Bridging visas A, B and C

A bridging visa is a holding pen. It keeps you lawfully in Australia between substantive visas while a decision is made.

Bridging Visa A (BVA, subclass 010)

Granted automatically when you apply for a new substantive visa onshore while you hold one.
It activates only when your previous visa ceases.
Work rights match your previous visa, unless you specifically apply for different conditions (rare).
You cannot travel and return on a BVA. If you leave Australia, the BVA ceases the moment you depart.

Bridging Visa B (BVB, subclass 020)

Bridging Visa C (BVC, subclass 030)

Granted when you apply for a substantive visa onshore but were unlawful or on a non-substantive visa at the time.
Often comes without work rights by default — you must apply separately for work rights, based on financial hardship.
Cannot be converted to a BVB for travel.

Common gotchas

Many people don't know they're on a bridging visa until their substantive visa ceases. Check VEVO every few weeks during processing.
Leaving Australia on a BVA without a BVB means starting again — you'd need to apply for a new visa from offshore.
The "previous visa's conditions" rule means a BVA that follows a student visa keeps the 48-hour fortnight cap. It doesn't magically give you full work rights just because the student course is over.

Where to read more

More in Visas