Bridging visa E (subclass 050) is usually issued for a short period of time so you can legally stay in Australia while you make arrangements to leave or while your protection visa application is being processed (subclass 051).
This type of visa may also be issued while you finalize your immigration matter or you are waiting for a decision on your immigration status.
Bridging Visa E Types
There are two subclasses of bridging visas E:
- Bridging visa E- subclass 050 (BVE 050).
- Bridging visa E- subclass 051 (BVE 051).
The difference between bridging visa E subclass 050 and subclass 051, is that BVE 051 is only issued to protection visa applicants.
Who Is Eligible for a Bridging Visa E?
You are allowed to apply for a bridging visa E subclass 050 if:
- You are currently staying in Australia illegally.
- You hold a BVE (050) at the time of the application.
- You hold a BVD (041) when you apply for this visa.
You are eligible to apply for a bridging visa E subclass 051 if you do not have immigration clearance and the Department of Foreign Affairs was notified of your arrival within 45 days since you arrived, and one of these applies to you:
- You applied for a protection visa and a final decision hasn’t been made.
- Your protection visa application was denied and you applied for an appeal of the decision or judicial review.
- You are in Immigration detention.
Requirements for a Bridging Visa E
You must include the following in your BVE application:
- Passport and identity documents. Make sure you submit a copy of your passport’s bio page and additional documents if you can. If you don’t currently have a valid passport, you must provide evidence that you have made adequate arrangements for your new passport.
- Evidence that you are of good moral character. The Immigration Office may not require these documents at the time of your application but, they will let you know if you need to provide them after you lodge your application.
- Your fingerprints and passport photos. The department will let you know if you need to visit one of their offices to submit your fingerprints.
- If someone helps you with the visa application: Form 956A or form 956.
- Bridging Visa E subclass 051 application form 1005.
- In case you are applying for a visa subclass 050 you must also submit these:
- Copies of your visa application (if you are waiting for a decision on your visa).
- Tribunal appeal records (if you applied for an appeal at AAT).
- Judicial review proceedings.
- Intervention requests from the Ministry (if applicable).
- The date of your departure from Australia.
- The country you are headed to.
- Your flight ticket proving you are headed to a country that will allow you to enter.
How to Apply for a Bridging Visa E?
There are two ways you can apply for a bridging visa E:
- Online application. You have to use the ImmiAccount platform to lodge your bridging visa E application. In case you are applying for subclass 050, online applications are more preferred by the Department.
- Paper application. You have to fill in the bridging visa form and send your application via post or email. You have to send the application to an Australian visa office nearest to you since you might be called for an interview. If you send your application via email, you have to check the emails listed on the Immigration Department Webpage that correspond to your area.
Applying for a BVE subclass 051
Online applications for this subclass of the bridging visa E are not possible. You have to submit a paper application either by post or email.
Australia Bridging Visa E Processing Times
There is no specific processing time for this type of visa application but the department will try to process your application as fast as they can. If you provide all the required information when you apply, it will take less time for your application to be processed.
Bridging Visa E Cost
You aren’t required to pay anything for a bridging visa E application.
How Long Does a Bridging Visa E Last?
A bridging visa is granted only for a specific time and will become void if:
- You are granted your substantive visa.
- You leave Australia.
- Your BVE is canceled.
Can I Stay Longer With a Bridging Visa E?
No, you are not allowed to stay longer once your BVE has ended, you can only apply for a new BVE.
Bridging Visa E Work Rights
In order to work with a bridging visa E, you must prove that you are experiencing financial difficulties. If you are given permission to work you are limited to only 40 hours of work in a two-week timeframe.
Can I Study With an Australia Bridging Visa E
Depending on your visa conditions, you are allowed only three months of studying on a bridging visa E. This restriction may be waived if you held or are applying for any of the following:
- Student Guardian Visa- subclass 590.
- Medical treatment visa- subclass 602.
Can I Travel With an Australia Bridging Visa E?
You cannot travel with a BVE visa, if you do leave Australia your bridging visa E stops being valid and you cannot enter Australia under the same visa. If you want to return, you have to apply for another substantive visa.
Can I Include Family Members in My Bridging Visa E Application?
If you want to apply with your family members for your BVE, you can include them in your visa application. However, both you and the other applicants have to be in Australia at the time of the application and at the time of the bridging visa E grant.
Reporting Requirements for Bridging Visa E
If condition 8402 is attached to your visa, you must make an appointment for report at one of Australia’s Visa and Citizenship offices within 5 working days since your visa is granted. After this time, you have to report at the same office on the first working day each week until your visa is valid.
Bridging Visa E Cancellation
Your bridging visa E has several conditions attached to it and if you fail to keep up with these conditions, the Immigration office will cancel your visa:
- No work condition 8108. You cannot work with a bridging visa E unless you have written approval and you can only do unpaid work or observe the work in an industry without taking part in the working process.
- Work restriction 8104. With this visa condition, you are allowed to work only a specified number of hours every two weeks.
- Specific work condition 8116. If this condition is attached to your BVE, then you are not allowed to work in any other position except as a crew member on the flight which you leave Australia or a flight from a proclaimed airport headed to another proclaimed airport.
- Study limitation condition 8201. Under this condition, you can only study for a period of three months.
- No study condition 8207. If your visa has this condition, you are not eligible for any study programs or training in Australia.
- Report at a specific place condition 8401. In your visa grant letter, there will be instructions for you when and where you need to report.
- Place of living condition 8505. With this condition, you are required to continue living at the same address you provided in your application.
- Change of address condition 8506. You can change your address but, you must notify the Immigration Department of the change.
- Condition 8303. You are required to keep up with the character requirements and not be involved in any criminal or harmful activities.
- Condition 8507. You are responsible for paying the cost of your detention.
- Condition 8509. Under this condition, you are required to apply for a substantive visa or provide travel arrangements out of Australia within 5 working days of your BVE visa grant.
- Condition 8512. You are required to leave Australia by the date specified on your visa grant letter.
- Condition 8548. If this condition applied to your bridging visa E, you are only allowed four months of study or training. This includes 17 weeks and 3 days excluding orientation periods and holiday periods.
- Condition 8566. If you signed a letter to uphold Australia’s values and laws, you must not violate the agreement during your stay in Australia.