Bridging visas are one of the most confusing aspects of Australia’s migration system. This is due to their nature and purpose. While there are many types and reasons to hold a bridging visa, their underlying purpose is to keep a non-citizen lawful in Australia until something happens, such as a decision on their visa application, or they depart Australia.

Some visa applicants are perplexed by how bridging visas operate and when they can, should, or must apply for one. As bridging visas are defined as not being substantive visas, more than one can be held at any one time, but they will not be active until any substantive visa ceases. Bridging visas cease if the holder is outside Australia when it becomes active or they depart Australia, unless they hold a Bridging B visa, which must be applied for and granted while they are in Australia. Bridging visa applications cannot be made or approved if the applicant is overseas.

Most bridging visas are granted automatically when a substantive visa is validly lodged while the applicant is in Australia and the visa applied for is one that can be granted while they are in Australia. This is why there is not just one bridging visa application form but many: the application form for a substantive visa is also the application form for a bridging visa if the applicant is in Australia. A quick view of the instrument that determines how a valid bridging visa application is made lists the different application forms, most of which are for substantive visa applications. What bridging visa is granted (as these forms are duplicated for Bridging visas A, C, and E) depends on the visa status of the holder at the time of applying.

In some circumstances, such as needing to travel, as above, or to apply to vary the conditions on a bridging visa so to be allowed to work, a separate bridging visa application must be made. For three of the most popular bridging visas, subclass 010 – Bridging visa A, subclass 020 – Bridging visa B, and subclass 030 – Bridging visa C, posted paper applications from 1 August 2022 will not be valid.

Instead, these bridging visa applications must be made either through ImmiAccount in the relevant substantive visa application which has existed since 1 July 2016, or if the substantive visa application was refused and the holder has applied for review, at the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) or through the federal court system, then an application must be made through the webform on the Department of Home Affairs’ website.

The paper forms (Form 1005 for Bridging visa As and Cs, and Form 1006 for Bridging visa Bs) are still required. They must be completed and attached to the webform and as there is a visa application charge for Bridging visa Bs, these must be paid through ImmiAccount. Furthermore, paper forms can be used and emailed to a designated email address only if for whatever reason an application cannot be made through ImmiAccount or the webform and prior permission has been given.

This is a welcome change from the need to post paper applications. Errors such as posting to the wrong address or potential handling errors in transit or one receipt are eliminated, thus providing greater certainty that a valid application is made.

The other major bridging visa that along with the above make up some 99.98 per cent of all bridging visa holders, the subclass 050 – Bridging visa E, has already moved to ImmiAccount.