“Can I work full time on Bridging Visa A?” This question matters to many people, especially since Australia has 337,000 plus bridging visa holders as of January 2025.
The answer isn’t simple. Bridging Visa A holders usually keep their work rights, and these permissions vary based on your previous substantive visa conditions. Many people think their bridging visa automatically carries the same work conditions as their current visa. This isn’t always the case. To cite an instance, see someone with a student visa that had a 20-hour weekly work limit – these restrictions might still apply to their Bridging Visa A.
Australia has nine different types of bridging visas, each with unique rules. Your specific Bridging Visa A working rights are vital to understand. This knowledge helps you avoid breaking visa conditions that could affect your future visa applications.
This article will explain Bridging Visa A conditions, help you verify your work rights, and give you key information that both visa holders and employers need to know.
What is Bridging Visa A and When is it Issued?
Bridging Visa A (BVA) is a vital temporary permit that lets you stay legally in Australia while your substantive visa application gets processed. BVA stands out because it’s designed if you have an active Australian visa when applying for a new substantive visa.
How Bridging Visa A is different from other bridging visas?
BVA gives you more flexibility and rights than other bridging visa types, especially when you have Bridging Visa C. The main difference depends on your visa status when you apply. You need a valid visa to get BVA, while Bridging Visa C applies to people who submit after their visa expires or becomes unlawful.
Most onshore substantive visa applications automatically include BVA. The Department of Home Affairs states that “Nearly all bridging visas are applied for automatically as part of applying for a substantive visa”. Notwithstanding that, you might need to submit a separate BVA application to remove work restrictions in some cases.
BVA keeps you legally in Australia but doesn’t allow international travel. Your visa stops immediately if you leave Australia while your BVA is active. You’ll need to get a Bridging Visa B before any international travel.
When does Bridging Visa A come into effect?
Your BVA activates under specific conditions:
- Your current substantive visa expires
- You receive the grant (if your substantive visa has already ceased)
- A more beneficial bridging visa stops
BVA stays inactive until needed. You must follow your current visa’s conditions until then. Immigration authorities make this clear: “You need to comply with the conditions of your current visa until the bridging visa comes into effect”.
Your BVA automatically stops when:
- You exit Australia during active BVA
- Your substantive visa application gets approved
- Another bridging visa takes BVA’s place
- Immigration authorities cancel your BVA
These activation and cessation rules help you maintain legal status during your visa transition.
Understanding Bridging Visa A Work Rights
Work rights on Bridging Visa A confuse many visa holders and employers. You need to understand these rights to comply with Australian immigration laws while waiting for your substantive visa decision.
Does Bridging Visa A allow you to work?
Your ability to work full time on a Bridging Visa A depends on your visa’s conditions. These conditions appear in your grant letter, and you should read them carefully. BVA work rights usually fall into three categories:
- Full work rights – No restrictions on employment
- Limited work rights – Restrictions on hours or employer type
- No work rights – Usually indicated by condition 8101
Your grant notice letter shows your work permission, usually at the bottom. You can check your current work rights status through VEVO (Visa Entitlement Verification Online) anytime.
How previous visa conditions affect BVA work rights
Your previous visa greatly affects your BVA work rights. In stark comparison to this, a BVA doesn’t just copy your previous visa’s conditions. The system looks at both your previous visa and the new substantive visa you’ve applied for.
To name just one example, if you had a Working Holiday visa with condition 8547 (limiting work with one employer to six months), your BVA might have the same restriction. Student visa holders moving to a BVA might keep their 20-hour weekly work limit.
Some visa applications automatically give you unrestricted work rights on your BVA:
- Employer Nomination Scheme (186)
- Skilled visas (189, 190, 491)
- Partner visas
- Graduate visas (485)
Common misconceptions about BVA working rights
People often wrongly believe that “bridging visas carry over the same conditions as your current visa.” This simple view creates confusion. Many people also think their BVA starts right after lodgement—it doesn’t. Your BVA kicks in only after your current visa expires.
If condition 8101 stops you from working on your BVA, you can apply for another BVA with work rights by showing financial hardship. This option isn’t available if you’re seeking judicial review of a visa decision or have applied for a Protection visa.
