Bridging visa E in Australia: who gets one (subclasses 050 and 051) and what it lets you do
Updated 3 October 2026
What is a Bridging visa E?
A Bridging visa E (subclass 050 or 051) keeps you lawful in Australia while you resolve your immigration status or arrange to leave; apply in ImmiAccount once your visa ends.
Read more visa basics
Under the Migration Act 1958 and Migration Regulations 1994, it is a bridging visa (Class WE), not a substantive visa; subclass 050 applicants must be unlawful, hold a Bridging visa E or hold a Bridging visa D (subclass 041).
Home Affairs’ Bridging visa E page says you cannot apply while a substantive visa is still in effect. If your existing BVE is about to end, apply for a new one: it cannot be extended.
Under Schedule 2 to the Migration Regulations 1994, your situation decides your application ground, conditions and end date: pick it below.
Home Affairs’ Bridging visa E page says your grant notice and VEVO show your conditions, including condition 8101 (no work). It also says the visa ends at once if you leave Australia, and you cannot return on it.
Under the Migration Regulations 1994, the visa is Bridging E, Class WE, one of seven bridging classes lettered A, B, C, D, E, F and R; Home Affairs says it is linked digitally to your passport, without a visa label. Home Affairs counted 25,010 people with a Bridging visa E in effect in its Status Resolution population at 31 December 2025, in Administration of the Immigration and Citizenship Programs, 16th edition, June 2026.
Which Bridging visa E situation are you in?
Choose the row that matches what happened to you; each row opens the guide for that situation. The enquiry preview shown with the guide cannot send details yet.
Visa expired
Under the Migration Act 1958, you become unlawful when your visa ends without another visa; the Migration Regulations 1994 contain important 28-day Schedule 3 and departure exceptions.
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Visa refused
Under the Migration Regulations 1994, a Bridging visa A or E linked to the application generally ends 35 days after refusal or the ART’s decision, subject to exceptions.
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Visa cancelled
Under section 15 of the Migration Act 1958, you become unlawful when cancellation takes effect, unless you hold another visa.
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Bridging visa E refused or cancelled
Under section 347 of the Migration Act 1958, if you are detained on the notification day, the ART application deadline is 14 days after that day.
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Ministerial intervention
Under clause 050.212 of the Migration Regulations 1994, only a first qualifying request supports this BVE ground; the Minister specifies its end date.
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Permission to work
Condition 8101 bars work under the Migration Regulations 1994; seek a new BVE without it on financial-hardship grounds, if eligible.
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Schedule 3 partner visa
Under clause 820.211 of the Migration Regulations 1994, an onshore partner applicant without a substantive visa must meet Schedule 3 unless the Minister finds compelling reasons not to apply it.
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No further stay condition
Under the Migration Act 1958 and Migration Regulations 1994, condition 8503 bars most substantive visas while you remain in Australia, but not a protection visa or BVE.
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Protection visa applicant
Under the Migration Regulations 1994, subclass 051 covers only regulation 2.20(7) to (11) classes; other protection applicants on a BVE hold subclass 050.
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Arranging to leave
Home Affairs says departure ends a BVE immediately; PIC 4014 in the Migration Regulations 1994 restricts some later visas for 3 years, subject to 28-day exceptions and compelling-circumstances provisions.
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Another visa
Section 76 of the Migration Act 1958 preserves other applications, but section 48, condition 8503 and Schedule 3 can restrict your options.
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Ready to apply
Under LIN 21/045, lodge in ImmiAccount if no other BVE application is pending, or use the approved paper form.
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Waiting for a decision
Find out what happens while your application is being decided and what to do meanwhile.
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The site’s enquiry form is a disabled preview and cannot send details yet. If a deadline is approaching, contact an Australian migration lawyer directly. See the enquiry preview.
If your visa has already ended: you are unlawful from that day unless you hold another visa, under sections 13–14 of the Migration Act 1958; Home Affairs’ expired-visa guidance says to apply for a Bridging visa E or leave Australia immediately.
Who can get the Bridging visa E (subclass 050), and who cannot?
Under clause 050.212 of Schedule 2 to the Migration Regulations 1994, as at 1 July 2026, you must fit one of these situations:
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You are making, or are the subject of, acceptable arrangements to leave Australia — clause 050.212(2).
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You have made a valid application in Australia for a substantive visa grantable here, and it is not finally decided — (3)(a).
