Bridging Visa A and Full-Time Work Rights: What You Need to Know (AustraliaMigrate Guide)

Many visa holders in Australia will spend some period on a Bridging Visa A (BVA) while waiting for their new substantive visa to be decided. A recurring question we receive at AustraliaMigrate is whether a BVA allows full-time work. The short answer is that it depends entirely on your circumstances and the conditions attached to your particular BVA.

This article provides a clear explanation of how BVA work rights operate, how to check your specific conditions, and what options are available if your visa restricts employment.

What Is a Bridging Visa A?

A Bridging Visa A is granted when you apply for a new substantive visa while still holding a valid Australian visa. Its purpose is to keep you lawful in Australia throughout the processing of the new application.

A BVA generally allows you to remain in Australia lawfully, but it does not permit international travel. If you need to travel overseas while waiting for a decision, you must apply for a Bridging Visa B (BVB) before departing. Leaving Australia without a BVB will cause your BVA to cease.

When Does a Bridging Visa A Become Active?

A BVA does not take effect immediately after lodgement. Instead, it becomes active when:

1. Your current substantive visa expires; or
2. A more favourable bridging visa ends; or
3. The Department grants the BVA after your current visa has ceased.

Until your BVA becomes active, you must follow all conditions of your current visa. Once the BVA comes into effect, its conditions will apply.

A BVA ends if:

• you leave Australia,
• your substantive visa is granted,
• another bridging visa replaces it, or
• the Department cancels it.

Do Bridging Visa A Holders Have Work Rights?

Bridging Visa A holders can have one of three outcomes:

1. Full work rights
2. Restricted work rights (limited hours or other conditions)
3. No work rights at all

These permissions are listed in your BVA grant notice and in VEVO. The Department assesses work rights by looking at:

• the visa you held at the time you applied, and
• the type of visa you have applied for.

This means the conditions do not always match the conditions on your previous visa.

How Your Previous Visa Affects Your BVA Work Conditions

Contrary to a common assumption, a BVA does not simply “copy” the conditions from your previous visa. Instead, the conditions are set based on a combination of your previous visa and your new visa application.

Examples:

Former student visa holders may continue to have hour-based work restrictions when their BVA becomes active.

Applicants coming from a Working Holiday visa may retain condition 8547 (maximum six months with one employer).

Applicants for skilled visas, employer-sponsored visas, partner visas or Graduate 485 visas usually receive BVAs with full work rights.

This is an important benefit for many applicants who move from temporary visas with restrictions into visa programs that allow full-time employment.

What If Your Bridging Visa A Has No Work Rights?

If your BVA carries condition 8101 (no work) or limits your ability to work, you may be eligible to apply for a new BVA with work rights.

You must show a compelling need to work, usually demonstrated by financial hardship.

To request new work rights:

1. Complete Form 1005
2. Provide evidence of financial pressure (bank statements, rent, utilities, and other essential expenses)
3. Submit your application to the Department

If successful, the Department will grant a new BVA with revised work conditions.

How to Check Your Current Work Rights

The simplest way to confirm your conditions is through VEVO (Visa Entitlement Verification Online). VEVO will show:

• whether your BVA is active,
• your visa conditions, and
• whether you have full, limited, or no work rights.

VEVO also allows you to share your visa status with prospective employers.

Employer Considerations

Employers may hire people who hold a Bridging Visa A, provided the individual has work rights. Employers have legal obligations to ensure they only engage lawful workers.

Employers should:

• verify work rights through VEVO before employment,
• obtain consent from the visa holder prior to performing checks, and
• periodically re-check visa status, especially where the bridging visa has no listed expiry date.

Failure to comply with work rights verification obligations can lead to penalties for both the employer and the visa holder.

Why Understanding BVA Work Conditions Matters

Breaching work conditions on a BVA can result in:

• refusal of the pending substantive visa,
• cancellation of the bridging visa, and
• negative consequences for future visa applications.

Understanding and complying with your BVA conditions helps protect your ongoing visa pathway.

Key Points for Bridging Visa A Holders

• A BVA does not automatically grant full-time work rights.
• Your work rights depend on the visa you previously held and the visa you have applied for.
• Many skilled, employer-sponsored, partner, and graduate visa applicants receive BVAs with full work rights.
• If your BVA has “no work” or “restricted work” conditions, there may be options to apply for new work rights.
• Always check VEVO to confirm your conditions and remain compliant.

Need Guidance on Your Bridging Visa A or Work Rights?

AustraliaMigrate assists clients every day with navigating bridging visas and ensuring they understand their work rights clearly. If you are uncertain about your BVA conditions or want to check whether you can request new work rights, we can provide advice tailored to your situation.

Contact AustraliaMigrate for personalised assistance or to book a consultation.