Subclass (051) · Bridging and other visas · Stream of Bridging visa E (BVE)
Bridging visa E (BVE)
A Bridging Visa E may provide lawful stay while a person resolves their immigration status, arranges departure or pursues an eligible process. The duration and conditions depend on the case. It does not provide a right to return after departure.
This visa lets you stay in Australia while your Protection visa application is being processed.
- Stay
Temporarily
- Government charge
- There is no fee for a BVE application.
- Visa type
Bridging
Official information from the Department of Home Affairs
The material below reproduces English-language information from the Department of Home Affairs about this visa. Requirements may have changed since it was added to this website. Use the source link to check the latest information; I can explain relevant provisions in Vietnamese or English during a consultation.
Overview
Stay
Temporarily
Government charge
There is no fee for a BVE application.Processing times
For an indication of processing times for this visa, use the visa processing time guide tool. This will show the processing times for recently decided applications. It is a guide only and not specific to your application.
With this visa, you can
- stay in Australia lawfully while your Protection visa application is being processed.
You must
- comply with all Australian laws
Help with your visa
If you are getting help with your visa, before you pay someone, read information on Who can help with your visa application.
About this visa
Types of bridging visas
You can stay in Australia lawfully while your Protection visa application is being processed.
There are two types of BVEs:
- Bridging (General) visa (subclass 050) - generally if you are currently unlawful, the holder of a BVE 050 or the holder of a BVD 041
- Bridging (Protection Visa Applicant) visa (subclass 051) - used in limited situations to allow certain eligible non-citizens (as specified by the Regulations) to remain lawfully in Australia while their Protection visa application is being finalised.
With this visa you can
You may be eligible to apply for this visa if you were refused immigration clearance or bypassed immigration clearance and came to our notice as an unlawful non-citizen within 45 days of entering Australia, and all of the following apply to you
- you are in immigration detention
- you have applied for a protection visa and this has not been finally determined; or you have applied for judicial review of a protection visa refusal decision
- you meet other specific requirements relating to age, health or nomination, or you meet the requirements for a further BVE (subclass 051)
How long you can stay
This visa is valid until a specified date, or for a particular time period, or until a specified event happens.
Your BVE will also end if:
- you leave Australia
- we grant you a substantive visa
- your BVE is cancelled
Stay longer
You cannot stay in Australia longer by extending this visa.
Include family
You can include members of the family unit in your application when you apply.
Cost
There is no fee for a BVE application.
Processing times
For an indication of processing times for this visa, use the visa processing time guide tool. This will show the processing times for recently decided applications. It is a guide only and not specific to your application.
Your application can take longer to process if:
- you do not fill it in correctly
- you do not include all the documents we need or we need more information from you
- it takes us time to verify your information
Your obligations
You and anyone included in your application must comply with all Australian laws.
Travel
A BVE allows you to stay in Australia lawfully for a short time. It will end immediately if you leave Australia. You will not be able to return unless you have another substantive visa.
A substantive visa is any visa that is not a bridging visa or a criminal justice visa or an enforcement visa.
Visa label
We will digitally link your visa to your passport. You will not get a label in your passport.
Eligibility
Have been refused or bypassed immigration clearance
You must have been refused immigration clearance or bypassed immigration clearance and come to our notice within 45 days, and all of the following apply to you:
Have applied for a protection visa
You must have applied for a protection visa.
Be in immigration detention
You must be in immigration detention.
Meet other specific requirements
You must meet other specific requirements relating to age, health or nomination, or you meet the requirements for a further BVE (subclass 051).
Age
You can be any age to apply for this visa.
Meet health requirement
You and any family members who apply for the visa with you may need to meet our health requirement
Meet character requirement
You must meet our character requirement.
We might also ask that other family members meet the requirement.
Step by step
1Before you apply
Check if you already hold a BVE before you apply for this visa in VEVO.
In some cases, when you make a valid application for a substantive visa in Australia, you will also have applied for a BVE. We will tell you if this happens. In this case, you do not need to lodge a separate application.
Organise health exams before you apply
You might need to have health examinations. You can complete them before you apply or you can wait until after you apply.