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The Minister is satisfied you will apply for such a visa within the allowed period — (3)(b).
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A substantive visa was refused and you, or the Minister, have unfinished judicial review proceedings; this includes certain refused Partner (Migrant) applicants who do not meet the BVA criterion — (3A), (9).
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You are seeking judicial review of another visa decision, merits review of cancellation, or student-visa revocation or review under section 137K or 137L — (4).
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You seek a court declaration that the Migration Act does not apply to you, or review of a citizenship decision; qualifying immediate family or under-18 siblings are also covered — (4AAA), (4AB).
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You are a family-unit member included in a substantive application under judicial review, or a member of a representative court proceeding — (4AA), (4A).
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Your visa was cancelled because another person’s visa was cancelled, and that person seeks review or revocation — (5), (5A).
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You are barred by section 48A and have made a first section 48B request, with no earlier qualifying Ministerial request — (5B).
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You have made a first qualifying request for Ministerial intervention under section 351, with no earlier section 351, former section 417 or section 48B request — (6).
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The Minister has intervened under section 351, but a visa cap prevents the grant for now — (6AA), (6A).
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You are in criminal detention, with no criminal justice stay certificate or warrant in force — (7).
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You hold a BVE from a substantive application with condition 8101 and have a compelling need to work; protection applicants face additional delay-related requirements — (8).
Under clause 050.211(1) of the Migration Regulations 1994, apply once you are unlawful, or while holding a BVE or subclass 041 Bridging visa D; you must also be in Australia and not in immigration clearance at application and grant. The evidence needed for each ground is explained on the application page.
Protection visa applicants: subclass 051
Under regulation 2.20(7) to (11) and clause 051.211 of the Migration Regulations 1994, subclass 051 is available only to those prescribed classes, who cannot get subclass 050. Other protection visa applicants who hold a BVE hold subclass 050 under the Regulations.
Who cannot apply
These restrictions come from the Migration Regulations 1994; the subclass-specific exclusions below concern subclass 050.
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A person still holding a substantive visa, or a Bridging visa A, B, C or D (subclass 040): clause 050.211(1) requires unlawful status, a BVE or subclass 041.
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A person outside Australia or in immigration clearance: Schedule 1 item 1305 and the grant criteria require presence in Australia outside immigration clearance.
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A person with specified previous cancellations: item 1305 bars a new BVE application after a BVE cancellation for breaching condition 8564 (criminal conduct) or 8566 (code of behaviour), or any visa cancellation under regulation 2.43(1)(p) or (q).
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A Bridging visa R holder, or someone remaining unlawful in Australia after one: since 12 December 2025, regulation 2.08H permits only protection visa or Bridging visa R applications.
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People in regulation 2.20(7)–(11), (17), (18) or (19) classes: clause 050.211(2) excludes them from subclass 050; the relevant subclass is 051 or Bridging visa R instead.
Is a Bridging visa E a valid visa?
Yes. While it is in effect, you are a lawful non-citizen under sections 13–14 of the Migration Act 1958. When it ends, you become unlawful if you hold no other visa.
However, section 5(1) of the Migration Act 1958 excludes bridging visas from “substantive visas”. Under section 76, holding a bridging visa does not count as “holding a visa” for an application for another class; subclass 051 is also a bridging visa, not a protection visa.
What does a Bridging visa E let you do?
Home Affairs’ Bridging visa E page says it lets you stay lawfully in Australia; what else it permits depends on your grant conditions.
Work
Only if your grant notice allows it: condition 8101 in the Migration Regulations 1994 means the holder “must not engage in work in Australia”. To seek work rights, Home Affairs’ Bridging visa E page and Form 1008 direct you to apply for a new BVE with different conditions, with financial hardship establishing a compelling need to work where that ground is available.
Study
Yes, unless your conditions restrict it. Under Schedule 8 to the Migration Regulations 1994, condition 8201 limits study or training to 3 months, condition 8207 prohibits it, and condition 8548 limits it to 4 months; without those conditions, no BVE study limit applies.
Medicare
Not automatically: the Health Insurance Act 1973 generally requires a pending non-parent permanent visa application, plus work rights or an Australian-citizen or permanent-resident spouse, parent or child. Ministerial Orders 807 and 819 also cover specified groups of BVE holders, so the visa alone does not settle eligibility.
Travel
No: Home Affairs’ Bridging visa E page says departure ends it immediately and you cannot return on it; under clause 020.211 of the Migration Regulations 1994, a BVE holder cannot get a Bridging visa B.
