Bridging visa E (BVE) (subclass 050)
Bridging visa E (BVE) (subclass 050)
Visa Cost
Free (AUD 0)
From 1 July 2025 the Bridging Visa E no longer attracts an application fee (it was previously charged and is now free). But migration agent fees, legal advice fees, and any health examination required by the Department are borne separately.
Processing Time
Varies by case: simple 'arranging departure' cases are often faster; cases involving review/ministerial intervention/substantive visa processing depend on the progress of the related matter
Eligibility
- Be in Australia at both application and grant (a BVE cannot be applied for offshore)
- Usually unlawful non-citizens or those whose visa is about to cease/has ceased, taking active steps to resolve their immigration status
- Have an acceptable reason to remain in Australia: such as applying for a substantive visa, seeking review, seeking ministerial intervention, or arranging departure
- You must apply proactively and provide evidence to the Department; a BVE is not granted automatically
- Subclass 050 applies to general cases (arranging departure or handling other immigration matters); subclass 051 is specifically for those in immigration detention who have applied for a protection visa
- Work rights are not included by default; you must apply separately and prove 'imminent financial hardship' (some s195A grantees can obtain work rights under the 2025 new rules)
- You must comply with the attached conditions (such as 8001 no travel, the Form 1444i code of behaviour, etc.)
Key Information
Validity / Stay / Residence
No fixed validity; it is valid temporarily while you arrange departure or await an immigration decision/review, and ceases once the matter concludes; travel is generally not allowed (you usually cannot re-enter after leaving).
Eligible Dependants
There is no separate family-inclusion mechanism; family members each apply for their own bridging visa.
PR / Permanent Residence Pathway
No PR pathway. The BVE is a 'last resort' temporary bridging visa, used to maintain lawful status while arranging departure or awaiting the outcome of an immigration matter/review/appeal/ministerial intervention; it does not lead to permanent residence.
View provisional-to-permanent transition overview โCommon Visa Conditions
Full explanations of condition codes are in the Visa Conditions Lookup
Application Steps
Establish an acceptable reason to remain
Establish an acceptable reason to remain
A BVE is not granted automatically; you must first identify and be able to prove an acceptable reason to remain in Australia, such as applying for a substantive visa, seeking review or ministerial intervention, or arranging departure.
- Establish your current immigration status (whether you have become unlawful)
- Decide which path to take (stay and resolve matters vs arrange departure)
- Prepare the corresponding evidence
Lodge via ImmiAccount or Form 1008
Lodge via ImmiAccount or Form 1008
Apply online in ImmiAccount where possible; those unable to apply online complete Form 1008 and post it to the nearest Home Affairs office.
- Online: log in to ImmiAccount and select Bridging visa E
- Offline: Form 1008 + supporting materials by post
- Free to apply from 1 July 2025
Provide supporting evidence
Provide supporting evidence
Submit with the application materials proving you have an acceptable reason to remain, such as a receipt for a visa under processing, a review acknowledgement, or departure flight arrangements.
- For those arranging departure: passport, tickets/bookings, itinerary
- For those handling immigration matters: the receipt for the relevant application/review/intervention
- Truthfully state personal and family circumstances
Sign Code of Behaviour and accept conditions
Sign Code of Behaviour and accept conditions
Subclass 050 applicants may need to sign a code of behaviour (Form 1444i) and accept visa conditions (such as 8001 no travel).
- Understand 8001: leaving the country permanently ceases the BVE
- Comply with other conditions such as reporting/residential address
- Breaching the conditions may lead to detention or refusal of later visas
Apply separately for work rights
Apply separately for work rights
A BVE carries no work right by default; to work you must apply separately and prove imminent financial hardship (some s195A grantees can work under the 2025 new rules).
- Submit specific evidence of financial hardship
- Check whether you fall within a category that can obtain work rights
- Check the work conditions in VEVO before working
Progress matter or depart
Progress matter or depart
A BVE's validity is tied to the reason for grant and usually ceases a few days after your immigration matter concludes, or on the day you leave Australia.
- Continue to cooperate with the progress of the related visa/review/intervention
- Those arranging departure leave Australia as planned
- Avoid overstaying and becoming unlawful again
Required Documents
| Document Name | English Name | Required | Description | Tips |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Form 1008 โ Application for a Bridging visa E | Form 1008 โ Application for a Bridging visa E | The paper BVE application form used when you cannot apply online via ImmiAccount; complete it and post it to the nearest Home Affairs office. | Those who can apply online do not need this form; for offline applications, be sure to post to the correct office address. | |
| Passport or travel/identity document | Passport or travel/identity document | The applicant's passport or other identity document, to verify identity; those without a passport must provide an alternative identity document. | Applicants arranging departure especially need a valid travel document to leave. | |
| Evidence of current immigration status | Evidence of current immigration status | Explain your current visa/unlawful status (VEVO record, the latest visa cessation notice, etc.). | A BVE is mostly for those whose status has ceased or is about to cease; describing your current situation truthfully is essential. | |
| Evidence of acceptable reason to remain | Evidence of acceptable reason to remain | Prove you are taking active steps to resolve your immigration matters: a receipt for a substantive visa under processing, an AAT/ART review acknowledgement, a ministerial intervention request, etc. | This is the core of whether a BVE can be granted; without an acceptable reason it is usually refused. | |
| Evidence of departure arrangements | Evidence of departure arrangements | If the BVE is for arranging departure: ticket bookings, itinerary, and a plan to wind up your affairs in Australia. | A clear departure schedule can speed up the processing of this kind of BVE. | |
| Form 1444i โ Code of Behaviour | Form 1444i โ Code of Behaviour | A code of behaviour that some subclass 050 applicants must sign, undertaking to follow the relevant standards of conduct while in Australia. | Signing is one of the conditions of grant; breaching it may affect later visas and residence. | |
| Evidence of compelling financial hardship | Evidence of compelling financial hardship | A BVE has no work right by default; to apply for work rights you must prove imminent financial hardship. | Such as bank statements, a declaration of no other income source, and proof of support burden. | |
| Review or ministerial intervention evidence | Review or ministerial intervention evidence | If the reason to remain is review or ministerial intervention: the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART/AAT) acknowledgement letter or the ministerial intervention request receipt. | Attach the case number and a timeline to help the case officer check which stage you are at. | |
| Family members and relationship documents | Family members and relationship documents | If there are accompanying family members, provide their identity documents and relationship evidence (marriage certificate, birth certificate). | Non-English documents require a certified translation; family members may each need to meet the requirements. | |
| Health examination (if requested) | Health examination (if requested) | A health examination the Department may require in individual cases. | The health examination is at your own cost; complete it with a designated panel physician. | |
| Current address and contact details | Current address and contact details | Provide an accurate residential address and contact details in Australia, so the Department can serve notices and arrange any reporting. | Update any change of address promptly to avoid missing key notices and causing visa problems. |
FAQ
My visa has expired and I am now unlawful; can I still apply for a BVE?
Is there a fee to apply for a Bridging Visa E?
Can I work on a BVE?
Can I leave the country and return home on a BVE?
What is the difference between a BVE and a Bridging Visa A?
Common Refusal Reasons
- Not being in Australia at application or decision
- No valid immigration matter/review/appeal in progress, and no departure arrangement (no basis for grant)
- Refusing to sign or breaching the code of behaviour (Form 1443 Code of Behaviour)
- Character/security risk or a serious offence record
- Assessed as not genuinely arranging departure, attempting to use a bridging visa to delay removal
Can you appeal after a refusal? See the Visa Refusal & Review (ART) Guide.