Comprehensive Immigration Law and Visa Support in Canberra

A bridging visa is a temporary visa that might be granted in certain circumstances. A bridging visa lets you stay in Australia lawfully while your immigration status is resolved. The type of bridging visa the Department of Immigration might grant you depends on your circumstances.

There are many categories of Bridging visas, the most common of which are – Bridging visas A, B and E.

Bridging Visa A

This temporary visa generally allows you to stay in Australia after your current substantive visa ceases and while your new substantive visa application is being processed.

This visa 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
• work, if you meet the requirements for work

You must:

• be in Australia when you apply
• if you meet all the eligibility requirements, be in Australia at the time of the grant
• A BVA does not allow you to return to Australia if you leave. It ceases on exit if it is currently active at the time you leave.

Bridging Visa B

While bridging visas allow you to remain in Australia lawfully, only a bridging visa B (BVB) will let you leave and re-enter Australia while you wait for a decision.

You might be eligible for a BVB if:

• you already hold a BVA or BVB, and
• you are awaiting a decision on an application that is not yet finally determined or is at judicial review and
• you have a good reason for leaving and returning to Australia while you wait for the outcome of your visa application

A BVB lets you remain in Australia while:

• The Department of Immigration processes your substantive visa application or
• you await a judicial or merits review

It will also have a defined travel period. You can leave Australia and re-enter on a BVB within this defined travel period. If you are in Australia when the travel period ends, and you need to travel outside Australia again, you can apply for another BVB.

Special Category Visa

Since 1 September 1994, all non-citizens in Australia have been required to hold a valid visa. As a result, the Special Category Visa (SCV) was introduced specifically for New Zealand citizens. This visa is issued upon arrival, and there is no need to apply before entering Australia. To obtain an SCV, a New Zealand citizen must present a valid New Zealand passport and an incoming passenger card to immigration officials upon arrival in Australia.

The SCV is classed as a temporary visa, and temporary visa holders do not have the same rights and benefits as Australian citizens or permanent residents. To access such rights, temporary migrants, including those from New Zealand, must obtain permanent visas. In contrast, upon entering New Zealand, all Australian citizens and permanent residents are automatically granted residence visas and may apply for permanent residence after having held a residence visa continuously for two years.

Prior to 2001, New Zealand citizens in Australia on SCVs could access social security and obtain Australian citizenship without first becoming permanent residents. In February 2001, Australia entered into a new bilateral social security arrangement with New Zealand and amended citizenship laws for New Zealand citizens. Under these changes, all New Zealand citizens who arrived in Australia after 26 February 2001 and who want to access certain social security payments, obtain citizenship or sponsor family members for permanent residence may only do so after applying for and being granted permanent residence through the migration program.

Transitional arrangements were put in place for New Zealanders in Australia at the time of the amendments. This means that New Zealanders who were already in Australia as SCV holders on 26 February 2001 may continue to apply for citizenship, sponsor family members for permanent residence and access social security payments without being granted permanent visas.

(Subclass 200, 201, 203 and 204)

With these visas, you can move to Australia if you are subject to persecution in your home country. These visas allow you and your family to live, work and study indefinitely in Australia.  

The Australian Government will pay for your travel and other costs before you arrive in Australia, including medical examinations and cultural orientation overseas.

You are permitted to stay in Australia permanently with your immediate family as long as you all obey all Australian laws.

There is no charge for this visa from the Department of Immigration, but it should be noted that processing of these applications can take many months, even years.

Refugee visas have a number of subclasses, including subclass 200, 201, 203 and 204.

(Subclass 202)

With this visa, you can move to Australia if you face substantial discrimination or human rights abuses, have a proposer, and stay in Australia permanently with your immediate family. You must be outside Australia when you apply for this visa, and you must be living outside your home country. The Department of Immigration will not pay any travel costs for the visa holder. Generally, there is no cost for this visa (conditions apply).  It should be noted, however, that as with the Refugee visa, the application process for this visa can take many months, even years.

(Subclass 500)

A student visa allows you to visit Australia to study.  You may bring your immediate family (spouse and/or dependent children) with you to participate in an eligible course of study and can stay on this visa for up to 5 years or in line with the duration of your course.

Basic eligibility for this visa include:

• You must be enrolled in a course of study in Australia
• You must hold an Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) or fall in one of the exemption categories
• You must be 6 years or older
• You must prove you have a welfare arrangement if you are under 18
• You must have evidence to show you have sufficient funds to cover your travel costs and 12 months of living, as well as tuition fees for you and your accompanying family members and school costs for any school-aged dependents.
• You must have evidence that our spouse or parents are willing to support you and they have an annual income of at least AUD 62,222 for single students or at least AUD 75,592 for students who are accompanied by family members.

