Fast Home Loan Approval For Bridging Visa Holders
- For BVA, BVB, and other bridging visa holders
- Buy property while waiting for your visa decision
- Borrow up to 90% of the purchase price
- Partner visa scenario specialists
- No cost, no obligation service
MAP Home Loans > Bridging Visa Home Loans
Can You Get a Home Loan on a Bridging Visa?
Yes. But the answer depends on your bridging visa type, the visa you’ve applied for, and how the application is structured.
Most lenders see a bridging visa and decline the application. The visa is temporary, it has no fixed end date like a four-year 482 visa, and many credit assessors simply don’t know how to process it. That’s a policy problem, not a borrower problem.
Certain lenders on our panel actively accept bridging visa applications, particularly when:
- You hold a Bridging Visa A (BVA) linked to a substantive visa application like a partner visa (subclass 820/801)
- You have genuine savings and stable Australian employment
- Your application is structured correctly from the start — right lender, right LVR, right documentation
The brokers who get these loans approved know which lender to approach first. We’ve done this enough times to know exactly where your application has the best chance.
Which Bridging Visa Types Qualify for a Home Loan?
There are five bridging visa subclasses in Australia. Each one has different implications for lending, FIRB obligations, and what you can purchase. Most information online only covers Bridging Visa A. Here’s the full picture.
Bridging Visa A (BVA) — Subclass 010
The most common bridging visa. Granted when you’ve lodged a new substantive visa application while your current visa is still valid. You can live and work in Australia while your new visa is processed.
Lending position: Several lenders will consider BVA holders, particularly when the underlying application is for a partner visa (820/801) or skilled visa. LVRs typically range from 70% to 80%. The key factor lenders assess is the strength of the visa you’ve applied for — not the bridging visa itself.
Bridging Visa B (BVB) — Subclass 020
Functionally similar to a BVA but with travel rights — you can leave and re-enter Australia while your substantive visa application is processed.
Lending position: Treated the same as a BVA by most lenders. The travel component doesn’t change the credit assessment. Same LVR ranges and lender options apply.
Bridging Visa C (BVC) — Subclass 030
Granted when you’ve applied for a substantive visa but were unlawful at the time of application — your previous visa had already expired. Work rights are limited unless specifically granted.
Lending position: Significantly harder. Most lenders will not consider a BVC application. If you have work rights and strong financials, there may be limited options, but this requires specialist assessment.
Bridging Visa D (BVD) — Subclass 040/041
A very short-term visa — typically five working days — granted to give you time to lodge a substantive visa application or arrange to leave Australia.
Lending position: Not viable for home loan purposes. If you hold a BVD, the priority is lodging your substantive visa application to move to a BVA.
Bridging Visa E (BVE) — Subclass 050/051
Granted to people who are unlawful in Australia and are making arrangements to leave or have a visa application pending.
Lending position: Not viable for home loan purposes. Resolve your visa status first.
The Pattern
BVA and BVB holders with work rights and a pending substantive visa application have genuine lending options. BVC holders may have limited options with specialist help. BVD and BVE holders need to resolve their visa status before pursuing property purchase.
Buying While Waiting for Your Partner Visa
This is the scenario we see most often.
You’re in a relationship with an Australian citizen or permanent resident. You’ve lodged your partner visa application — usually subclass 820 (onshore) — and you’re on a Bridging Visa A while the Department of Home Affairs processes your case. Processing times stretch beyond 12 months. Often well beyond.
During that wait, life doesn’t pause. You’re working. You’re building a life together. You find the right property. And you’re told — by a bank, by a broker who doesn’t know this space — that you can’t get a loan on a bridging visa.
That advice is incomplete. Several lenders assess partner visa BVA holders favourably because the trajectory is clear: you are on a path to permanent residency. The bridging visa is a temporary administrative state, not a reflection of your long-term status in Australia.
Here’s how we approach this:
- Lender selection matters most. We identify which lenders on our 31+ panel currently accept BVA holders with pending partner visa applications. These policies change regularly, and we track them.
- Joint applications strengthen your position. When you apply jointly with your Australian citizen or permanent resident partner, the lending picture changes significantly. More lenders will consider the application, and you may access higher LVRs.
- The FIRB exemption applies. When buying jointly with your Australian partner, you may not need FIRB approval at all. This is a major cost and complexity saving. More on this below.
- Income verification is straightforward. If you have full work rights on your BVA (which is standard for partner visa applicants), lenders assess your income the same way they would for any employed applicant.
Waiting for your partner visa does not have to mean waiting to buy a home.
[LINK: spouse/partner visa page]
The Joint-Tenancy FIRB Exemption — How It Works
FIRB approval is one of the biggest hurdles for non-citizen property buyers in Australia. Application fees start at $14,100 for properties up to $1 million, and the process adds time and uncertainty.
But there’s an exemption that most bridging visa holders don’t know about.
If you are buying a property jointly with your spouse or de facto partner who is an Australian citizen or permanent resident, and the property will be your principal place of residence, you do not need FIRB approval.
This is the joint-tenancy exemption. It applies regardless of your visa status — bridging visa, temporary visa, or otherwise. The conditions are specific:
- Joint tenants, not tenants in common. The property must be held as joint tenants. This means equal, undivided ownership. Tenants in common — where each party owns a defined share — does not qualify for the exemption.
- Spouse or de facto partner. The relationship must be a genuine spousal or de facto relationship. This aligns naturally with the partner visa pathway.
