A parent overseas falls ill. A sibling sets a wedding date. Your employer needs you at a client meeting in Singapore. Your visa application has been sitting with the Department of Home Affairs for months and you are on a Bridging Visa A, which ends the moment you leave Australia and does not allow you to re-enter Australia.
The answer for most people in this position is a Bridging Visa B. It lets you leave and come back lawfully while your application is still being processed. It is not automatic, though, and applications may be refused because the reason for travel is thin or poorly evidenced.
This guide covers who can apply, what counts as a “substantial reason” for travel, how to apply, current costs, processing times and the traps that catch people out.
What Is a Bridging Visa B (Subclass 020)?
A Bridging Visa B (BVB) is a temporary visa that keeps you lawful in Australia while your substantive visa application is being decided and gives you a set travel period to leave and re-enter Australia.
A substantive visa is the visa you have actually applied for, such as a partner or skilled visa. The BVB does not change that application.
For a side-by-side view of all five types, see our guide to bridging visas in Australia.
Who Can Apply for a Bridging Visa B?
In broad terms, you may be eligible if you:
- hold a Bridging Visa A (BVA) or an existing BVB
- have a valid substantive visa application (or a merits or judicial review of a refusal) that has not been finally decided
- are in Australia when you apply and when the BVB is granted
- have a substantial reason for wanting to travel
People on a Bridging Visa C or Bridging Visa E generally cannot move to a BVB. If you lodged after your previous visa expired, you likely hold a BVC, so get advice before you make arrangements to travel.
Who Cannot Apply for a Bridging Visa B?
From 1 November 2026, Protection visa (subclass 866) applicants can no longer apply for a Bridging visa B to travel overseas and return to Australia. For any BVB applications submitted before this date, transitional provisions apply and the Department will continue to process the application under the previous rules.
Moving From a Bridging Visa A to a Bridging Visa B
When your BVB is granted, it replaces your BVA. Your conditions, including work rights, usually carry across.
The part people misread is what happens after the travel period ends. You stay lawful in Australia on the BVB, but you can no longer leave and come back on it. Any future trip needs a new BVB granted before you depart.
If your original substantive visa is still in effect, the rules around travel and your BVA depend on your exact dates. Our guide to the Bridging Visa A explains when a BVA takes effect and why that timing matters.
What Counts as a Substantial Reason for Travel on a Bridging Visa B?
This is where most BVB refusals start. The Migration Regulations require your reasons for travel to be “substantial”, but the law does not define this word. The Department assesses each application on its facts and the evidence you supply.
The short version is this: the Department wants to see a genuine, specific reason tied to real dates, backed by documents. A vague plan to “go home for a while” rarely satisfies the Department as being a substantial reason for travel.
Reasons the Department Commonly Accepts
| Reason type | Typical examples | Evidence that helps |
| Compassionate or family | Serious illness or death of a close relative, a family member’s surgery | Medical certificate or letter from the treating doctor, death certificate, funeral notice |
| Significant family events | Wedding of a close family member, birth of a grandchild or niece | Wedding invitation, letter from the family member, proof of relationship |
| Work or business | Client meetings, conferences, training required by your employer | Letter from your employer on letterhead, conference registration, meeting agenda |
| Study or academic | Research trips, exam sittings, graduation ceremonies | University letter, enrolment or graduation confirmation |
| Legal or administrative | Court appearances, property settlement, renewing documents that must be done in person | Court notice, solicitor’s letter, embassy appointment |
| Long processing wait | A visit home or holiday where your substantive application has been in the queue for an extended period | Lodgement date of your application, itinerary, explanation of why the timing matters |
Holidays sit in a grey zone. A holiday can be accepted, particularly where your substantive application has been waiting a long time and the trip is well planned. It is not guaranteed, and the explanation needs to do real work.
Reasons That Often Fall Short
Applications tend to struggle when:
- the reason is a single line with no detail (“visit family”)
- there are no supporting documents, or the documents do not match the dates
- the requested travel period is far longer than the reason explains
- your substantive application looks close to a decision and being overseas could complicate it
- your immigration history includes condition breaches or previous overstays
How to Evidence Your Reason for Travel
A strong BVB application reads like a short, clear case. Include:
- A written statement explaining who you are travelling to see or what you are attending, why it matters and why it has to happen now.
- Documents that prove the event or need (letters, certificates, invitations).
- Proof of the relationship where family is involved, such as a birth certificate linking you to the relative.
- A proposed itinerary with departure and return dates that match the reason.
- Evidence you intend to return, such as your job, lease or enrolment in Australia.
A flexible or refundable flight booking shows planning without locking you into dates before the visa is granted.
How to Apply for a Bridging Visa B
Most people apply for a bridging visa B online through their ImmiAccount, the Department’s online portal. The paper version is Form 1006 (Application for a Bridging visa B), which may be used in some circumstances. Here is how the process generally runs:
- Confirm eligibility. Check your current bridging visa in VEVO (Visa Entitlement Verification Online) and make sure you are in Australia.
