How long can you stay on a Bridging visa E? The end date for each ground
Updated 3 October 2026 · End rules from Schedule 2 to the Migration Regulations 1994 (Compilation 288, 1 July 2026)
A Bridging visa E tied to a visa application ends 35 days after a refusal or ART decision; one tied to judicial review ends 28 days after the case ends. These periods come from clauses 050.511 and 050.512 of Schedule 2 to the Migration Regulations 1994; ART means the Administrative Review Tribunal.
Under section 73 of the Migration Act 1958, a Bridging visa E lasts until a set date, for a set period or until a set event; section 82 and the Home Affairs Bridging visa E (subclass 050) page also provide for it to end immediately on departure, another visa coming into effect or cancellation.
A Bridging visa E granted to arrange your departure or for a Ministerial intervention request ends on a date the Minister sets under clause 050.517 of the Migration Regulations 1994.
A Bridging visa E cannot be extended: to stay longer, you apply for a new one, according to the Home Affairs Bridging visa E (subclass 050) page, updated 8 August 2025.
When it ends and you hold no other visa, you are an unlawful non-citizen under sections 13–14 of the Migration Act 1958.
The 35 days run from the date the decision is made, even if it is later found defective or invalid, under clause 050.511(2) of the Migration Regulations 1994.
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At a glance
The following end periods come from Schedule 2 to the Migration Regulations 1994; the extension rule comes from the Home Affairs Bridging visa E (subclass 050) page.
- After a visa refusal or Administrative Review Tribunal decision: 35 days.
- After judicial review ends: 28 days.
- After a section 137K revocation decision: 14 working days.
- Departure arrangements or Ministerial intervention: a date the Minister sets.
- Deemed grant in immigration detention, subclass 050: 5 working days, or 14 days if the departure-arrangement requirements are met.
- Extension: not possible; apply for a new Bridging visa E.
How long does a Bridging visa E last for each ground?
Your ground of grant is the reason your Bridging visa E was granted. The table sets out the end rules under Schedule 2 to the Migration Regulations 1994, as at 1 July 2026.
When a Bridging visa E ends
| Your Bridging visa E ground | It ends | Clause |
|---|---|---|
| You applied for a substantive visa—a visa other than a bridging, criminal justice or enforcement visa | It ends when that visa is granted; 35 days after refusal; 35 days after the ART decides your review or decides your review application was invalid; 35 days after you withdraw the visa application or ART application; 35 days after the Minister decides the visa application is invalid; or when a further bridging visa is granted for that application. | Clause 050.511 |
| Judicial review—a court review | It ends 28 days after the proceedings, including any appeal, are completed; 28 days after you withdraw or opt out of a representative proceeding; or when another bridging visa is granted for those proceedings. | Clause 050.512 |
| Review of a visa cancellation, or review of a decision not to revoke a cancellation | It ends 35 days after the ART decides the review or decides the review application was invalid; 35 days after you withdraw; or when another bridging visa is granted. | Clauses 050.513 and 050.513B |
| Revocation of a cancellation under section 137K | It ends 14 working days after the revocation decision or your withdrawal. If revocation is refused and you seek ART review, the cancellation-review row applies. | Clause 050.513A |
| Arranging to leave Australia, a Ministerial intervention request, or any other case covered by clause 050.517 | It ends on the specified date set by the Minister, rather than after a standard number of days. | Clause 050.517 |
| Subclass 051: protection visa application or protection judicial review | It ends when the protection visa is granted; 35 days after refusal or the ART’s decision, other than remittal; 35 days after withdrawal or an invalidity decision; or when a further bridging visa is granted. For protection judicial review, it ends 28 days after the proceedings are completed or withdrawn. | Clauses 051.511 to 051.512 |
| Deemed grant in immigration detention under section 75 of the Migration Act 1958 | Subclass 050 ends 5 working days from grant, or 14 days from grant if, within 5 days of grant, the Minister is satisfied you have made acceptable arrangements to leave within 14 days. Subclass 051 follows the protection-application rules above, including the 35-day and 28-day periods. | Clauses 050.516 and 051.513 |
Rarer grounds: Under the Migration Regulations 1994, a grant because no interviewing officer is available lasts 5 working days from grant under clause 050.514A; a criminal-detention grant ends on events including release, bail, parole or completion of sentence under clause 050.515.
Immediate-refusal exception: If the visa application is refused because you did not meet public interest criterion 4003(b) or 4003A, the Bridging visa E ends at the moment of refusal under clauses 050.511(1)(b)(iiaa) and (1A), with a corresponding exception in clause 051.511 for subclass 051.
Reconsideration exception: If the ART or a court sends the case back for reconsideration—called remittal—the end date is worked out again under the applicable reconsideration rule in clauses 050.511(1)(b)(vii) and 050.512(c) of the Migration Regulations 1994.
When do the 35 days start?
The 35 days start from the date the decision is made, not the date you receive or read the letter. Under clauses 050.511(2) and 050.513(2) of the Migration Regulations 1994, the period runs even if the decision is later found defective or invalid.
