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The latest temporary visa data from the Department of Home Affairs showed that the number of bridging visas on issue hit a record high of 413,000 in the June quarter of 2026:
The surge in bridging visas issued in Australia has been driven in part by former international students, who have clogged the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) with appeals over student visa refusals.
In other words, their visas have expired, but they have applied for other visas and are allowed to stay in the country on bridging visas (with work rights) while they wait.
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About the author
Leith van Onselen is Chief Economist at the MB Fund and MB Super. He is also a co-founder of MacroBusiness.
Leith has previously worked at the Australian Treasury, Victorian Treasury and Goldman Sachs.
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