Can You Study in Australia on a Bridging Visa A?

Whether you can study in Australia on a Bridging Visa A depends on the conditions attached to your specific bridging visa and the visa you held before it was granted. A Bridging Visa A is a temporary visa that allows you to remain lawfully in Australia while your substantive visa application is being processed. Your study rights on a Bridging Visa A are generally tied to the conditions of your previous substantive visa, but you may need to apply for a separate Student visa if you wish to undertake a course of study that is not permitted under those conditions.

Understanding the Bridging Visa A and Study Rights

A Bridging Visa A is not a substantive visa. It is a temporary visa that is granted to you when you make a valid application for a substantive visa while you are in Australia. The purpose of the Bridging Visa A is to keep you lawful in Australia while your substantive visa application is being decided.

The conditions attached to your Bridging Visa A are typically the same as, or similar to, the conditions that applied to your last substantive visa. This means that if your previous substantive visa allowed you to study, you may be able to continue studying on your Bridging Visa A. However, if your previous substantive visa did not allow study, or had restrictions on the type or duration of study, those restrictions will generally carry over to your Bridging Visa A.

It is important to note that the Department of Home Affairs does not automatically grant study rights on a Bridging Visa A. You must check the specific conditions on your visa grant notice to confirm what you are permitted to do.

The Subsequent Temporary Application Charge and Study Visas

If you are in Australia on a Bridging Visa A and you decide to apply for a Student visa (subclass 500), you may be liable for the subsequent temporary application charge (STAC). This charge applies to certain temporary visa applications made in Australia, and it is payable in addition to the base application charge.

The STAC is calculated for each applicant based on their individual visa history. The charge applies when you are in Australia applying for a visa specified in Table 1, and you hold, or last held, a visa specified in Table 2 that was applied for while you were in Australia.

Table 1 includes the Student visa (subclass 500) and the Student Guardian visa (subclass 590). Table 2 includes a range of temporary visas, including the Student visa (subclass 500), the Visitor visa (subclass 600), the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa (subclass 482), and the Working Holiday visa (subclass 417).

If you are applying for a Student visa while in Australia and your previous substantive visa was applied for in Australia, you may need to pay the STAC. The amount of the charge is not specified in the official guidance, but you should consult the Visa Pricing Table to determine the exact amount that applies to your situation.

Exemptions from the Subsequent Temporary Application Charge

There are several situations where the STAC does not apply. If you are applying for a Student visa while in Australia, the STAC will not be charged if any of the following applies:

• The base application charge for your application is nil.
• The visa pricing table does not show a subsequent temporary application charge.
• The visa pricing table shows the subsequent temporary application charge as nil or N/A.
• The applicant is outside Australia while making their substantive temporary visa application.
• The applicant is making their first substantive temporary visa application in Australia.
• The subsequent temporary application charge formula evaluates the charge to nil.

If you are on a Bridging Visa A and you have never held a substantive visa in Australia, or your previous substantive visa was applied for outside Australia, you may not be liable for the STAC. However, if you have previously held a substantive visa that was applied for in Australia, the charge may apply.

Applying for a Student Visa from a Bridging Visa A

If you wish to study in Australia and your Bridging Visa A does not permit the study you intend to undertake, you will need to apply for a Student visa (subclass 500). You must apply online via ImmiAccount. The application must include all necessary supporting documents, and you should ensure that you meet all relevant legislative requirements before you apply.

When you apply for a Student visa while in Australia, you will be granted a further Bridging Visa A that allows you to remain lawful while your Student visa application is being processed. This new Bridging Visa A will have conditions that reflect the Student visa application you have made.

It is important to note that the Department of Home Affairs recommends that you lodge a complete application with all supporting documents to help avoid delays. For student visa applications, the median processing time for applications lodged in July 2026 was 21 days, but this can vary depending on the complexity of your application and whether additional information is requested.

Processing Times and Priorities

Student visa applications lodged outside Australia are processed in accordance with a Ministerial Direction. Applications lodged before 14 November 2025 are processed according to Ministerial Direction 111, while applications lodged on or after 14 November 2025 are processed according to Ministerial Direction 115.

The median processing time for student visas in July 2026 was 21 days. However, processing times can vary for many reasons, including whether all necessary supporting documents have been provided, how quickly you respond to requests for further information, and the complexity of your application.

If you are applying for a Student visa while on a Bridging Visa A, your application will be processed in Australia. The Department encourages applicants to apply well in advance of course commencement and to include all supporting documentation to avoid delays.

What to Do Next

Before you make any decisions about studying in Australia on a Bridging Visa A, you should take the following steps:

1. Check the conditions on your Bridging Visa A grant notice to confirm what study you are permitted to undertake.
2. If you need to apply for a Student visa, review the specific requirements for the Student visa (subclass 500) on the Department of Home Affairs website.
3. Consult the Visa Pricing Table to determine whether the subsequent temporary application charge applies to your situation and what the amount would be.
4. Lodge your application online via ImmiAccount with all necessary supporting documents.

The information in this article is based on official Department of Home Affairs sources. You should always verify the specific conditions of your visa and the requirements for your intended course of study on the official Department of Home Affairs website before you apply.