Bridging visa D (subclasses 040 and 041): the five-working-day bridge to a substantive visa or a BVE
A Bridging visa D provides up to 5 working days under the Migration Regulations 1994 to lodge a substantive visa application or arrange a Bridging visa E.
Subclass 040 supports a valid substantive visa application; subclass 041 ends after 5 working days or when subclass 050 is granted, under the Migration Regulations 1994.
A substantive visa is a visa other than a bridging, criminal justice or enforcement visa under section 5(1) of the Migration Act 1958.
Subclass 040 follows an unsuccessful attempt to lodge a valid substantive application, subject to Schedule 2 Part 040 of the Migration Regulations 1994.
Under Schedule 2 Part 041 of the Migration Regulations 1994, subclass 041 concerns an unlawful person unable or unwilling to apply for a substantive visa when no Bridging visa E (BVE) interviewing officer is available.
Identify your subclass and check its end point before assuming another visa is available.
Legal information checked: 3 October 2026
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Subclass 040 or 041: which Bridging visa D is it?
Subclass 040 is the Prospective Applicant visa; subclass 041 is the Non-applicant visa under Schedule 2 of the Migration Regulations 1994.
The following table summarises Schedule 1 item 1304 and Schedule 2 Parts 040 and 041 of the Migration Regulations 1994. The subclass 050 next step has separate requirements under clauses 050.211 and 050.212.
Subclass 040 or 041?
| Subclass | Who it is for | How long it lasts | Conditions | What comes next |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 040 Prospective Applicant | An unlawful person, or someone whose visa ceases within 3 working days, who tried unsuccessfully to lodge a valid substantive application and will be able to lodge within 5 working days. Maximum 2 such visas since the last substantive visa. | 5 working days. | Condition 8101 (no work). | Lodge the valid substantive application within the permitted period. A BVD does not guarantee acceptance or grant. |
| 041 Non-applicant | An unlawful person unable or unwilling to apply for a substantive visa, with no BVE interviewing officer available. | 5 working days or until subclass 050 is granted. | Condition 8101 (no work); condition 8401 (reporting as directed). | Check the subclass 050 BVE criteria and the next application step. A BVE is not automatic. |
Under Schedule 8 of the Migration Regulations 1994, condition 8101 (no work) prohibits work in Australia. Condition 8401 (reporting as directed) requires reporting at the times, places or in the manner specified by the Minister, orally or in writing.
Bridging visa D at a glance
These details come from Schedule 1 item 1304, Schedule 2 Parts 040 and 041 and Schedule 8 of the Migration Regulations 1994.
- Visa class: Bridging D — Class WD. Checked 3 October 2026.
- Visa subclasses: 040 Prospective Applicant; 041 Non-applicant. Checked 3 October 2026.
- Stay period: 040: 5 working days. 041: 5 working days or until subclass 050 is granted. Checked 3 October 2026.
- Work permission: No — condition 8101 (no work) applies to both subclasses. Regulations snapshot 1 July 2026; checked 3 October 2026.
- Reporting requirement: Subclass 041: condition 8401 (reporting as directed). Regulations snapshot 1 July 2026; checked 3 October 2026.
- Visa application charge: A$0 under Schedule 1 item 1304 of the Migration Regulations 1994. Checked 3 October 2026.
Decorative illustration: a short five-plank bridge between two raised platforms. Alternative text: “Illustration of a short five-plank bridge between two raised platforms.” This is not an eligibility diagram.
Who gets a Bridging visa D?
The Migration Regulations 1994 set different eligibility requirements for subclasses 040 and 041. Urgency alone is not an eligibility category.
Schedule 2 Parts 040 and 041 of the Migration Regulations 1994 establish the following distinctions. These checks are a starting point, not an exhaustive grant checklist.
- Firstly, check your current visa status. Subclass 040 covers an unlawful person or someone whose visa ceases within 3 working days. Subclass 041 requires the person to be unlawful.
- Secondly, check the application situation. Subclass 040 requires an unsuccessful attempt to lodge a valid substantive application and the ability to lodge within 5 working days. Subclass 041 concerns inability or unwillingness to apply for a substantive visa and the absence of a BVE interviewing officer.
- Thirdly, check the subclass-specific limits and obligations. Subclass 040 has a maximum of 2 such grants since the last substantive visa. Subclass 041 carries reporting directions under condition 8401.
For the broader distinctions, compare the types of bridging visas.
Being close to expiry does not, by itself, establish eligibility for either subclass under Parts 040 and 041 of the Migration Regulations 1994. Nor does every unsuccessful application result in a BVD grant.
How long does a Bridging visa D last?
A Bridging visa D lasts 5 working days for subclass 040; subclass 041 ends after 5 working days or when subclass 050 is granted, under the Migration Regulations 1994.
Check your grant documentation and any reporting directions now. Do not assume subclass 041 gives you the full 5 working days.
