Bridging Visas and Subclass 802 in 2026: what happens when the current visa expires
What happens to a child's lawful status if their visa expires while a subclass 802 child visa application is processed, and when the bridging visa starts.
If your child's current visa runs out while their Child visa (Subclass 802) application is still with the department, they do not become unlawful. The Australian Department of Home Affairs states on its official Child visa (Subclass 802) page (as at August 2026) that a bridging visa associated with the application was granted when the application was made, and that if the child's current visa expires before a decision is made, that bridging visa will start — the child can stay in Australia on it while the new visa application is processed.
That is the whole mechanism in one sentence: the bridging visa is already there, sitting behind the current visa, and it takes over on the day the current visa ends. It is general information about how the rule works rather than advice about your child's situation, so where your family's facts are unusual, the official pages and a registered migration agent or legal practitioner are the safer check.
Does a subclass 802 application come with a bridging visa?
Yes, according to the department's Child visa (Subclass 802) page. It explains that the child was granted a bridging visa associated with the application at the time the application was made, and that the child can remain in Australia on that bridging visa while the 802 application is being processed.
The same page lists "apply for a Bridging Visa (BV)" among the things you can do through ImmiAccount once a paper application has been imported. So the bridging visa tied to the 802 application is not something that appears only later in the process — it is created with the application itself.
When does the bridging visa actually start?
It starts when the current visa expires, and only if that happens before the department makes its decision on the 802 application. While the child's existing visa is still valid, that visa is what holds their lawful status; the bridging visa waits behind it.
This matters because families often assume the bridging visa is "active" from the day they lodge. It isn't. The department's wording is conditional: expiry first, decision second, bridging visa in between. Nothing on the official page suggests the child can choose to move onto the bridging visa early, or that the two visas run side by side as alternatives.
What does staying lawful actually require during the wait?
Very little day to day, but the conditions are worth being precise about. The department's instruction under "Stay lawful" on the 802 page is to make sure the child holds a valid visa while the application is processed — which the bridging visa does once it starts.
| Stage of the wait | What holds the child's lawful status | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Current visa still valid | The existing visa | The 802 application is being processed; no progress updates within normal processing times |
| Current visa expires before decision | The bridging visa granted with the 802 application | It exists only because the 802 application is on foot |
| Child travels outside Australia | Whatever visa allows them to return | The department says to make sure there is a valid visa to return |
| Decision made | The 802 visa, if granted | The child must be in Australia when the decision is made |
Can the child travel while the bridging visa is in force?
Travel is the part of this that catches families out. The department says on the 802 page that the child must be in Australia when it makes its decision, that you should tell it if the child needs to travel outside Australia while the application is processed, and that if you leave Australia, you should make sure the child has a valid visa to return.
Put those together and the risk is clear: leaving Australia on the bridging visa associated with the application does not, by itself, guarantee a way back in, and if the child is offshore when the department is ready to decide, the decision cannot be made. For a permanent visa that can only be granted to someone onshore, that is an expensive way to lose years of waiting.
What could leave the child without that bridging visa?
The bridging visa is attached to a live, validly made 802 application, so anything that undermines the application undermines the bridging arrangement with it.
Three things from the official page are relevant here:
- An incomplete application can be invalid. The department warns that if the required steps are incomplete, the application may be invalid, that it does not process invalid applications, and that it will notify you if this happens. An 802 application must be made on paper using Form 47CH (Application for migration to Australia by a child) and Form 40CH (Sponsorship for a child to migrate to Australia), sent together, paid for before submission, and lodged by post or courier to the Child and Other Family Processing Centre in Perth.
- The application can be withdrawn. Withdrawing is listed as one of the actions available in ImmiAccount, and once the application is no longer on foot, so is the bridging visa tied to it.
- The application can be decided. If it is refused, the department says it will tell you why and set out any review rights, and that it will not refund the application charge.
How long can the wait last?
The department says it cannot provide updates on the progress of a child's application within normal processing times, and that it will contact you if it needs anything further. It does not publish a processing time on the 802 page itself.
The Migration Regulations 1994 and departmental policy guidance describe subclass 802 processing in the range of about 12 to 18 months, with the actual time depending on the individual case. Treat that as indicative only; the figure that counts is the one the department publishes at the time you apply. The practical point for lawful status is unchanged either way — the wait is long enough that many children will see their current visa expire before the decision, which is exactly the gap the bridging visa fills.
What happens at decision time?
The child must be in Australia when the decision is made. If the visa is granted, the department says it will advise the visa grant number, the date the visa starts, and any visa conditions, and recommends keeping a copy of the grant letter while in Australia.
Subclass 802 is a permanent visa. The Migration Regulations 1994 note that it carries a five-year travel facility, so the re-entry problem that applies during processing does not apply once the visa is granted. If the application is refused, the refusal notice will explain why and whether there are review rights, and the application charge is not refunded.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a bridging visa granted automatically with a subclass 802 application?
Yes. The department's official Child visa (Subclass 802) page says a bridging visa associated with the application was granted when the visa application was made. You do not have to make a separate request for that bridging visa to exist, although ImmiAccount does list applying for a Bridging Visa (BV) among the services available for a managed application.
When does the bridging visa start if the child's current visa is still valid?
It starts when the current visa expires, provided that happens before the department decides the 802 application. Until then, the existing visa is what keeps the child lawful, and the bridging visa stays in the background.
Can the child travel overseas and come back on the bridging visa?
The department's advice is that if you leave Australia, you should make sure the child has a valid visa to return. It also states that the child must be in Australia when the decision is made, so travelling without arranging a return visa puts the whole application at risk.
What happens to the bridging visa if the 802 application is refused?
The bridging visa exists because the application is being processed, so once a decision is made it no longer serves that purpose. The department says a refusal notice will explain the reasons and any review rights, and that the application charge will not be refunded.
Does the child have to be in Australia on the day of the decision?
Yes. The department states on the 802 page that the child must be in Australia when it makes its decision, both in its travel guidance and in the visa outcome section. Being offshore at that moment means the permanent visa cannot be granted.
Can the child's own children be added while the application is waiting?
Yes. The department says you can add the child's dependent children to the application at any time before it makes a decision. The 802 page also sets out what is needed for each dependant under 18, including identity documents, travel documents, proof of the relationship, and character documents where applicable.