Subclass 030 - BRIDGING VISA C (BVC)

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.

Process

In order to be eligible for the Bridging Visa C, you must:

• Be in Australia when you apply
• If you meet all the eligibility requirements, be in Australia at the time of grant

If you are getting help with your visa, it is important to read the information on who can help with your visa application before you pay someone.

With this visa, you can:

• 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

This is a temporary visa. Nearly all bridging visas are applied for automatically as part of applying for a substantive visa. However, a separate application for a BVC might be necessary in certain cases where you are seeking a further BVC without work restrictions or have applied for judicial review.

A BVC comes 'into effect' when it is granted, your current substantive visa ceases, or another bridging visa that is more beneficial than your current bridging visa ceases. Visa holders must adhere to the conditions imposed on their visa.

If a merits review tribunal upholds our decision to refuse your substantive visa application and you apply for judicial review, you will need to apply for a bridging visa to maintain your lawful status during the judicial review proceedings. If you have applied for judicial review, you can only apply for a bridging visa by webform.

Working in Australia

The initial BVC we grant when you apply for your substantive visa will not let you work, unless the substantive visa you have applied for is one of the specified SkillSelect visas. If your BVC does not let you work, or has restrictions on working, you can apply for another BVC that lets you work. To be considered for a BVC that lets you work, you will usually have to demonstrate that you are experiencing financial hardship.

If you are not a Protection or SkillSelect visa applicant and you apply for a BVC for judicial review, you will only be granted a new BVC that does not allow you to work, even if your last BVC allowed you to work.

Stay Longer

You can't stay in Australia longer by extending this visa. You must apply for a new visa if you wish to stay longer. Explore your visa options to find the best solution for your situation.

Include Family

If you and your family have applied together for a substantive visa in Australia, you might have also applied together for a BVC. Check if family members already hold a BVC in VEVO. If you apply separately for a BVC, you can include members of the family unit in your BVC application, if they are included in your substantive visa application. We will assess each member of the family unit's application and decide which bridging visa they can be granted.

Cost

The Bridging Visa C is free of charge.

Apply From

You and anyone included in your application must be in Australia when the BVC application is submitted and granted.

Your Obligations

You and anyone included in your application must comply with all Australian laws and the conditions of the current visa (if any held), as well as the conditions of your BVC when it comes into effect. See the conditions that will and might be applied to a BVC.

Travel

If you leave Australia on this visa when it is in effect, you will not be able to return on it. A BVC that is in effect will cease upon departure from Australia. To see if your BVC is in effect, see VEVO. As a BVC holder, we cannot grant you a Bridging visa B (BVB) that allows you to travel and return to Australia while your substantive visa application is being processed. If you leave Australia and you do not hold another visa that allows you to return, you will have to apply for and be granted a substantive visa before you can return to Australia. There is no guarantee that you will be granted a visa.

Visa Label

We will digitally link your visa to your passport. You will not get a label in your passport.

Criteria

These are some of the common eligibility criteria for the Bridging Visa C:

• You must not hold a Bridging visa E (BVE) and you must not have held a BVE since you last held a substantive visa.
• When you lodged your application for a substantive visa, you must not have held a substantive visa.
• You will need to be in Australia when you apply.
• You must have made a valid application for a substantive visa that has not been finally determined or you have made an application for judicial review of a decision relating to your substantive visa application, within the prescribed timeframe, and the judicial review proceedings have not been completed, and you previously held a BVC in relation to the substantive visa application.
• You must apply within the prescribed timeframe for administrative appeals tribunal and judicial review.
• You can be any age to apply for this visa.
• You will need to meet the character requirement.

For a full list of criteria, please refer to Schedule 2 in the Migration Regulations 1994.

Before You Apply

Before applying for the Bridging Visa C, it is important to check if you already hold a BVC with VEVO. Only certain people can help you with your application, such as registered migration agents, legal practitioners, or exempt persons. You should also gather all the necessary documents and provide accurate information.

Apply for the Visa

The application process for the Bridging Visa C depends on how you applied for your substantive visa and whether you have applied for a review of a decision about your substantive visa application. You must apply for the BVC in the same way you applied for your substantive visa. If you applied for your new substantive visa through ImmiAccount, you must apply for your BVC application through ImmiAccount. If you applied for your new substantive visa by paper, you must submit your BVC application by webform. If you have applied for a review of a decision about your substantive visa application, you must submit your BVC application by webform. You and anyone included in your application must be in Australia when the BVC application is lodged.

After You Apply

After you apply for the Bridging Visa C, we will inform you when we have received your application and documents. We do not provide updates on application processing times, so it is important to wait for us to contact you. If you need to attach more information or if there are any changes to your circumstances, you should notify us as soon as possible. We will let you know our decision about your visa application in writing, including the visa grant number, start date, and any applicable conditions. Make sure to stay lawful by holding a valid visa while your bridging visa and substantive visa application are being processed.

Visa Outcome

Once your Bridging Visa C is granted, you can stay lawfully in Australia until we make a decision on your application for a visa review. It is important to comply with all Australian laws and the conditions applied to your visa. If you are granted a BVC that does not permit work, you can apply for a further Bridging Visa with no conditions if you can demonstrate financial hardship. If you leave Australia on this visa when it is in effect, you will not be able to return on it. To prove you have a visa and show your conditions to someone, you can use VEVO. If you have any changes to your circumstances, be sure to inform us as soon as possible.

For more information, please refer to the official Australian government website or consult with a registered migration agent or legal practitioner.