Get help with your application
Only some people can help you with your application. If you appoint someone to give you immigration assistance they must be:
You can appoint anyone to receive documents on your behalf about your visa matter.
2Gather your documents
Gather the documents you need for your application.
Provide accurate information
Provide accurate information. See what happens if you cannot prove your identity or do not provide true information.
Identity documents
Provide the pages of your current passport showing your photo, personal details, and passport issue and expiry dates.
Also provide:
- a national identity card, if you have one
- proof of change of name
Documents that prove a change of name include:
- a marriage or divorce certificate
- change of name documents from an Australian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, or the relevant overseas authority
- documents that show other names you have been known by
Character documents
We will tell you if and when you need to get a police certificate.
Tell us you are getting help
To nominate someone to:
- receive your correspondence, use Form 956A Appointment or withdrawal of an authorised recipient
- provide immigration assistance, use Form 956 Appointment of a registered migration agent, legal practitioner or exempt person.
Upload your written notification or your forms to ImmiAccount if you applied online, or send with your paper application.
3Apply for the visa
The preferred method is to apply online.
Provide accurate information
Provide accurate information. See what happens if you cannot prove your identity or do not provide true information.
Apply online
You and anyone included in your application must be in Australia when you lodge your BVE application.
You can apply for a BVE if you do not already have an undecided BVE application.
Apply on paper
Complete Form 1008 Application for Bridging visa E.
Send your paper application by post to the Australian Visa and Citizenship Office nearest to you. You may need to attend an interview as part of the application process.
4After you apply
See what you can and must do after you apply.
What will happen after you apply
We will let you know when we have received your application and documents.
Status updates
We cannot give updates on applications within the standard processing time.
Wait for us to contact you.
Travel
A BVE lets you temporarily stay in Australia. It will end when you leave Australia. If you travel outside Australia after you apply, you need a visa to return.
Learn about visa expiry.
Health exams
We will let you know if you need health examinations.
Biometrics
We might ask for biometrics (fingerprints and photo). We will let you know if you need to provide them.
Send more information
Send the documents to the office where you lodged the application.
We might also ask you to provide more information.
Mistakes on your application
Let us know as soon as you can if you made a mistake on your application.
Help with your application
Let us know if you no longer want someone to:
- receive your correspondence - complete Form 956A Appointment or withdrawal of an authorised recipient
- provide immigration advice - complete Form 956 Appointment of a registered migration agent, legal practitioner or exempt person.
Send written notification or your forms to the office you submitted your application.
For more information see Who can help you with your application.
Tell us if things change
Things you need to let us know about after you have applied include:
- changes to your phone number, email, address or passport
- the birth of a child
- you want to withdraw your application
See how to tell us if your situation changes.
5Visa outcome
We will tell you when we decide on your visa application.
We will let you know in writing our decision about your visa application. The letter or email will tell you:
- your visa grant number
- the date your visa starts
- your visa conditions
Keep a copy of the letter with you when in Australia.
If we refuse your visa we will let you know in writing. We will tell you:
- why it was refused
- whether you have a right to a review of the decision
When you have this visa
In Australia
What you can do when you have this visa
- stay lawfully in Australia until a decision is made on your substantive visa application
To see your specific conditions use VEVO.
What you must do on this visa (your obligations)
- comply with all Australian laws
Tell us if things change
Things you need to let us know about include:
- changes to your phone number, email, address or passport
- you want to withdraw your application
See how to let us know if there is a change in your situation.
Leaving Australia
Before you leave
Check your travel documents
You must have a valid passport or other travel document to leave Australia.
At the Border
Leaving the airport faster
We have an automated process that uses facial recognition technology and your ePassport. You might be able to leave the airport faster if you use SmartGate.
After you leave
International Movement Record
To prove you have been to Australia, request your international movement records by completing Form 1359 Request for international movement records.
All streams of the Bridging visa E (BVE)
Official source: Department of Home Affairs, immi.homeaffairs.gov.au. © Commonwealth of Australia. Refer to the source website for its copyright and conditions of use.
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Next step
Have a visa question or need help getting started?
A 30-minute consultation gives us time to discuss your circumstances, consider initial options and identify the documents that need checking. Some matters require a further review of the records before I can give a complete assessment.