Breaking your visa’s work conditions has serious consequences. You might face visa cancellation, deportation, and penalties for both you and your employer. Make sure to check your work rights status through official channels before starting any job.
How to Check and Confirm Your Work Conditions
Checking your exact work conditions is a vital part of seeking employment on a Bridging Visa A. The Department of Home Affairs gives you specific tools that help you understand what you can and cannot do with this visa.
Using VEVO to check bridging visa work rights
VEVO (Visa Entitlement Verification Online) system is the most reliable way to check your current work permissions. Here’s how to access VEVO:
- Create an ImmiAccount through the Department of Home Affairs website if you don’t already have one
- Log in to VEVO using your credentials
- Enter your visa grant number and passport details
- View your current visa conditions
VEVO shows significant information about your visa status, expiry dates, and specific conditions. This system also lets you send proof of your visa conditions directly to potential employers or landlords.
What to do if your visa has condition 8101 or 8547
VEVO might show condition 8101 (No Work), which means you cannot legally work in Australia. The system might also display condition 8547, which limits your work to six months with any single employer.
You can ask to work longer than six months under condition 8547 by submitting the online form “Permission to work longer than 6 months.” You may continue working until you receive a written response.
When and how to apply for new work rights
Your BVA’s work restrictions can change if you show a “compelling need to work” – usually by proving financial hardship.
Here’s what you need to do:
- Complete Form 1005 (Application for a Bridging Visa)
- Show that your living expenses are more than what you can pay
- Include supporting evidence like bank statements and expense receipts
- Submit via post to the Department of Home Affairs or email (for BVE holders)
The process has no fee, and you must wait to get approval before you start working.
Employer Responsibilities and Legal Compliance
Australian employers must verify work rights before hiring any non-citizen. This knowledge helps protect businesses and migrant workers from what it all means.
Can employers hire someone on Bridging Visa A?
Yes, employers can legally hire Bridging Visa A holders if their visa allows work. We checked that:
- The BVA is active now
- The visa doesn’t have “No work” condition (8101)
- The person follows all visa conditions
- The visa remains valid
Hiring someone without valid work rights is a criminal offence. The Department of Home Affairs warns that penalties can include fines and imprisonment for both employer and employee. New laws from July 2024 state that employers who break migration laws repeatedly may not hire more migrant workers.
How to stay compliant with work rights checks
A well-laid-out verification process will help you stay compliant:
- Ask new employees about their citizenship or residency status
- Check visa status and work rights through VEVO for non-citizens
- Get the visa holder’s permission before running checks
- Keep verification results as proof of compliance
- Check visa status again within two days of expiry
Bridging Visa A holders need special attention. The visa might not show an expiry date in VEVO, so employers should check work rights every three months. This step ensures you stay compliant throughout their employment.
Tools like vSure for ongoing monitoring
Many employers use compliance platforms like vSure to make visa verification easier. These systems are a great way to get:
- Automatic monitoring of temporary visa changes
- Regular visa checks without manual work
- Quick alerts about visa expiries or changes
- Safe cloud storage of records
- Easy onboarding for new staff
The vSure platform connects to the Department’s VEVO system and creates a clear paper trail. Of course, this helps avoid penalties under Employer Sanctions legislation. This method reduces paperwork while keeping you compliant with Australia’s migration laws.
Conclusion
Bridging Visa A work rights can be complex for visa holders and employers across Australia. Wrong interpretation of these conditions could result in serious legal issues for everyone involved.
You should check your work permissions through VEVO before taking any job. Bridging Visa A lets you stay legally in Australia during visa processing. Your work rights are based on your previous visa conditions and current application type. This is nowhere near similar to other bridging visa categories.
Of course, employers share this responsibility. They need to verify and keep track of visa status regularly. These verification steps protect companies and visa holders from penalties like fines and visa cancellations.
Your substantive visa application needs strict adherence to work conditions, whether you have full, limited, or no work rights. Following these rules during transition substantially improves your chances of getting your visa approved. Knowledge about activation triggers and when the visa ends helps you stay legal throughout your visa trip.