- Prepare your evidence. Build the statement and documents described above.
- Lodge and pay. Complete the application, attach your evidence and pay the visa application charge.
- Watch your inbox. The Department may ask for more information. Once the application is decided, you will be informed by the Department via email.
- Read the grant notice. Once granted, note the travel period, whether it allows one trip or several and your conditions.
- Travel within the window. Leave and return inside the travel period stated on your BVB grant.
Do not leave Australia until the BVB is granted. Departing on a BVA while you wait is one of the most expensive mistakes we see.
Bridging Visa B Processing Time
The Department does not publish a standard processing time for the BVB. Straightforward applications with clear evidence can be decided within days. Others take several weeks, especially when the Department requests more information or during busy travel periods.
For planning purposes, we generally recommend lodging at least four to six weeks before you want to fly. Apply once your dates are reasonably firm, because the travel period is set around the itinerary you provide.
Urgent Bridging Visa B Applications
If a family emergency means you need to leave within days, say so clearly in your application and attach the evidence up front (for example, a doctor’s letter confirming a critical condition). You can also contact the Department to explain the urgency.
Urgency does not lower the evidence bar.
Bridging Visa B Cost
At the time of writing, the base visa application charge for a Bridging Visa B is A$575, following the 1 July 2026 indexation. The charge is generally non-refundable, even if the BVB is refused.
Government charges are reviewed at least once a year and can change without much notice. Confirm the current amount with the Department of Home Affairs or your lawyer at the time you lodge. Professional fees are separate: at Timpson, BVB applications are handled on a fixed-fee basis so you know the cost before we start.
Bridging Visa B Conditions and Travel Period Rules
Your BVB conditions will be listed on your grant notice and in VEVO. Common points to check:
- Work rights. These usually mirror your BVA. If your BVA had a no-work condition, your BVB will likely have one too.
- Travel period. Often a few months, sometimes longer, depending on your reasons and circumstances. The Department decides the length.
- Number of trips. Some grants allow one departure and return, others allow multiple trips within the period.
- Return deadline. You must be back in Australia before the travel period ends.
If the travel period ends while you are overseas, you cannot use the BVB to return. You would generally need to apply for another visa, such as a visitor visa, from outside Australia. Build a buffer into your return date.
Travelling on a BVB as a Partner Visa (Subclass 820) Applicant
Onshore partner visa applicants are among the most frequent BVB users, because the wait can stretch well beyond a year. Our guide to partner visa processing times in Australia sets out what to expect.
There is one extra layer of risk for these applicants. The Subclass 820 partner visa generally has to be granted while you are in Australia. If the Department is ready to decide while you are overseas, the grant can be delayed until you return. Before booking a long trip, check where your application sits and whether a decision could land while you are away.
What Happens If Your Bridging Visa B Is Refused?
A BVB refusal does not affect your substantive visa application and you remain lawful on your current bridging visa. What you lose is the trip and the application charge.
Review rights for a refused BVB are limited. The practical fix is usually a new application that answers the refusal reasons, which the decision letter sets out, with stronger evidence.
A refused substantive visa is a different matter with strict deadlines. If that is your situation, our guide on how to appeal a visa refusal in Australia explains your options with the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART).
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a Bridging Visa B last?
A BVB lets you stay in Australia until your substantive visa application is finally decided. The travel period on the BVB is shorter, often a few months, and is set by the Department based on your reasons for travel. Once the travel period ends, you need a new BVB before your next trip.
Is it hard to get a Bridging Visa B?
A BVB is generally achievable when you hold a BVA, are in Australia and can clearly evidence a substantial reason to travel. Most refusals come from vague reasons or missing documents rather than ineligibility.
Can I apply for a Bridging Visa B from overseas?
No. You must be in Australia when you apply and when the BVB is granted. If you have already left on a BVA, that BVA has ceased and you should get legal advice before trying to return.
What happens if my Bridging Visa B expires while I am overseas?
You cannot re-enter Australia on that BVB. You will generally need to apply for a different visa from outside Australia, which may be affected by your pending application.
Can I work on a Bridging Visa B?
Usually, if your BVA allowed work. BVB work conditions generally mirror the bridging visa it replaces. Check your grant notice or VEVO to confirm.
Do I need a new Bridging Visa B for every trip?
You need a BVB with a current travel period for every departure. If your existing BVB allows multiple trips and the travel period is still open, you may not need a new one. Once the period has ended, a new application is required.
Plan Your Trip Before You Book
A Bridging Visa B rewards preparation. Applications with a clear reason, matching dates and solid documents tend to be decided fastest.
At Timpson Immigration Lawyers, we prepare BVB applications alongside the substantive visa strategy, so a trip overseas does not put the bigger application at risk. If you are planning to travel while your visa is being processed, book a consultation with one of our immigration lawyers and we will help you move forward with confidence.
This article is general information only and is not legal advice. Immigration law changes frequently. Please confirm current requirements with a qualified immigration lawyer or the Department of Home Affairs. Last reviewed: 15 September 2026.
