Australia Bridging visas A and B: what’s the difference?

At the end of your Working Holiday Visa in Australia, you may need a Bridging visa to cover the gap between your 1st and 2nd year, or between your 2nd and 3rd year.

In this article, we’ll walk you through what the Bridging visa is, how to get one, and the differences between Bridging visas A, B, and C.

What is a Bridging visa?

As the name suggests, the Bridging visa is a temporary visa that bridges the gap between two visas. It’s granted while you wait for another visa you’ve applied for, such as a 2nd or 3rd WHV. It allows you to maintain legal status in Australia while your new visa application is being processed.

Do I need a Bridging visa?

If you are only staying in Australia for up to one year on a WHV before returning to your home country (or going elsewhere), then you don’t need to worry about the Bridging visa.

However, if you want to obtain a 2nd or 3nd WHV to Australia, then it’s important to understand Bridging visas.

There’s more than one type of Bridging visa, which we will explain next.

Bridging visa A (BVA)

• Temporary
• Free of charge
• You must be in Australia
• Issued automatically

This is the Bridging visa that most WHV holders get.

The Bridging visa A is issued automatically when you apply for a new visa from within Australia. For example, when your 1st or 2nd WHV is about to expire, as long as you’ve submitted your new application before it ends, the Bridging visa A takes effect while your new WHV is being processed.

With it, you can stay legally in Australia with the same rights as those granted by your previous visa. Once your 2nd WHV is approved, your Bridging visa automatically ends and your new visa takes effect.

With a Bridging visa A, you cannot leave Australia during the waiting period for your new visa. If you leave, your application for the new visa will be cancelled and you’ll have to reapply and pay again from outside Australia. If you think you’ll need to travel internationally, the Bridging visa B is the better option.

Bridging visa B (BVB)

• Temporary
• Costs AU$190
• NOT issued automatically; must be applied for online from within Australia

The Bridging visa B works much like the Bridging visa A, except that it allows you to leave Australia and return while your application is being processed.

Because this visa isn’t cheap, think about whether you really need it. Sometimes, it may make more sense to just leave Australia, then apply for your 2nd or 3rd WHV from abroad, and wait for approval before re-entering Australia. If you take this route, beware that processing can take 1-2 months or longer.

Bridging visa C (BVC)

• Temporary
• Free of charge
• You must be in Australia

The BVC doesn’t concern WHV holders. It applies to people waiting for a visa decision in Australia who didn’t already hold a valid visa at the time of application.

If you still have questions about Bridging visas, feel free to leave a comment below.