Form 1008: Application for Bridging Visa E (Subclass 050)

What a Bridging visa E (subclass 050) is for

A Bridging visa E lets a person who doesn't currently hold a substantive visa remain lawfully in Australia in specific circumstances — commonly while making arrangements to depart the country, while awaiting the outcome of an immigration matter such as a review or judicial proceeding, or where a new bridging visa with different (or no) conditions is needed.

The eligibility criteria are specific: broadly, the applicant is not an Australian citizen, is currently in Australia, doesn't hold a substantive visa, and is either making arrangements to depart or awaiting the outcome of an immigration matter. These are the Department's published criteria, described here factually — whether they apply to a given person's situation depends on their individual facts.

Bridging visa E vs Bridging visas A, B and C

The key distinction is substantive-visa status. Bridging visas A, B and C (see our Form 1005 and Form 1006 guides) generally apply to someone who holds, or held until recently, a substantive visa and is bridging the gap around a new application or departure arrangements connected to that visa history.

A Bridging visa E specifically applies to someone who does not currently hold a substantive visa — meaning their situation is procedurally different and often more serious, since being in Australia without a substantive visa carries its own compliance considerations that don't apply in the same way to a BVA/BVB/BVC holder.

Common scenarios where Form 1008 applies

Typical situations include: needing to remain lawfully in Australia while applying for a substantive visa from within Australia after entering on a different visa that has since ceased; needing a new bridging visa after a previous one ceased because the person departed Australia and their related substantive visa application hadn't yet been finalised; and needing to change the conditions attached to an existing Bridging visa E.

Each of these is a distinct fact pattern with its own documentation needs, and the right approach can differ significantly depending on which scenario actually applies.

Work rights are not automatic

The default condition attached to a subclass 050 Bridging visa E is Condition 8101 (No Work) — all work, paid or unpaid, is prohibited unless that condition is specifically removed. This is a meaningful difference from some other bridging visa categories where work rights can flow more directly from the underlying substantive visa application.

For most BVE holders, obtaining work rights involves a separate financial hardship application; if approved, a new BVE can be granted with Condition 8101 removed and Condition 8116 (Restricted Work) applied instead. A narrower group — BVE holders granted their visa under section 195A of the Migration Act while in immigration detention — are treated differently under a 2025 instrument and aren't subject to the standard work restrictions. Which category applies makes a real difference to what a BVE holder can lawfully do, so it's worth confirming rather than assuming.

Is there a fee for Form 1008?

There is no application fee for a Bridging visa E. This reflects the visa's function as a lawful-status safeguard for people in genuinely difficult circumstances, rather than a visa category someone applies for by preference.

How to lodge Form 1008

Form 1008 is downloaded from the Department of Home Affairs form-listing page — always confirm the current version. Given how much rides on getting a Bridging visa E application right, and how specific the eligibility scenarios are, applicants in this situation are strongly encouraged to seek advice before lodging rather than after a problem arises.

Supporting evidence depends heavily on which scenario applies — evidence connected to a pending immigration matter, evidence of departure arrangements, or evidence supporting a work-rights or condition-change request.

When a MARA agent is worth involving

Being in Australia without a substantive visa is a genuinely high-stakes situation, and Bridging visa E applications sit at the centre of it. This is one of the clearest cases where professional advice is worth seeking before lodging anything — a MARA-registered agent (or, where relevant, a migration lawyer) can assess which scenario actually applies, whether a work-rights application is realistic, and how the BVE application connects to whatever underlying immigration matter is unresolved.

Migratio lets you describe your situation once and compare consultation fees from MARA-registered agents who handle your visa type (comparing is free; consults are typically $150–$300 and you pay only if you book), and for anyone in this situation, that conversation is worth having early rather than after a status problem develops.

What is Form 1008 used for?

Form 1008 is the application for a Bridging visa E (subclass 050), used by people in Australia without a substantive visa who need to remain lawfully while making departure arrangements, awaiting the outcome of an immigration matter, or needing a bridging visa with different conditions.

What's the difference between a Bridging visa E and Bridging visas A, B or C?

Bridging visas A, B and C generally apply to someone who holds or recently held a substantive visa. A Bridging visa E applies to someone who does not currently hold a substantive visa, which is a procedurally different and often more serious situation.

Can I work on a Bridging visa E?

Not automatically. The default condition is 8101 (No Work). Most BVE holders need a separate financial hardship application to have that condition replaced with Condition 8116 (Restricted Work). A narrower group granted a BVE under section 195A while in immigration detention are treated differently under a 2025 instrument.

Is there a fee to apply for a Bridging visa E?

No. There is no application fee for a Bridging visa E.

Should I get advice before applying for a Bridging visa E?

Given the stakes of being in Australia without a substantive visa, seeking advice from a MARA-registered agent or migration lawyer before lodging is strongly worth doing rather than applying and hoping the scenario fits.