Subclasses 050 and 051 visa: Bridging E

Streams

Home Affairs' Bridging visa E page lists two types of BVE.

BVE 050 Bridging (General)

The subclass 050 is generally for people who are unlawful, or who hold a BVE 050 or a Bridging visa D (subclass 041). It lets them stay lawfully while they make arrangements to leave Australia, apply for a substantive visa, seek merits or judicial review of a visa or citizenship decision, or seek ministerial intervention.

BVE 051 Bridging (Protection Visa Applicant)

The subclass 051 is used in limited situations, set out in the Migration Regulations, for certain non-citizens to stay lawfully in Australia while their protection visa application is finalised.

050 and 051 visa requirements

Home Affairs lists these on the Eligibility tab of its subclass 050 page:

• Current status. The applicant must be an unlawful non-citizen, a BVE 050 holder or a Bridging visa D (subclass 041) holder when they apply.
• Reason for the visa. One of these must apply: the applicant is making arrangements to leave Australia; is applying for a substantive visa; or is seeking merits or judicial review of a visa or citizenship decision, or ministerial intervention.
• Age. Any age. Applicants under 18 apply on an application with their parent or guardian.
• Character. The applicant must meet the character requirement. Other family members may also be asked to meet it.
• Immigration history. A previously refused application or a cancelled visa may affect eligibility.

Home Affairs lists these on the Eligibility tab of its subclass 051 page:

• Immigration clearance. The applicant was refused immigration clearance, or bypassed it and came to Home Affairs' notice as an unlawful non-citizen within 45 days of entering Australia.
• Protection visa application. The applicant has applied for a protection visa that has not been finally decided, or has applied for judicial review of a protection visa refusal.
• Immigration detention. The applicant is in immigration detention.
• Other requirements. The applicant meets other specific requirements relating to age, health or nomination, or meets the requirements for a further BVE 051.
• Age. Any age.
• Health. The applicant and family members applying may need to meet the health requirement.
• Character. The applicant must meet the character requirement. Other family members may also be asked to meet it.

What the visa lets you do

Home Affairs says a BVE lets the holder stay in Australia lawfully while they finalise their immigration matter or make arrangements to leave. The 051 lets the holder stay lawfully while their protection visa application is processed.

Work rights

Home Affairs' subclass 050 page says the grant letter states whether the holder is allowed to work. If the holder works when not allowed, Home Affairs can cancel the BVE and detain them, and they could be removed from Australia.

If a BVE does not allow work, there are only some situations where the holder can apply for a new BVE that does. One example Home Affairs gives is financial hardship, where the person cannot pay the reasonable cost of their living expenses. Different requirements apply to people who have applied for judicial review or ministerial intervention, and there are special rules for protection visa applicants.

Travel

A BVE allows a short, lawful stay in Australia. Home Affairs says it ends immediately if the holder leaves Australia, and the holder can't return unless they have another substantive visa. A substantive visa is any visa that is not a bridging visa, a criminal justice visa or an enforcement visa.

How long it lasts

A BVE is valid until a specified date, for a particular period, or until a specified event happens. It also ends if the holder leaves Australia, is granted a substantive visa, or has the BVE cancelled. It can't be extended. A person who can't leave or resolve their matter in time needs a new BVE or another visa. Home Affairs' Status Resolution Service offers help for people who can't leave because of financial hardship.

Family members and cost

The 051 page says members of the family unit can be included in the application. The 050 page refers to the applicant and anyone included in the application, and says applicants under 18 apply with their parent or guardian.

Home Affairs says there is no fee for a BVE application. Its Visa Pricing table lists:

Step by step

This follows the How to apply and Step by step tabs of Home Affairs' subclass 050 and subclass 051 pages.

Before you apply

1. A BVE can't be applied for in anticipation of becoming unlawful. Home Affairs says that if a substantive visa is still in effect, other visa options come first, and a BVE is applied for only once that visa has expired.
2. In some cases, a valid substantive visa application made in Australia also counts as a BVE application. Home Affairs says when this happens, and no separate application is then needed.
3. For the 051, health examinations may be needed. They can be done before or after applying.

Gather documents

1. Identity documents (passport pages and any national identity card).
2. For the 050, details of any pending visa applications, merits or judicial review, or ministerial intervention requests. If arranging to leave, details of when and where the person is going, their travel document and their ticket.

Apply

1. Home Affairs prefers online applications in ImmiAccount. A BVE can be applied for only if there is no undecided BVE application already.
2. Paper applications use Form 1008, posted to the nearest Australian Visa and Citizenship Office. An interview may be needed.
3. Everyone in the application must be in Australia when it is lodged.

After you apply

1. Home Affairs confirms receipt and may ask for health examinations, biometrics or more information.
2. Everyone in the application must be in Australia when Home Affairs decides. The decision letter gives the grant number, start date and visa conditions, or the reasons for a refusal and any review rights.

Applying in or outside Australia

The BVE is an onshore visa only. Home Affairs says the applicant and anyone included must be in Australia when the BVE application is lodged, and must be in Australia when the decision is made to be granted the visa (subclass 050 page).

050 and 051 visa processing time

Home Affairs publishes current processing times in its visa processing times guide.

Compare: BVA, BVB, BVC and BVE