How Long Is Bridging Visa Valid

There's no single number here — and that surprises most people. A bridging visa doesn't run on a calendar the way a tourist or student visa does. It runs on events. It stays valid until something specific happens: a decision is made, a review concludes, you leave the country, or a new visa is granted. That's why one person's bridging visa lasts eight days and another's lasts three years — same visa type, completely different timeline.

Here's what actually determines your expiry, broken down by the event that ends each one.

Bridging Visa A (BVA) — Tied To Your Application Outcome

A BVA activates the moment your current substantive visa ceases and generally lasts until:

• A decision is made on your linked substantive visa application
• You're granted another bridging visa (like a BVB)
• You leave Australia — this ends a BVA immediately, with no return on it
• Your visa is cancelled

If your application is refused, the BVA typically ceases 35 calendar days after that decision — though if you lodge a valid ART review within that window, the bridging visa generally continues while the review runs.

Bridging Visa B (BVB) — A Window Within A Window

A BVB has two overlapping timeframes: it lasts until your substantive application is finally determined, and it carries a specific travel period set at grant, typically up to 12 months. Once that travel window closes, you can no longer leave and re-enter, even if the BVB itself is technically still active.

Recent update worth knowing: as of a Home Affairs stakeholder update in March 2026, BVBs linked to certain employer-sponsored applications are now being granted with longer validity — up to 2 years for Subclass 482 applications and up to 5 years for Subclass 186 applications, addressing long-standing complaints that travel windows were too short for slow-moving cases.

Bridging Visa C (BVC) — No Fixed Date, No Travel

A BVC remains valid while your substantive application or merits review is under consideration, and ends on largely the same trigger events as a BVA. The key difference: a BVC never permits international travel, regardless of how long it remains active.