(Subclass 417)

This particular visa is for young adults who want an extended holiday and to work here to fund it. The basic eligibility criteria for this particular visa are:

• You must be 18 to 30 years old (inclusive) - except for Canadian, French and Irish citizens up to 35 (inclusive)
• You must have a passport from an eligible country or jurisdiction
• You must not be accompanied by dependent children
• Extension to a second year requires three months of specified work while holding your first sc417 or sc462
• Extension to a third year requires six months of specified work while holding your second sc417 or sc462

It is possible to extend this visa up to 3 times if you are eligible. Each visa is valid for up to 12 months.  Processing times can vary, but generally, the application should be finalised within 46 days.

The Temporary Activity visa (subclass 408) allows people to be sponsored to come to Australia on a temporary basis for work. Once granted, the visa holder can stay in Australia for a specified period of time and work in an area that aligns with the activity type under which the visa was approved.  Some activity types allow for the family unit to accompany the applicant.

As with all visas, there is a set of criteria that must be met, but the basic eligibility for this visa includes:

• have the skills to undertake the activity to be carried out in Australia
• be supported or sponsored
• meet additional requirements of the relevant stream

This visa covers various types of activities, including:

Special Programs

These programs can include youth exchange, cultural enrichment or community programs, school language assistants or "gap year school volunteering". The length of stay is up to 2 years; 75% of applications are processed in 37 days, and 90% are processed in 63 days.

Religious Work

This visa lets you do full-time religious work for a religious institution in Australia. You and your family who apply for the visa with you can stay here for up to 2 years, with 75% of applications being processed in 29 days and 90% in 71 days.

Research Activities

This visa lets you observe or take part in a research project at a research or tertiary institution in Australia. You and your family who apply for the visa with you can stay here for up to 2 years. 75% of applications are processed in 26 days, 90% in 46 days.

Sporting Activities

This visa allows you to play, coach, instruct, or adjudicate for an Australian team or do high-level sports training with a sporting organisation. You and your family can stay in Australia for up to 2 years.  75% of applications are processed in 25 days, and 90% are processed in 45 days.

Entertainment Activities

This temporary visa lets you come to Australia to work in the entertainment industry on film, television or live productions as a performer, production or support staff. You can stay for up to 2 years, and you can include family members in your visa application.  75% of applications are processed in 14 days, and 90% are processed in 31 days.

Superyacht Crew

This visa lets you work in Australia as a crew member of a superyacht. You can stay here for up to 12 months. Almost all requests are processed within 5 days.

Exchange Arrangements

This visa lets you come to Australia as part of a staff exchange with an Australian organisation. You and your family members who travel here on the visa with you can stay for up to 2 years.

If you are planning to visit Australia for a holiday, to see family and friends, or to conduct a short business trip, you will need to apply for an Australia Travel Visa.

There are three types of Australian visitor visas; however, your country of origin will determine which visa you can apply for. These include:

• Visitor visa (subclass 600)
• Electronic Travel Authority visa (subclass 601)
• eVisitor (subclass 651)

The basic eligibility for these visa streams are:

• you must be a genuine visitor
• you must have have enough funds to support your stay and also to leave
• You must have your own health insurance, as you will not be covered by Australia's national health scheme (Medicare) unless your country has a reciprocal health care agreement with Australia.
• You must declare any criminal convictions and have no outstanding debts to the Australian Government.
• If you are applying in Australia, you must be in Australia when the visa is decided.
• If you are applying outside of Australia, you must be outside Australia when the visa is decided on.

For accurate processing times for each visa class, visit the Department of Home Affairs website.

Tourist Stream (Subclass 600) - Apply in Australia

This visa stream lets you visit Australia as a tourist, to see family and friends or for purposes other than business or medical treatment.  This visa allows up to 12 months of stay in Australia and can be a useful visa to apply for if you hold another visa that is about to expire.

Tourist Stream (Subclass 600) - Apply Outside Australia

This visa stream lets you visit Australia as a tourist, go on a cruise, or see family and friends. The department may grant stays of 3, 6 or 12 months, with eligible parents of Australian citizens potentially being granted a longer validity period.

Sponsored Family Stream (Subclass 600)

This visa stream lets people who are sponsored, usually by a family member, come to Australia to visit their family members. You must be sponsored by an eligible family member who is an Australian citizen or permanent resident, and the department may ask the sponsor for a security bond.

Business Visitor Stream (Subclass 600)

This visa stream lets you visit Australia for business reasons for up to 3 months. You can make a short visit for business visitor reasons, but you can't work or sell goods or services.  The department might let you enter Australia once or many times while the visa is valid.  You must be outside Australia when you apply and when the department decides your visa outcome.

Approved Destination Status Stream (Subclass 600)

This visa stream is for citizens from certain areas of China visiting Australia on a tour organised by an approved travel agent. This visa lets citizens of the People's Republic of China (excluding SARs) visit Australia with an organised tour group only.  You must remain with the organised tour group at all times.  You can stay for the period planned or until the date the department specifies in your grant letter.

Frequent Traveller Stream (Subclass 600)

This visa stream is for citizens of the People's Republic of China who travel often to Australia for business or personal reasons. The visa can be granted for up to 10 years. Stay up to 3 months each time you enter.  You must hold a passport from the People's Republic of China, SARs excluded. You must provide biometrics within the People's Republic of China before you apply.