Subclass 010 — Bridging Visa A (BVA) — Australia — immi.wiki

The Subclass 010 Bridging Visa A (BVA) is a temporary bridging visa that allows a person who is in Australia to remain lawfully in Australia after their current substantive visa ceases and while a new substantive visa application is being processed. The BVA is the most common bridging visa in the Australian immigration system — it is typically granted automatically when a person lodges a valid substantive visa application in Australia.

A BVA does not give the holder any greater rights than the visa they held at the time of application. In particular, work rights on the BVA are determined by reference to the substantive visa the holder was on at the time of the application. If the previous visa did not permit work, the BVA will have condition 8101 (no work) attached.

The BVA does not allow the holder to travel outside Australia. A person who departs Australia while holding only a BVA will cause the BVA to cease. A Subclass 020 Bridging Visa B (BVB) must be obtained before departing if the person intends to return to Australia and continue their application.

A BVA is granted to a person who:

• Is in Australia at the time of application
• Has lodged a valid application for a substantive visa in Australia
• Held a substantive visa (or another bridging visa) at the time of lodging the substantive visa application
• Is not unlawful at the time the substantive application is lodged (i.e., the application is made while the person is still lawful)

A BVA may also be granted in some circumstances to persons who were unlawful at the time of lodging, but this is less common and may require a waiver of Schedule 3 criteria.

The BVA is not available where a person has previously applied for and been refused the same visa class and has not since held a substantive visa, or where other bars apply.

In most cases, a BVA is automatically granted when a valid substantive visa application is lodged — there is no separate BVA application form or fee. The BVA commences when the person's current substantive visa ceases and continues until the substantive visa application is decided (or withdrawn).

In some circumstances, a person may need to apply separately for a BVA (e.g., where their circumstances changed after the substantive visa application was lodged). Applications are made online through ImmiAccount. For current information, refer to the DHA Subclass 010 page.

Conditions on the BVA depend on the conditions of the substantive visa the holder previously held:

• Work rights: If the previous substantive visa permitted work, the BVA generally inherits those work rights. If the previous visa had condition 8101 (no work), the BVA will also have 8101.
• No travel: The BVA does not include permission to re-enter Australia after departure. Departing Australia while on only a BVA will cause the BVA to cease. A BVB is required to preserve the right to return.

The BVA ceases when the substantive visa is granted or the application is refused (at which point a further bridging visa — typically a Subclass 051 BVE — may be granted to allow time to arrange departure or lodge a Ministerial Intervention request).