Subclass 041 ends after 5 working days or on grant of subclass 050 under Schedule 2 Part 041 of the Migration Regulations 1994; check your end point now.
The 5-working-day stay period in Parts 040 and 041 of the Migration Regulations 1994 is a duration rule, not a government processing time. This guide does not calculate your individual expiry date.
Can you work on a Bridging visa D?
No, you cannot work on a Bridging visa D: both subclasses carry condition 8101 (no work) under the Migration Regulations 1994.
Schedule 8 condition 8101 of the Migration Regulations 1994 prohibits work in Australia. Regulation 1.03 defines work as an activity that normally attracts remuneration in Australia. Cash payment, an unpaid label or a short shift does not, by itself, take an activity outside that definition.
Visa holder: Do not start work on the basis of a BVD grant.
Employer: Check the person’s current visa and no-work condition before offering or continuing work.
A later subclass 050 grant does not establish unrestricted work rights. Its conditions need a separate check under the applicable provisions of Schedule 2 Part 050 of the Migration Regulations 1994, including clause 050.617.
Bridging visa D or Bridging visa E: what changes?
A BVD is the short stop-gap; a subclass 050 BVE has a separate eligibility basis and an end point determined by its grant basis under the Migration Regulations 1994.
The comparison below draws on Parts 040, 041 and 050 and Schedule 8 of the Migration Regulations 1994. Section 73 of the Migration Act 1958 provides for a bridging visa to last until a specified date, for a period or until an event.
| Attribute | Bridging visa D — subclasses 040 and 041 | Bridging visa E — subclass 050 |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Covers the immediate gap before a valid substantive application can be lodged, or when no BVE interviewing officer is available. | Supports an applicable immigration-resolution or departure situation under clause 050.212. |
| Visa-status requirement | 040: unlawful, or visa ceasing within 3 working days. 041: unlawful. Other subclass requirements also apply. | Clause 050.211(1) requires an unlawful non-citizen, a BVE holder or a subclass 041 holder at application. Other criteria also apply. |
| Stay end point | 040: 5 working days. 041: 5 working days or until subclass 050 is granted. | A specified date, period or event. The applicable rule depends on the grant basis. |
| Work conditions | Mandatory condition 8101 (no work) for both subclasses. | Work permission depends on the visa’s conditions and grant basis; it is not automatic. |
Under clause 050.514A of the Migration Regulations 1994, a subclass 050 granted on the no-interview-officer basis in clause 050.222(3) also lasts 5 working days from grant. Moving from subclass 041 therefore does not necessarily produce a longer stay.
From a Bridging visa D (subclass 041) to a Bridging visa E
A subclass 041 holder meets the visa-status limb in clause 050.211(1) of the Migration Regulations 1994, but must also meet the other subclass 050 requirements.
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Firstly, check the end point and eligibility basis. Identify your subclass 041 end point and comply with condition 8401 reporting directions. Check the applicable subclass 050 situation under clause 050.212 and the other requirements in Part 050 of the Migration Regulations 1994. Holding subclass 041 is not the complete BVE eligibility test.
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Secondly, prepare the BVE application before that end point. The paper form is Form 1008 — Application for Bridging E visa. Under the Migration (Arrangements for Bridging visa applications) Instrument (LIN 21/045) 2021, Form 1008 (Internet) is an approved online form only if you have no other pending BVE application. Preparing or lodging an application does not extend the subclass 041 duration set by Part 041 of the Migration Regulations 1994.
How much does a Bridging visa D cost?
A$0 is the Bridging visa D application charge under Schedule 1 item 1304 of the Migration Regulations 1994. This amount was checked on 3 October 2026.
Does an invalid paper application count as a Bridging visa D application?
Some invalid paper substantive applications can be taken as BVD applications under regulation 2.22 of the Migration Regulations 1994, provided they were not lodged by attendance and were not barred under sections 48 or 48A. This does not mean every invalid application creates lawful status or guarantees a BVD.
Does subclass 040 satisfy the subclass 050 visa-status requirement?
No. Clause 050.211(1) of the Migration Regulations 1994 names an unlawful non-citizen, a BVE holder or a subclass 041 holder, not a subclass 040 holder.
Obtain a status check before expiry; do not let your lawful stay end as an application strategy.
For the forms and lodgement process, follow the Bridging visa E application guide.
If you already overstay your visa, use the expired-visa guide to check the next status-resolution step. Home Affairs’ expired-visa guidance says that, if your visa has expired, you need to depart Australia or apply for a BVE immediately to become lawful; BVE eligibility still needs checking.
For the wider BVE context, return to the Bridging Visa E Guide.
An Australian migration lawyer can check your subclass 041 end point, condition 8401 reporting directions and subclass 050 eligibility under the Migration Regulations 1994 before lodgement. The site’s enquiry form is a disabled preview and cannot send details yet.