If you have applied for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) and are waiting for a decision, you may be wondering about your 485 bridging visa work rights. When you lodge a valid 485 application while holding a substantive visa, you are typically granted a Bridging Visa A (BVA).
This bridging visa lets you stay lawfully in Australia while your application is being processed, and it often comes with work rights. Understanding how these work rights apply, when they start, and any conditions attached will help you plan your stay and employment in Australia.
What Is a Bridging Visa in the Context of the 485 Application?
A bridging visa is a temporary visa that maintains your lawful status in Australia while the Department processes your main visa application. For most 485 visa applicants, this will be a Bridging Visa A (BVA).
The BVA activates only once your current substantive visa expires. Until then, you continue on your original visa conditions. When the BVA comes into effect, it allows you to remain in Australia and, depending on conditions, may grant you full work rights.
Key takeaway: A Bridging Visa A keeps you lawful while waiting for your 485 decision and usually activates when your current visa runs out.
Do You Have Work Rights on a 485 Bridging Visa?
Yes, most applicants for the Temporary Graduate visa 485 are granted full work rights on their bridging visa. This is because the 485 visa itself is a work visa, designed to allow graduates to gain post-study work experience in Australia.
You can generally:
- Work unlimited hours.
- Change employers freely.
- Work in any industry or occupation.
However, you need to double-check your grant letter, as conditions may vary in rare cases.
Key takeaway: In most cases, a 485 bridging visa gives you unlimited work rights, reflecting the nature of the main visa you applied for.
When Do the Work Rights Start?
Your 485 bridging visa is granted soon after you apply for the Temporary Graduate visa, but it only comes into effect once your current substantive visa expires.
For example:
- If you are on a student visa when you apply, you will continue under your student visa conditions until it ends.
- Once your student visa expires, the 485 bridging visa automatically comes into effect, and your work rights shift to those linked to the bridging visa.
This means that if your student visa has work restrictions (e.g., limited hours during study periods), those limits still apply until your bridging visa becomes active.
Key takeaway: Work rights under your bridging visa only begin once your previous substantive visa has expired.
Types of Bridging Visas Linked to the 485 Application
While the most common bridging visa linked to a 485 application is the Bridging Visa A, other bridging visas may apply depending on your situation:
- Bridging Visa A (BVA): Given if you apply for the 485 while holding a valid visa. Usually grants full work rights.
- Bridging Visa B (BVB): If you need to travel outside Australia while waiting, you must apply separately for this visa. It maintains your status and allows travel.
- Bridging Visa C (BVC): Granted if you apply for the 485 after your previous visa has expired. Work rights may not be automatic and often require a separate request.
Key takeaway: Most applicants will hold a Bridging Visa A, but if you need travel rights or applied after your visa expired, different bridging visas may apply.
Conditions You Need to Be Aware Of
While most 485 bridging visas come with full work rights, you must still comply with conditions such as:
- Remaining in Australia (unless you apply for a BVB).
- Obeying Australian laws and workplace standards.
- Ensuring your contact details remain updated with the Department.
Failing to comply with visa conditions can affect both your bridging visa and your 485 application.
Key takeaway: Even with full work rights, you must follow all conditions of your bridging visa to protect your 485 application.
Bridging Visa and Employer Considerations
If you are starting work on a bridging visa, your employer may need reassurance that you have the legal right to work. You can:
- Provide them with your visa grant notice.
- Suggest they use the Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) system to check your work rights.
Because the 485 visa is designed for work, employers are generally familiar with hiring graduates on bridging visas.
Key takeaway: You can prove your work rights to employers using your grant letter or VEVO, making it easier to secure jobs.
Travel Rights on a 485 Bridging Visa
While your bridging visa allows you to work, travel rights are different. A standard Bridging Visa A does not permit overseas travel. If you leave Australia on a BVA, it will cease, and you may not be allowed back in.
If you need to travel while waiting for your 485 decision, you must apply for a Bridging Visa B (BVB) before leaving. The BVB will allow re-entry and maintain your right to remain lawful in Australia.
Key takeaway: A Bridging Visa A does not allow overseas travel. You must apply for a Bridging Visa B if you want to leave and re-enter Australia.
Bridging Visa C and Work Limitations
If you applied for the 485 visa after your previous visa expired, you may have been granted a Bridging Visa C. Unlike a BVA, a BVC does not automatically include work rights.
In this case, you need to apply separately for work rights by showing financial hardship. If approved, you may then work without restrictions.
Key takeaway: A Bridging Visa C does not always come with work rights, you may need to request them and demonstrate financial need.
Duration of the Bridging Visa
Your bridging visa will remain valid until a decision is made on your Temporary Graduate visa. If the 485 is approved, the bridging visa ends, and you move onto the graduate visa with its own work rights.
If your application is refused and you do not appeal, your bridging visa will also expire after the refusal period, meaning you must leave Australia or apply for another visa.
Key takeaway: A bridging visa lasts until your 485 decision is made, after which it either ends or transitions into your new visa.
Common Mistakes Applicants Make
Many applicants face issues with their 485 bridging visa work rights due to avoidable mistakes, such as:
- Assuming work rights start immediately, when in fact they begin after the current visa expires.
- Travelling overseas without a Bridging Visa B, causing their BVA to cease.
- Not checking VEVO to confirm work rights before starting employment.
- Confusing conditions between their old student visa and their bridging visa.
Key takeaway: Understanding when your work rights begin and applying for the correct bridging visa prevents unnecessary issues.
Why the 485 Bridging Visa Is Valuable
For many international students, the bridging visa provides a seamless transition from studying to working full-time in Australia. It allows you to:
- Gain practical work experience in your field.
- Earn income while waiting for your graduate visa.
- Stay in Australia lawfully without gaps between visas.
- Prepare for long-term migration pathways.
Key takeaway: The 485 bridging visa ensures you can keep working and living in Australia lawfully while waiting for your graduate visa.
Your 485 bridging visa work rights give you the ability to work lawfully in Australia while waiting for your Temporary Graduate visa decision. In most cases, this means unlimited work rights once your bridging visa comes into effect. By understanding when these rights begin, what conditions apply, and how to manage travel, you can make the most of your bridging period without risking your visa status.
Final Key takeaway: With full work rights and lawful status, the 485 bridging visa is a valuable step in your transition from student life to post-graduate opportunities in Australia.