Bridging Visa E (BVE) and Citizenship: How to Meet Residency Requirements

Are you at the exciting stage now that you are preparing to apply for Australian citizenship? And with your immigration history, you may be wondering if you meet the residency requirements. For individuals who previously held a Bridging Visa E (BVE) (Subclass 050), a common question arises: "Does my time on a BVE count as lawful residence for Australian citizenship?”

What is a Bridging Visa E (BVE)?

A Bridging Visa E (BVE) (Subclass 050) is a temporary visa that regularises individuals’ status to become lawful in Australia while they wait to resolve their immigration status. Typically, this occurs after overstaying their substantive visa and becoming unlawful, or while awaiting a decision on another visa application.

What is the Lawful Residence for Australian Citizenship Eligibility?

You need to have been a lawful resident in Australia for 4 years immediately before applying, including 12 months as a permanent resident (PR), to be eligible to apply for Australian Citizenship.
The question of whether the period of holding a BVE (SC050) counts as lawful residence is yes, it does. A BVE does count as a lawful residence requirement for citizenship, since a BVE maintains an individual’s legal status in Australia until the applicant’s substantive visa is granted.
Note that any periods of unlawful status halt the lawful residence period and disqualify that time, which means that the required 4-year residency will have to restart once the individual regains lawful status.

What can I do to meet the Residency Requirement for Australian Citizenship?

Consider consulting with an immigration lawyer for tailored advice to clarify any questions. Alternatively, you may have to wait it out for a few more years to meet the residency requirement before you apply for citizenship.

How Can Agape Henry Crux Help You?

For any of your Australian citizenship issues or queries, schedule a time with one of our experienced immigration lawyers at Agape Henry Crux. The team works closely with two of our Accredited Specialists in Immigration Law as they specialise in handling highly complex matters. You can book a Migration Planning Session by calling 02-8310-5230 or emailing us to book a time at info@ahclawyers.com.

We speak fluent English, Mandarin and Cantonese. If these aren’t your language, we can also help you arrange an interpreter.

This article/presentation (“publication”) does not deal extensively with important topics or changes in law and is not intended to be relied upon as a substitute for legal or other advice that may be relevant to the reader's specific circumstances. If you find this publication of interest and would like to know more or wish to obtain legal advice relevant to your circumstances, please contact our office.

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