- Principal place of residence. The property must be your home. Investment properties do not qualify for this exemption.
- Australian citizen or permanent resident partner. Your partner must hold Australian citizenship or permanent residency.
When all four conditions are met, you purchase without FIRB approval, without the fee, and without the delay. For bridging visa holders waiting for a partner visa, this exemption covers the exact scenario they’re in.
We structure every eligible application to take advantage of this exemption.
[LINK: FIRB guide]
What Deposit and LVR to Expect
LVR — the percentage of the property’s value the lender will finance — varies by lender and by your overall application strength. Here’s the realistic range:
- 70% LVR is widely available from lenders who accept bridging visa applications. This means a 30% deposit plus costs.
- 80% LVR is achievable with stronger applications — stable employment, good credit history, BVA linked to a partner or skilled visa, and joint application with an Australian partner.
- Higher than 80% LVR may be possible in select cases, particularly where the partner visa has strong supporting evidence and the Australian co-applicant has strong financials. This is assessed case by case.
Deposit sources that lenders accept
- Genuine savings held for at least three months
- Gifted deposits from family (with a signed gift letter confirming no repayment required)
- Equity in existing Australian property
- Funds transferred from overseas (with clear documentation of the source)
Lenders assess bridging visa holders on the same fundamentals as any borrower: income, expenses, existing debts, and credit history. The visa adds a policy layer, but if your income supports the loan and your deposit is sufficient, the decision comes down to choosing the right lender.
The April 2025 Restriction — What Bridging Visa Holders Can Buy
In April 2025, the Australian government introduced restrictions on what temporary visa holders — including bridging visa holders — can purchase.
Temporary visa holders who require FIRB approval are now restricted to new dwellings, vacant land for development, or established dwellings that will be demolished and replaced. Purchasing an established dwelling to live in “as is” is subject to tighter scrutiny.
What this means for you depends on whether FIRB applies:
- If the joint-tenancy exemption applies (buying with your Australian citizen/PR partner as joint tenants for your principal residence), these restrictions do not affect you. The exemption removes your purchase from FIRB oversight entirely.
- If you are buying alone or FIRB applies for another reason, you are subject to the new restrictions. In practice, this means you should focus your property search on new dwellings or house-and-land packages unless your specific circumstances allow an established dwelling purchase.
This is another reason the joint-tenancy structure is so valuable. It sidesteps both the FIRB requirement and the April 2025 restrictions in one move.
We confirm your FIRB position early so you can search with confidence — or with clear boundaries on what you can purchase.
[LINK: 482 page]
How We Help Bridging Visa Holders Get Approved
Bridging visa home loans sit at the intersection of immigration policy, FIRB regulation, and lender credit policy. Most brokers touch one or two of these areas. We work across all three, every day.
Assess your position. We review your visa status, pending application, employment, deposit, and timeline. Within 30 minutes, we can tell you whether lending is viable and what LVR to expect.
Confirm your FIRB position. We determine whether the joint-tenancy exemption applies and what property types you can purchase under current rules.
Select the right lender. Bridging visa policies differ dramatically across our 31+ lender panel. Some reject all bridging visa applications. Others accept BVA and BVB holders with specific conditions. We match your situation to the lender with the best chance of approval at the best rate.
Structure and submit. Your application goes in clean and complete — visa documentation, income verification, FIRB exemption confirmation where applicable. Faster processing, fewer follow-up requests.
Manage through to settlement. We stay across the application from submission to unconditional approval. If the lender has questions about your visa status, we handle them.
The entire process is free to you. MAP is paid by the lender on settlement — no broker fee, no cost for the strategy session or the advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a home loan on a bridging visa?
Yes. Several Australian lenders accept home loan applications from bridging visa holders, particularly those on a Bridging Visa A (BVA) or Bridging Visa B (BVB) with full work rights and a pending substantive visa application. Most major banks will decline, but specialist and non-bank lenders often have policies that accommodate bridging visa holders. A broker with experience in visa-based lending can identify the right lender for your situation.
What bridging visa types can get a mortgage in Australia?
BVA (subclass 010) and BVB (subclass 020) holders have the strongest options, particularly with a pending partner or skilled visa application. BVC (subclass 030) holders may have limited options if granted work rights with strong financials. BVD (subclass 040/041) and BVE (subclass 050/051) are not viable for lending due to their short-term nature.
What LVR is available on a Bridging Visa A?
Most lenders who accept BVA applications offer 70% to 80% LVR. A 70% LVR (30% deposit) is widely available, while 80% is achievable for stronger applications — particularly joint applications with an Australian citizen or permanent resident partner. Your specific LVR depends on the lender, your income, deposit, and the substantive visa you’ve applied for.
Do bridging visa holders need FIRB approval?
It depends on how you’re buying. If you purchase jointly with your Australian citizen or permanent resident spouse/de facto partner as joint tenants, and the property is your principal residence, you are exempt from FIRB. If buying alone or the exemption conditions aren’t met, you need FIRB approval and are subject to the April 2025 purchase restrictions.
Can I buy a house while waiting for my partner visa?
Yes. If you’ve lodged a partner visa application (typically subclass 820) and hold a BVA with work rights, several lenders will consider your application. Applying jointly with your Australian partner strengthens your position and triggers the FIRB joint-tenancy exemption. You do not need to wait for your partner visa to be granted before purchasing.
Free Home Loan
Strategy Session
Request an exploratory chat about your options and how to secure fast home loan approval, at a competitive rate – even if you don’t have a 20% deposit.
