What happens after you lodge, step by step

After a visa application is lodged, most people want to know what happens next and what they need to do. The process usually moves in stages, and some stages are quick while others take months. Knowing what each stage looks like can help you keep records, watch for deadlines and avoid missing a request.

The first thing you get, acknowledgement and TRN#

After lodgement, the Department usually sends an acknowledgement. For online applications, this often appears in ImmiAccount soon after the application is submitted. For paper applications, it may arrive later by email or post.

The acknowledgement usually confirms that the application was received. It often includes a Transaction Reference Number, or TRN. The TRN is important because it is commonly used to link documents, check messages and identify the application in later contact with the Department.

From the applicant side, this stage is mainly about checking details and saving records. Keep a copy of the acknowledgement, the lodgement receipt and the full application that was submitted. If a registered migration agent or Australian legal practitioner lodged the application, there may also be a service agreement, invoices and receipts, which should be kept together.

If a representative is involved, there may also be a Form 956 on file, which appoints a registered migration agent, exempt person or legal practitioner as the authorised recipient or migration agent record. The legal basis for this is in s312A of the Migration Act 1958. If a person is charging for immigration assistance in Australia, they must be properly authorised to do that work, see s280 and s281 of the Migration Act 1958.

What happens to a bridging visa if the application is lodged onshore#

For some onshore applications, a Bridging Visa may be granted automatically when the substantive visa application is lodged. In many cases this is a Bridging Visa A, although the exact bridging visa type depends on the circumstances and the kind of application lodged. The grant notice is often sent separately from the lodgement acknowledgement.

From the applicant side, the key point is that a bridging visa usually does not become active straight away if the person still holds another substantive visa. It generally comes into effect only when the current substantive visa ceases. The grant notice will usually set out the visa conditions, such as work rights, travel limits and the period of stay.

Travel is one of the main practical issues at this stage. A Bridging Visa A usually stops when the holder leaves Australia, so people often read the conditions carefully before making travel plans. If travel becomes necessary, a different bridging visa process may be relevant, but the exact position depends on the application and status at the time.

It is also common for people to confuse a bridging visa grant with a decision on the main visa. They are different things. A bridging visa is generally about lawful stay while the substantive application is being processed, not about whether the main visa will later be granted or refused.

The application joins a queue and may sit for some time#

After acknowledgement, many applications move into a waiting period. This can be the longest part of the process. During this time, there may be no visible activity for weeks or months, even though the application remains on foot.

From the applicant side, this stage usually means checking ImmiAccount, email inboxes and spam folders regularly. The Department may contact the applicant or the authorised recipient if more information is needed. If contact details change, they need to be updated so notices are not missed.

Some applications are finalised without any further request. Others go through one or more rounds of checks and document requests. A period of silence does not, by itself, show anything about timing or outcome.

If a registered migration agent is acting, the Code of Conduct requires certain consumer steps. The consumer guide must be given before a contract for services is made, see s38. There must also be a written agreement, see s42, and clear information about the fee structure, see s46. If help is still being arranged after lodgement, it can be useful to read the consumer guide and to check that the person offering services is properly registered.

Requests for more information, what they look like and how they work#

If the Department needs more material, it may send a request for more information. This is often called an RFI. The request usually lists the documents or evidence sought and gives a due date.

From the applicant side, this stage is very practical. The request needs to be read carefully, the due date noted and the upload method checked. Some requests are sent through ImmiAccount messages, while others may also be sent by email.

It is common for requests to ask for updated identity documents, civil documents, employment records, relationship evidence, financial records or forms. The exact request depends on the visa program and what was lodged earlier. Sometimes the Department asks for clearer copies, certified copies, translations or documents covering a different date range.

If a document is not in English, a translation may be needed. If a document was uploaded before but cannot be read, a clearer scan may be requested. File naming, legibility and complete page sets matter more than many people expect.

It is important that documents given to the Department are genuine and consistent. False or misleading information, or bogus documents, can lead to serious problems under s234 and s245AR of the Migration Act 1958, and Public Interest Criterion 4020 can also become relevant. This is one reason many applicants choose to get professional help with document organisation and lodgement, even though only a registered migration agent or Australian legal practitioner can lawfully give immigration assistance in Australia for a fee, see s280 and s281.

If professional help is being compared, itemised quotes can make the scope clearer, for example whether the fee covers one RFI response or ongoing management until decision. VisaBid lets applicants describe a case and get quotes, but the service itself does not provide immigration assistance.

Health and character checks#

Many applications involve health and character steps. These do not always happen at the same time. In some cases the applicant completes health examinations early. In others, the Department issues instructions later in processing.

For health, the applicant may receive a referral or directions through ImmiAccount, often with a HAP ID for booking examinations with an approved panel provider. The practical side is usually booking the appointment, taking identity documents, completing the tests and waiting for the results to be transmitted to the Department. The health result itself is generally handled between the panel provider and the Department rather than being uploaded by the applicant.

For character, the Department may ask for police clearances from Australia or other countries, depending on the visa pathway and the applicant's history. These checks can take time to obtain, especially from overseas authorities. The request usually tells the applicant what kind of certificate is needed and the relevant date period.

Sometimes biometrics are also requested, depending on nationality, location and application type. If they are required, the instruction letter usually explains where to attend and what to bring. Like health checks, biometrics are a process step, not a sign of any particular result.

The decision stage and what the notice usually includes#

When a decision is made, the Department sends a written notice. For online applications, the notice is often issued through ImmiAccount and may also be sent by email. If there is an authorised recipient on Form 956, the notice may go to that person.

If the visa is granted, the notice usually sets out the visa grant number, the grant date, the visa conditions and the date the visa starts. In some cases the visa starts immediately. In others, it starts when the current substantive visa ends.

If the application is refused, the decision notice generally gives reasons and states whether there is any review right, and if so, where that right sits and the time limit. This article does not cover review strategy or what steps a person should take after a refusal. That is the kind of immigration assistance that can only be given by a registered migration agent or Australian legal practitioner in line with the law.

After a grant or refusal, it is sensible to keep the full decision record. That usually means the application copy, supporting documents, acknowledgement, all requests, all responses, the health and police check records, and the final notice. Good record keeping matters later because visa history often connects to future applications.

Common questions#

How long after lodgement do I get a TRN?#

For online applications, a TRN is often generated very soon after successful lodgement. It usually appears in the acknowledgement or in ImmiAccount. For paper applications, timing can be slower because the application needs to be receipted first.

Does a bridging visa start straight away after I lodge?#

Not always. For many onshore applicants, the bridging visa is granted after lodgement but only becomes active when the current substantive visa ends. The grant notice usually explains the start point and the visa conditions.

Why has the Department not asked me for anything yet?#

A long period without contact is common in many visa streams. Some applications are decided on the documents already lodged, while others receive one or more requests later. Silence does not, by itself, mean the application is going well or badly.

What if my agent is not replying after lodgement?#

If a registered migration agent is acting, there should be a written agreement and a clear fee structure under s42 and s46 of the Code of Conduct 2021. Invoices and receipts must also be handled properly under s49, and client money rules may apply under s50 and s51. If there is a concern about conduct, start by reading the consumer guide, and if needed, see the information on complaints.

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About this guide. This is general information about how a process works in Australia. It is not immigration assistance and it is not advice about your situation. Under section 280 of the Migration Act 1958 only a registered migration agent or an Australian legal practitioner can give you that. Government charges are indexed and most change on 1 July, so check any figure at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au, and check any agent on the OMARA register.