KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Current visa and VEVO record checked
- Bridging grant and commencement understood
- Employer informed of actual work permission
Identify the visa that is currently in effect
Read the current grant notice and check VEVO. An onshore applicant may receive a bridging visa while still holding a substantive visa. The existence of that grant does not mean its conditions have already replaced the substantive visa’s conditions.
Home Affairs explains that a bridging visa associated with a new application generally operates when the current substantive visa expires, subject to the relevant circumstances. Cancelling the current visa is not a safe way to activate a bridging visa and can have serious consequences.
Check work permission rather than assuming it
The conditions attached to the visa in effect determine what work is permitted. A supportive sponsor, an employment contract or a lodged nomination is not a substitute for work permission. Give the employer the appropriate evidence before agreeing to new hours or a new role.
Student, working holiday and other temporary visa holders may have restrictions that continue while their current visa operates. A pending employer-sponsored application does not remove those restrictions by itself.
Treat travel as a separate decision
A Bridging visa A does not provide a right to leave and return. Travel arrangements need their own assessment, including whether a Bridging visa B can be sought and what period is authorised. Check before booking or departing.
For illustration, a worker who receives a bridging grant after lodging a 482 application may still need to follow the conditions of the current student visa. Emigrate Lawyers can review the grant notices and pending application history to explain which conditions apply at each stage.
YOUR NEXT STEP
Preparation checklist
- Current visa and VEVO record checked
- Bridging grant and commencement understood
- Employer informed of actual work permission
- Travel assessed before departure
Use this list to organise a discussion. It is not a complete application checklist or an eligibility assessment.
Common questions
Does lodging a nomination give me work rights?
No. Work rights depend on the visa and conditions that apply to you.
Can I travel on a BVA and return?
A BVA does not authorise re-entry. Obtain advice about your visa and any BVB eligibility before travel.
YOUR CASE. OUR COMMITMENT.
The Emigrate Lawyers Difference
A visa application sits within a career, a business and a family’s plans. We connect the legal requirements with the evidence and decisions that matter to you.
Lawyer handled
Your case is overseen and handled by a lawyer, with a clear point of contact and advice tailored to the facts.
Fixed fee clarity
A fixed fee for the agreed scope, explained before engagement. Government charges and third-party expenses are identified separately.
No monthly administration fees
Transparent costs without monthly administration fees. Any additional work is scoped and agreed before it proceeds.
A plan you can follow
Understand what to prepare, who supplies it and what comes next. Where we assist both parties, representation and confidentiality are addressed at engagement.
From information to a clear next step
- Share your starting point. Tell us the role, current visa, employer arrangements and any deadline.
- Understand the assessment. We identify the appropriate service, evidence questions and scope of advice.
- Decide with clear costs. Review the engagement and fee proposal before legal work begins.
Sources and further reading
Published 26 October 2026. Official guidance and legislation should be checked again before acting. Examples are hypothetical and photographs are illustrative. Information on this website is general information and does not constitute legal advice. Visa requirements and government charges can change. Obtain advice specific to your circumstances.
