Bridging & Visitor Visas
Bridging Visas and the New Rules
Since 2 February 2026, temporary visa holders have faced tighter restrictions on switching between visa subclasses while remaining in Australia, part of a broader effort to close pathways commonly described as visa hopping. On 17 September 2026, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced further measures building on this, including a new "no further stay" condition to be applied to visitor visas, limiting the ability of visitors to extend a short stay into a longer one, and stronger action against visa overstayers. Burke also confirmed the government will move to sanction and deregister migration agents who encourage clients to lodge claims that game the system rather than reflect a genuine case. Compliance monitoring for temporary visa holders, including bridging visa holders awaiting a decision, is being tightened alongside these changes.
