Holiday Travel Tips: The Importance of Your Bridging Visa

As the holiday season approaches, many visa applicants start planning trips to visit family or take a well-earned break. However, if you’re currently in Australia on a Bridging Visa A (BVA), you must ensure you have a valid Bridging Visa B (BVB) before you travel. 

A Bridging Visa A allows you to stay lawfully in Australia while your substantive visa application is being processed, but it does not allow you to re-enter if you leave the country. If you depart without a BVB, your BVA will cease automatically, and you may find yourself stranded overseas and unable to return on the same visa status.

The Bridging Visa B grants permission to travel outside Australia and return within a specified period while keeping your visa status active. With processing times varying throughout the year,  and December often seeing a surge in applications, it’s important not to leave this to the last minute.

If your BVB expires while you’re overseas, you cannot renew it from outside Australia, and you may need to apply for another substantive visa from abroad before returning.

Checking your visa status now and applying early for a Bridging Visa B ensures you can travel with peace of mind, and return smoothly to continue your visa process in the new year.

Book a consultation to speak to one of experienced Registered Migration Agents today.

Disclaimer: The information provided herein is of a general nature only and does not constitute immigration advice. For more detailed and case-specific information or advice, please get in touch with SCA Connect.