usually be granted if you already hold a substantive visa, and you are in Australia when you make a valid application for a GSM visa that can be granted while you are in Australia.
If a Bridging Visa A is granted you will be notified of the decision in writing. The Bridging Visa A will only come into effect when your existing Student visa, or other substantive visa, ceases.
Important: A Bridging Visa A does not give you a right to re-enter Australia. If you leave Australia, your Bridging Visa A will cease regardless of whether you are travelling on a substantive visa. Once the Bridging Visa A ceases, you will need to hold another substantive visa to re-enter Australia. Therefore, if you need to travel outside Australia while you await a decision on your GSM visa application or on the outcome of a merits review process, you should apply for a Bridging Visa B (subclass 020).
Bridging Visa B (subclass 020)
A Bridging Visa B allows the holder to leave and re-enter Australia for a
specified period (known as the Travel Facility period), while their GSM visa
application is being processed or a merits review of a visa refusal is being
conducted. While in Australia, you may apply for a Bridging Visa B using Form
1006. Application for a Bridging Visa B – To seek permission to travel.
See: Form 1006 – Application
for a Bridging Visa B – To seek permission to travel (152KB
PDF file)
To be eligible for grant of a Bridging Visa B you must be the holder of a Bridging Visa A or Bridging Visa B and be able to demonstrate substantial reasons for travel. Substantial reasons are genuine and significant circumstances that require the applicant to travel while their GSM visa application is being processed or during the merits review process.
The period specified for travel on the Bridging Visa B is determined by the DIAC decision-maker. It is based on consideration of the time the client needs to undertake travel for the substantial reasons provided, and the anticipated period needed to finalise processing of the GSM visa application. If granted a Bridging Visa B, the holder must return to Australia within the Travel Facility period specified on the Bridging Visa B. If they do not re-enter Australia within the Travel Facility period, the Bridging Visa B visa will expire. To re-enter Australia for finalisation of their GSM visa application they would need to apply for and be granted another substantive visa.
Note: There is a visa application charge for the Bridging Visa B. Information about the visa application charge for this and other Australian visas can be found on Form 990i.
See: Form 990i - Charges ( 85KB PDF file)
If you are a Bridging Visa B holder in Australia and need to travel again after the travel facility on your Bridging Visa B has expired, you can apply for another Bridging Visa B. You will again need to pay a visa application charge and demonstrate substantial reasons for travel.
Bridging Visa C (subclass 030)
If you do not hold a substantive visa when you make a valid application for a GSM visa (that can be granted while you are in Australia), you may be granted a Bridging Visa C. The Bridging Visa C visa will keep you lawful while you await a decision on your GSM visa application or the merits review of a refused visa application.
To be eligible for the grant of a Bridging Visa C you must be in Australia, and not hold or have held a Bridging Visa E (subclass 050 or 051) since you last held a substantive visa.
You will be notified in writing of the decision to grant you a Bridging Visa C. The Bridging Visa C will come into effect when granted and will provide you with a lawful status while you await a decision on your GSM visa application.
This bridging visa is electronic and you do not need to have a label in your passport.
Important: A Bridging Visa C does not allow you to re-enter Australia if you decide to travel overseas during the processing of your GSM visa application. If you hold a Bridging Visa C and leave Australia, the Bridging Visa C will cease.
Note: Bridging Visa C holders cannot meet eligibility criteria for the grant of a Bridging Visa B.