Bridging Visa & Centrelink: What You Can Access
A Common Question: Can a Bridging Visa Holder Get Centrelink?
This is one of the most common questions migrants in Australia ask when they hold a bridging visa and face financial difficulty. The short answer is: most bridging visa holders are NOT eligible for Centrelink payments.
In reality, however, the picture is more complex than that short answer, and there are some important exceptions to know.
Why Most Bridging Visa Holders Cannot Access Centrelink
Australia’s Centrelink system is designed mainly to support Australian citizens and permanent residents. Temporary visa holders, including bridging visa holders, generally fall outside the group of beneficiaries.
The basic principle: Services Australia (which administers Centrelink) requires a person seeking a payment to be an Australian citizen or permanent resident, or to fall within certain specifically defined visa categories. A bridging visa is, by nature, a short-term temporary visa held while waiting on a main visa, and so it does not meet this requirement.
Common Centrelink payments that a bridging visa holder usually cannot receive:
- JobSeeker Payment (unemployment payment)
- Youth Allowance
- Austudy
- Family Tax Benefit (FTB)
- Parenting Payment
- Age Pension (except in certain special cases)
- Disability Support Pension
The Exceptions: Who Can Get Centrelink While on a Bridging Visa?
There are some important exceptions:
1. People waiting on a Humanitarian visa: A person applying for a humanitarian visa (including protection visas subclass 200, 201, 202, 203, 204) while on a bridging visa may be able to access some support through the Asylum Seeker Assistance Scheme (ASAS), administered by the Department of Social Services rather than Centrelink directly. The level of support is usually around 89% of the JobSeeker Payment.
2. Bridging Visa E (BVE) holders in some humanitarian circumstances: Some BVE holders waiting to arrange their departure from Australia may be able to access Asylum Seeker Assistance if they meet specific criteria.
3. People whose partner or parent is an Australian citizen or permanent resident: In some cases, a bridging visa holder waiting on a partner visa may benefit indirectly through their partner’s payment — for example, FTB may be assessed at the household level.
4. Medicare: Medicare is a special case. Access to Medicare while on a bridging visa depends on:
- Whether your home country has a Medicare agreement with Australia
- The type of visa you are waiting on
- The specific conditions of your bridging visa
A BVA holder waiting on certain visa types (for example a partner visa) usually has access to Medicare during the waiting period.
What Support Can You Access?
Even without Centrelink, a bridging visa holder can still access some sources of support:
1. Support from non-government organisations (NGOs): Many charities and community organisations provide support to migrants and refugees facing financial difficulty, including:
- Food vouchers and food banks
- Emergency rent support
- Help with utility bills
- Clothing and essential items
2. Migrant Resource Centres: Migrant Resource Centres in each state can provide information and sometimes direct support.
3. Work rights: This is the most important source of support. If your bridging visa allows work (with condition 8105, or not subject to condition 8101), you can work and support yourself. Check your visa conditions through VEVO.
4. Emergency Relief: Services Australia runs an Emergency Relief program for urgent situations, although the criteria for a bridging visa holder to access it are very strict.
5. State programs: Some states have their own support programs for migrants in difficulty. The eligibility can be more flexible than the federal programs.
Financial Planning While on a Bridging Visa
Because a bridging visa does not provide access to Centrelink, financial planning is very important:
- Make sure you have enough savings to cover living costs while waiting on your visa. Processing times can range from a few months to several years for some visa types.
- Understand your work rights from the moment you receive your bridging visa. If you are allowed to work, this is your main income source.
- Maintain private health insurance if you do not have access to Medicare, to avoid unexpected medical costs.
- Build a community network — community organisations and migrant organisations can provide important non-financial support.
In reality, the waiting period on a bridging visa can be the most financially difficult stage of the migration journey. Preparing in advance and knowing the support available will help you get through it.