Home | Migrants | Temporary Activity Visa
| Bridging Visa | Bridging Visa A
A Bridging Visa A (BVA), also known as Subclass 010, is one of the most common bridging visas used by people who have lodged an eligible substantive visa application while in Australia.
A BVA can allow an eligible applicant to remain lawfully in Australia if their current substantive visa ends before the new visa application is finally decided. However, being granted a BVA does not necessarily mean it becomes active immediately, and work rights can vary between applicants.
This guide explains Bridging Visa A eligibility, how to apply, when a BVA becomes active, work and travel restrictions, processing time and what may happen after a visa refusal or review.
If you want to compare BVA with BVB, BVC, BVD and BVE first, see our Bridging Visa Australia guide.
For Chinese-language information specifically about Subclass 010, see our Bridging Visa A guide（澳洲过桥签证A）.
Bridging Visa A is Subclass 010.
In one of the most common BVA situations, an applicant has made a valid substantive visa application in Australia for a visa that can be granted while they are in Australia. The application has not yet been finally determined, and the applicant held a substantive visa when the new application was made.
For example, an eligible applicant may lodge an onshore Partner Visa 820/801（澳洲配偶签证820/801） while their current substantive visa is still valid. If that existing visa ends before the Partner Visa application is decided, an eligible BVA may then become active.
BVA can also arise in other circumstances, including some judicial review situations or where an eligible BVA or BVB holder applies for a new BVA with different work conditions.
This means that lodging any visa application in Australia does not automatically guarantee a Bridging Visa A. Eligibility depends on the visa application, your current or previous visa status and the circumstances of your case.
In a common Subclass 010 application, relevant factors include whether:
The Migration Regulations also provide BVA pathways in certain judicial review circumstances and for some BVA or BVB holders who have restricted work conditions and can establish a compelling need to work.
If you did not hold a substantive visa when your new visa application was lodged, a BVA may not be the appropriate Bridging Visa and another category may need to be considered.
You do not always need to make a separate Bridging Visa A application.
A BVA may be granted in connection with an eligible substantive visa application. In other situations, you may need to make a new BVA application, for example if a previous Bridging Visa has ceased, you want to request different visa conditions, or your matter has entered judicial review.
If your substantive visa application was lodged through ImmiAccount and you have not applied for review, Home Affairs requires eligible Bridging Visa A, B or C applications to be submitted through ImmiAccount.
If the substantive visa was lodged using a paper form, eligible applicants can complete Form 1005 and upload it with supporting documents through the Department’s Bridging Visa online form.
Before applying, check:
Being granted a BVA does not necessarily mean it becomes active on the grant date.
If your current substantive visa is still valid, that visa may remain in effect first. Your BVA can then become active when the relevant circumstances specified in the visa grant and migration rules occur.
For example, if your existing visa remains valid for another three months when your BVA is granted, you will generally continue to hold that substantive visa first. The BVA may become active later when the substantive visa ceases.
For this reason, always check your BVA grant letter and VEVO rather than assuming that the visa is already active simply because you have received a grant notice.
A Bridging Visa A does not have one set of work rights that applies to every holder.
Whether you can work depends on the conditions attached to your individual BVA. The safest way to confirm your work rights is to check your Bridging Visa grant letter and VEVO.
If your BVA has work restrictions, some eligible applicants may apply for a new Bridging Visa with different conditions.
Form 1005 specifically covers applications for another BVA, BVB or BVC with different conditions. Home Affairs states that applicants seeking removal of work restrictions will generally need to provide evidence of a compelling need to work, which can include financial hardship in relevant circumstances.
Therefore, do not assume that another person’s BVA work rights are the same as yours.
A BVA does not provide a travel facility that allows you to leave Australia and return on that visa.
Home Affairs states that if you leave Australia while a Bridging Visa other than BVB is in effect, that Bridging Visa will cease. Only a Bridging Visa B can provide travel and re-entry rights during an approved travel period while you are waiting for a substantive visa decision.
If you currently hold a BVA and need to travel overseas temporarily, check whether you are eligible for a Bridging Visa B before leaving Australia.
In simple terms:
BVA helps maintain lawful status while you remain in Australia.
BVB can provide approved travel and return rights for eligible applicants.
There is no single Bridging Visa A processing time that applies to every application.
How long a BVA application takes can depend on why the application is being made, the circumstances of the associated substantive visa, the information provided and whether you are requesting different conditions or dealing with judicial review.
Home Affairs also advises applicants not to lodge duplicate Bridging Visa applications simply because an existing application is still being processed, as duplicate applications can contribute to delays.
A BVA also does not have one standard validity period such as three or six months.
How long a Bridging Visa A remains in effect depends on the substantive visa application, any review proceedings and the particular cessation events that apply to the visa.
Your grant letter and VEVO should therefore be used to confirm both your current visa status and conditions.
Not necessarily.
What happens to a BVA after a substantive visa application is refused depends on the type of BVA, the relevant visa application and whether review rights exist.
A refusal decision and the expiry of a Bridging Visa are also separate from the deadline for lodging an ART review.
If you receive a refusal decision, check the decision letter immediately for any review rights and deadlines rather than assuming that you can wait until the BVA ends.
Where a refusal decision is reviewable and a valid ART application is lodged within the required timeframe, the related Bridging Visa may continue in accordance with the applicable migration rules.
However, this should not be interpreted as meaning that lodging an ART application automatically extends every BVA indefinitely.
The visa involved, timing of the review application and outcome of the case can all affect your Bridging Visa position.
For information about eligible visa refusal and cancellation reviews, see ART Appeal（ART上诉）.
If your BVA is connected with a substantive visa application and that application is withdrawn, the BVA can also be affected.
The timing of when it ceases depends on the applicable rules and your wider immigration circumstances.
If you have more than one visa application or Bridging Visa, do not assume that the status of one application tells you which visa is currently in effect.
You should not assume that it will.
Being granted a BVA that is expected to become active later does not mean that cancelling your current substantive visa will automatically cause the BVA to take over as planned.
Visa cancellation can directly affect Bridging Visa status.
If your substantive visa is facing cancellation, or you are considering withdrawing or cancelling an existing visa, confirm your current status before taking action.
Melbourne (CBD):
Phone：03 9670 6660
Shanghai：
Phone：+86 1376 1314 654
Phone: 03 9670 6660
Hong Kong:
Phone: +852 6875 6585Edmond
Mobile Number:
Phone: 0438 551 289
0438 551 289
Jasmine Liu （MARN 2318100）
Code of Conduct for Australia Migration Agents