Deadline reminder: For an ordinary visa-application refusal covered by clause 050.511, your Bridging visa E ends 35 days after the decision date—not the date you read the letter—unless an earlier-ending rule applies.
What ends a Bridging visa E at once?
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Leaving Australia: Under section 82(8) of the Migration Act 1958 and the Home Affairs Bridging visa E page, it ends when you leave and cannot be used to return; Leaving Australia on a Bridging visa E explains what departure means for a later visa.
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Another visa coming into effect: Section 82(3) of the Migration Act 1958 generally ends a bridging visa when another visa comes into effect, subject to the special purpose and maritime crew visa exceptions. Clause 050.511 also ends it on grant of the substantive visa or a further bridging visa for the same application; section 82(7A) says an event-based bridging visa ends “the moment the event happens”.
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Cancellation: A Bridging visa E ends if it is cancelled, including under section 116 of the Migration Act 1958; the Bridging visa E refused or cancelled guide explains the next steps.
Can you extend a Bridging visa E?
No. The Home Affairs Bridging visa E (subclass 050) page, updated 8 August 2025, says: “You cannot stay in Australia longer by extending this visa.” If you need to stay beyond its ending time or event, you need to apply for a new Bridging visa E or explore another visa option before it ends.
A current Bridging visa E holder can apply for a new one while it remains in effect under clause 050.211(1) of the Migration Regulations 1994, but must meet the other applicable requirements.
The online form is available only if you have no other pending Bridging visa E application, under section 4(4) of the Migration (Arrangements for Bridging visa applications) Instrument (LIN 21/045) 2021. The steps to apply for a Bridging visa E explain the application process—not an extension process.
Where do you find your Bridging visa E end date?
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Find your ground of grant. The Home Affairs Bridging visa E (subclass 050) page says your grant notice identifies your visa and conditions, and VEVO shows your specific conditions. Check these alongside the ground you selected in Part D of Home Affairs Form 1008. Do not assume the grant letter or VEVO always prints a calendar end date.
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Match your ground to the table, then count from the relevant event. Under Schedule 2 to the Migration Regulations 1994, common periods are 35 days after a decision or withdrawal, 28 days after judicial review ends, or 14 working days after a section 137K revocation decision or withdrawal. For departure arrangements or Ministerial intervention, clause 050.517 uses the date the Minister specifies.
What happens when a Bridging visa E ends?
If you hold no other visa, you become an unlawful non-citizen the moment it ends, under sections 13–14 of the Migration Act 1958. Section 189(1) requires an officer who knows or reasonably suspects that a person in the migration zone is unlawful to detain them.
The Home Affairs “If you don’t have a valid visa” page says it can detain you, remove you from Australia and bill you for the removal.
Before your Bridging visa E ends, apply for a new Bridging visa E or another visa you are eligible for, or leave Australia. Home Affairs says an expired-visa holder needs to depart or apply for a Bridging visa E immediately; guidance on what to do if you overstay your visa explains those next steps.
Holding two bridging visas at once
If you hold two or more Bridging visas E, the later-granted one is the one in effect, under regulation 2.21 of the Migration Regulations 1994. Between bridging visa classes, the regulation ranks them from most to least beneficial: B, A, C, D, R, E, F.
This matters when you receive a new Bridging visa E with different conditions: the later grant replaces the earlier one as the visa in effect.
My family member is the one in judicial review. When does my Bridging visa E end?
If your Bridging visa E was granted as a family-unit member of a judicial-review party, it lasts until that person’s bridging visa ends under clause 050.511A of Schedule 2 to the Migration Regulations 1994.
What if the ART sends my case back to Home Affairs?
The end date is worked out again under the rule for the reconsidered decision. Under clause 050.511(1)(b)(vii) of the Migration Regulations 1994, a new refusal starts the applicable 35-day count from that new decision.
Is a Bridging visa E for a citizenship case different?
Yes. For judicial review of a citizenship decision, clause 050.511C of the Migration Regulations 1994 uses the latest of 28 days after the court proceedings end or are withdrawn, 35 days after a reconsidered decision, or citizenship conferral. For ART review of a citizenship decision, clause 050.511D provides a 35-day period after the ART’s decision.
How long other bridging visas last
Each bridging visa class has its own end rules in Schedule 2 to the Migration Regulations 1994; the Bridging Visa E Guide covers the subclass 050 and 051 rules. The short-term Bridging visa D (subclasses 040 and 041) lasts 5 working days under Parts 040 and 041, although subclass 041 can end earlier if a subclass 050 visa is granted.
An Australian migration lawyer can check your ground of grant, decision date and applicable end rule before you lodge a new application or arrange departure. Under clauses 050.511 and 050.512 of the Migration Regulations 1994, the decision-date count, a remitted case or a refusal on public interest criterion 4003 grounds can change the time available; a lawyer can also check any separate review deadline rather than treating the visa’s end period as the review deadline.
This guide provides general information. It is not a law firm or a government site.