February 4, 2012

Australian Bridging Visa

If a person was to remain in Australia without a valid visa or after a visa has expired, they will be in violation of Australian government law. This means that you are very unlikely to be allowed to enter Australia in the future. The bridging visa for Australia is a short term, temporary visa that can be used in a variety of circumstances to enable a non-Australian citizen to remain lawfully in Australia.


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There are different categories of bridging visas for Australia that relate to different circumstances. These have separate conditions and lengths of stay.

Bridging Visa for Australia Class A can be used where a person holds a substantive visa and are applying for another visa.

Bridging Visa Class B is for use in extreme circumstances when someone who already holds a bridging visa and has applied for a substantive visa is compelled to travel over seas whilst their application is being processed. There must be a good reason for this journey to be eligible for a bridging visa for Australia.

Bridging Visa Class C is used where a person who does not at that time have a visa and cannot be located by the officials. The individual in question must have lodged a valid visa application to be eligible.

Bridging Visa Class D has two sub categories. Firstly, where any individual is residing illegally in Australia or will become unlawful in the next three working days and intends to apply for a visa but has been unable to do so e.g. have used the wrong application form. This visa will be granted for five days so that a proper application can be lodged. Secondly, where a person who remains in Australia unlawfully has no intention to lodge a visa application or is unable to do so and there is no one available to consider their eligibility for a bridging visa E. If this category of visa is granted, the person would have five days to either be interviewed at a Department of Immigration Office or leave Australia.

The final category of Bridging Visa for Australia is Class E, in which instance the person has been located by the department.

This is where a person has been located by a department and one of the following applies to them:

  1. They are making arrangements, or are the subject of arrangements to leave Australia.
  2. They have submitted an application for a visa that has not yet been decided.
  3. They have applied for a merits review of a refusal to grant a substantive visa.
  4. They have requested a judicial review of a decision to refuse a visa.
  5. They have applied for a merits review or a judicial review of the cancellation of a visa or a decision not to revoke a cancellation.
  6. Have applied to have an automatic student visa cancellation revoked.
  7. They are currently awaiting a decision concerning ministerial intervention powers.
  8. They are in criminal detention.

If you were ever in any of the circumstances described above, you should always apply as soon as is possible for a bridging visa for Australia, to avoid becoming unlawful. Applications for bridging visas must be made at an office of the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs in Australia. Due to this we are unable to act on your behalf for this particular type of visa.


The above information is provided solely for your information.


If you should have any questions or require further information you are very welcome to contact one of our visa experts to discuss this.

Phone: 01925 451 165
E-Mail: enquiries@visasforaustralia.co.uk