Every code that can appear on a grant is explained under Bridging visa E conditions.
When does a Bridging visa E end?
Under section 73 of the Migration Act 1958, it ends on the date, after the period or at the event specified at grant; section 82 also ends it on departure, cancellation or another visa coming into effect, subject to the special-purpose and maritime-crew exceptions. Home Affairs’ Bridging visa E page says it cannot be extended, and the rules for each ground are explained under when a Bridging visa E ends.
When should you ask a lawyer about your BVE?
Contact a lawyer promptly after a refusal or cancellation notice: section 347 of the Migration Act 1958 sets short Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) deadlines that cannot be extended. If you need a Bridging visa E lawyer, that page explains other situations and document checks; you can also read the enquiry service status; its form cannot send details yet.
Important: Under section 280 of the Migration Act 1958, giving immigration assistance—including preparing a Bridging visa E application—is prohibited unless the person is registered or exempt; Australian legal practitioners acting in legal practice and some unpaid helpers are exempt. Practising lawyers are subject to professional indemnity requirements, including section 211 of the Legal Profession Uniform Law (WA). An unauthorised helper’s mistake may leave you without an insurer to claim against for resulting loss, depending on whether an actual policy covers it.
An Australian migration lawyer can check your application ground, evidence consistency and missing documents before lodgement, because the Migration Regulations 1994 link your ground to your conditions and end date. For example, clause 050.613 does not permit condition 8101 on a BVE granted on the compelling-need-to-work ground.
The Bridging visa E and the other bridging visas
The Migration Regulations 1994 provide seven bridging classes lettered A, B, C, D, E, F and R. A BVE holder cannot get a Bridging visa B for travel and return, and holding a BVE since your last substantive visa generally prevents a Bridging visa C, apart from the regulation 2.24A exception.
For the broader comparison, see the types of bridging visas. For health eligibility, see Medicare on a bridging visa.
For dated updates, read Bridging visa E changes. To understand this information site and its enquiry arrangements, read About the Bridging Visa E Guide.
More help for your situation
Australian Visa Refusal: Your Status, ART Review, Next Step
What a visa refusal in Australia means for your status, ART review and your next step.
Overstay Australian Visa? Apply for a Bridging Visa E
Your visa has expired or you have overstayed: how a Bridging visa E makes you lawful again.
Ministerial Intervention: Request, Criteria and Your BVE
How to request Ministerial intervention, and how to stay lawful on a Bridging visa E while you wait.
Visa Cancellation in Australia: Status, Review, Next Visa
Why visas are cancelled in Australia, what happens that day, and how review works.
Bridging Visa E Refused or Cancelled? Review Deadlines
What to do when a Bridging visa E is refused or cancelled, including review from detention.
Bridging Visa E Work Rights: Removing Condition 8101
Whether your Bridging visa E lets you work, and how to ask for a new one without condition 8101.
8503 Visa Condition (No Further Stay) and the Waiver
What condition 8503 (no further stay) stops, how a waiver works, and where a BVE fits.
Apply for a Bridging Visa E: ImmiAccount or Form 1008
How to lodge a Bridging visa E in ImmiAccount or on the paper Form 1008, step by step.
Bridging Visa E 3-Year Ban: PIC 4014 and Leaving Australia
What leaving Australia does to a Bridging visa E, and who the PIC 4014 re-entry ban applies to.
Bridging Visa E Lawyer: When You Need One and Why
When a Bridging visa E matter needs an Australian migration lawyer, and what one does for you.
Frequently asked questions
Is a Bridging visa E an eVisa?
No. Under the Migration Regulations 1994, E is the class letter in Bridging E (Class WE), one of seven bridging classes lettered A, B, C, D, E, F and R—not an abbreviation for “electronic” or the eVisitor (subclass 651).
Is subclass 051 a protection visa?
No. Under the Migration Regulations 1994, subclass 051, Bridging (Protection Visa Applicant), is a bridging visa; Home Affairs’ subclass 051 page explains its limited use while a protection application is finalised.
Does a child born in Australia to a Bridging visa E holder have a visa?
Yes. Section 78 of the Migration Act 1958 treats the child as granted the same visa, on the same conditions, as the parent.
Bridging Visa E Guide is an information publisher, not a law firm, migration practice or government site. This guide provides general information; its enquiry form is a disabled preview and cannot send details yet.