Bridging visa C (subclass 030)

Who gets a BVC?

You may be granted a BVC if you made a valid application in Australia for a substantive visa and you do not already hold a substantive visa. Most are granted automatically with the application. For a separate application you must:

• not hold a Bridging visa E, and not have held one since you last held a substantive visa,
• not have held a substantive visa when you lodged the application,
• be in Australia,
• have a valid substantive visa application not finally decided (or have applied for judicial review in time, having previously held a BVC for that application), and
• meet the character requirement.

There is no age limit and no fee. A bridging visa cannot be used while you wait for a citizenship decision.

Can you work on a BVC?

The first BVC granted with your application does not let you work, unless the substantive visa you applied for is one of these: Business Talent (132), Employer Nomination Scheme (186), Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (187), Business Innovation and Investment (188 or 888), Skilled Independent (189), Skilled Nominated (190), Skilled Regional (489), Skilled Work Regional (491) or Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (494).

If your BVC does not let you work you can apply for another BVC that does, and you must show financial hardship. If you do not qualify you get a new BVC with the same restriction. For judicial review, a protection visa applicant can get a new BVC with work rights only if the last BVC allowed work. Other applicants are granted a BVC without work rights even if the last one allowed it. See bridging visa work rights.

How long does it last?

Until your substantive visa application is finally decided. It ends immediately if you leave Australia, if you are granted the visa or another bridging visa for the same application, or if it is cancelled. For a BVC granted on or after 19 November 2016, it ends 35 calendar days after a refusal, Tribunal decision, finding of invalidity or withdrawal, and 28 calendar days after a judicial review body upholds the refusal or you withdraw the judicial review. Check VEVO for your exact end date. A BVC cannot be extended, and it does not support return travel.