Bridging arrangements and lawful stay can be confusing. If you or your partner are waiting for an immigration decision, seek individual advice about the permission currently in effect, its conditions and the dates that matter.
Check your current position
Have the relevant grant notices and recent Home Affairs correspondence ready for your consultation. Do not assume that a pending matter, a relationship with an Australian or an appointment with an adviser gives permission to remain.
Rhys can help you understand the issues that need assessment for your circumstances. The different bridging categories are not interchangeable, and there is no general entitlement to a particular period of stay.
Travel, work and healthcare questions
Before leaving Australia, seek advice about departure and return arrangements. Permission to remain does not necessarily include permission to travel and return. Check the relevant notice and dates before making travel commitments.
Work conditions and Medicare eligibility are separate questions. Do not assume that one follows from the other. Ask for advice about the conditions recorded for your circumstances and obtain appropriate confirmation before relying on an entitlement.
Changes, refusals and approaching deadlines
If a previous permission has expired, a decision has been refused, or you are considering withdrawing a pending matter, seek advice promptly. These situations can affect the options available and need individual assessment. Do not rely on a general departure period or another person’s experience.
Read our guidance after an immigration refusal. For health and family planning considerations, see pregnancy and migration planning.
Planning a future with your partner
A temporary visit and a long-term move involve different considerations. Ask about the relevance of your location, immigration history, relationship evidence and current conditions before making plans. A visit does not guarantee a later pathway or a right to remain.
Our guidance on partner migration and prospective marriage can help you identify questions for a personal consultation.
Get advice for your circumstances
OZVISA provides individual migration advice through Rhys Cochrane, Registered Migration Agent (MARN 1568361). We are a private migration assistance business, not the Department of Home Affairs. Home Affairs makes immigration decisions; no outcome is guaranteed.
To discuss your position and the information needed for an assessment, contact us.
