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Bridging Visa B Australia 2026: Travel Overseas While a Visa Is Processing
A Bridging Visa B (subclass 020) is the bridging visa designed to allow eligible people to leave and re-enter Australia during a defined travel period while their immigration matter remains pending.
Why is a BVB different from other bridging visas?
Home Affairs states that only a Bridging Visa B allows a person to leave and re-enter Australia while waiting for a decision on a substantive visa. If a person departs Australia while another type of bridging visa is in effect, that bridging visa will generally cease.
Official travel guidance: Travel while your visa is being processed.
The travel period is limited
A BVB is granted with a defined travel period rather than unlimited travel rights. Home Affairs states that it considers the reason for travel and when it is likely to make a decision on the substantive visa when determining that travel period.
How do you apply?
The method depends on how the substantive visa application was lodged and whether review proceedings are involved. Home Affairs provides an online webform route for eligible paper-based BVA, BVB and BVC matters and requires Form 1006 for a BVB through that route. BVB applications require payment of the applicable charge before submission.
Application guidance: Submit a Bridging Visa A, B or C application.
Do not assume a pending application lets you return
A pending substantive visa application does not itself provide a right to re-enter Australia after departure. Before travel, the traveller should check the visa that will authorise departure and return, its travel validity and any effect travel may have on the pending application or review.
For the wider visa system, see the Australian Visa Subclass Database.
