Bridging visas – not eligible for waiver of travel exemption
Bridging visas – not eligible for waiver of travel exemption
Since the announcement by the government that certain visa holders are now eligible to travel to Australia without needing to apply for a travel exemption, there has been a lot of confusion surrounding which visas this applies to.
It is important to note that only specified substantive visa holders are eligible. This means that if you are currently on a Bridging visa, you will not be eligible to travel to Australia without an exemption, as bridging visas are not substantive visas. If you have applied for a visa but it has not yet been granted, you are also not an eligible visa holder.
New arrangements for eligible visa holders
From 15 December 2021, fully vaccinated eligible visa holders can travel to Australia without needing to apply for a travel exemption. This includes eligible visa holders in Australia seeking to depart and return.
To be considered an eligible visa holder you must hold one of the following visas.
| Visa |
| Subclass 163 – State/Territory Sponsored Business Owner Visa |
| Subclass 173 – Contributory Parent (Temporary) visa |
| Subclass 200 – Refugee visa |
| Subclass 201 – In-country Special Humanitarian visa |
| Subclass 202 – Global Special Humanitarian visa |
| Subclass 203 – Emergency Rescue visa |
| Subclass 204 – Woman at Risk visa |
| Subclass 300 – Prospective Marriage visa |
| Subclass 400 – Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) visa |
| Subclass 402 – Training and Research visa |
| Subclass 403 – Temporary Work (International Relations) visa (other streams, including Australian Agriculture Visa stream) |
| Subclass 405 – Investor Retirement visa |
| Subclass 407 – Training visa |
| Subclass 408 – Temporary Activity visa |
| Subclass 410 – Retirement visa |
| Subclass 417 – Working Holiday visa |
| Subclass 449 – Humanitarian Stay (Temporary) visa |
| Subclass 457 – Temporary Work (Skilled) visa |
| Subclass 461 – New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship visa |
| Subclass 462 – Work and Holiday visa |
| Subclass 476 – Skilled – Recognised Graduate visa |
| Subclass 482 – Temporary Skill Shortage visa |
| Subclass 485 – Temporary Graduate visa |
| Subclass 487 – Skilled – Regional Sponsored visa |
| Subclass 489 – Skilled – Regional (Provisional) visa |
| Subclass 491 – Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa |
| Subclass 494 – Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa |
| Subclass 500 – Student visa |
| Subclass 560 – Student Temporary Visa |
| Subclass 571 – Student Schools Sector Visa |
| Subclass 572 – Vocational Education and Training Sector Visa |
| Subclass 573 – Higher Education Sector Visa |
| Subclass 574 – Postgraduate Research Sector Visa |
| Subclass 575 – Non-Award Sector Visa |
| Subclass 580 – Student Guardian visa |
| Subclass 590 – Student Guardian visa |
| Subclass 785 – Temporary Protection visa |
| Subclass 786 – Temporary Humanitarian Concern visa |
| Subclass 790 – Safe Haven Enterprise visa |
| Subclass 870 – Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa |
| Subclass 884 – Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) visa |
| Subclass 988 – Maritime Crew visa |
This is in addition to the exemptions outlined on: Travel restrictions and exemptions.
Visa enquiries
For all visa application enquiries please contact us at and one of our experienced agents will get back to you.
