VEM Visa | Australian Bridging Visa Guidance
A practical guide to travel permission, Form 1006, supporting evidence and timing while an Australian immigration matter is unresolved.
Reviewed: 12 August 2026. Visa charges and procedures can change. Confirm them with the Department of Home Affairs before lodging.
A Bridging Visa B (BVB), subclass 020, can give an eligible person a defined period in which to leave and re-enter Australia while a substantive visa application or another eligible immigration process remains unresolved. It is the bridging visa designed for international travel; holding another bridging visa does not automatically give you permission to return.
The timing matters. You should generally apply while you are in Australia, wait for the BVB decision, and check the approved travel period before departing. A flight booking alone does not create travel rights or guarantee urgent processing.
Key point: A BVB is not a replacement for your pending substantive visa and does not speed up that application. Its travel facility applies only for the period stated in the grant notification.
What is a Bridging Visa B?
A Bridging Visa B allows its holder to remain lawfully in Australia and, during an approved travel period, leave and return while their immigration matter continues. The visa grant letter sets the dates and conditions. Depending on the grant, the travel facility may accommodate one or more trips within that period; never assume unrestricted travel without reading the decision.
BVB can provide
Lawful stay and permission to leave and re-enter Australia during the travel period specified in the grant.
BVB does not provide
A guarantee of re-entry outside the approved period, faster processing of the main visa, or approval of every proposed trip.
Check before travel
The grant status, travel start and end dates, passport details, visa conditions and status of the underlying application.
For a broader comparison of temporary status options, read VEM’s Bridging Visa Australia guide.
Bridging Visa B requirements
Form 1006 states that the requirements for grant include:
- Holding a Bridging Visa A or Bridging Visa B
- Having substantial reasons for wishing to leave and re-enter Australia
- The proposed return is not contrary to the public interest.
- The applicant must be in Australia but not in immigration clearance.
Eligibility can be more complex where a merits review, judicial review, visa refusal, cancellation or an expired bridging visa is involved.
Do not rely on the visa label alone: Check VEVO and the latest grant notice. A BVA or BVB may not yet be in effect if a substantive visa is still valid, but departure and return planning must account for all relevant visa dates.
Bridging Visa B reasons for travel
Home Affairs assesses the information and supporting documents provided. “Substantial reasons” are not reduced to one universal list. The explanation should be truthful, specific, and consistent with the requested travel dates.
Family and compassionate matters
A serious illness, funeral, caregiving need, wedding or significant family event, supported by documents that explain the relationship and timing.
Work, study or professional obligations
A necessary meeting, assignment, conference or academic commitment, supported by an employer, client or institution.
Medical or personal circumstances
Treatment, an important appointment or another personal need, with evidence explaining why overseas travel is required at that time.
Other planned travel
The Department considers each case individually. Clearly explain the purpose, itinerary, duration and need to return instead of relying on a generic sentence.
How to apply for a Bridging Visa B
The correct application channel depends on how the substantive visa was lodged and whether review proceedings are involved. For a substantive application made through ImmiAccount, where no review application has been made, Home Affairs directs the applicant to submit the bridging visa application through ImmiAccount. If the substantive visa was lodged by paper, the Department’s bridging visa webform may be used where its requirements are met.
Step 1. Check your current immigration status
Confirm your current visa, bridging visa subclass, conditions, expiry or effect dates, pending application and any review. Make sure each family member has been checked separately.
Step 2. Set realistic travel dates
Choose the intended departure and return dates. Leave time for assessment and avoid committing to non-refundable travel before the visa is granted.
Step 3. Complete Form 1006
Complete the current Form 1006 – Application for a Bridging Visa B. Provide accurate identity, visa, travel and family-member details and sign the required declarations.
Step 4. Prepare the explanation and evidence
Connect the purpose of travel to the requested dates. Attach documents that support why the trip is needed, why it must occur then, and why you need to return to Australia.
Step 5. Pay the application charge
Follow the current Home Affairs payment instructions. For a webform application, the Department directs applicants to pay in ImmiAccount before submitting and provide the receipt details.
Step 6. Lodge through the correct channel
Submit through ImmiAccount when directed, or use the official webform if your paper application or other circumstances fit that pathway. Upload Form 1006, payment evidence and supporting documents.
Step 7. Wait for the decision and check the grant
Do not treat lodgement as permission to travel. If granted, verify the approved travel period, entries, conditions and passport information before leaving Australia.
Bridging Visa B document checklist
The right evidence depends on the reason for travel. A focused application is usually more useful than a large set of unrelated documents.
- Current Form 1006: completed, signed and consistent with the online answers.
- Identity and status: passport biodata page, current visa or bridging visa information and relevant application or review references.
- Travel plan: proposed departure and return dates, destination and itinerary. Avoid presenting a booking as proof that approval is guaranteed.
- Evidence of purpose: medical records, a death or marriage document, employer letter, conference registration, family evidence or other material relevant to the genuine reason.
- Reason to return: evidence connecting the applicant to the pending immigration matter and ongoing commitments in Australia where relevant.
- Payment receipt: the receipt information required for the chosen application channel.
- Family documents: include only eligible family members who also have substantial reasons to travel, with individual evidence where needed.
Bridging Visa B cost and fees in 2026
Standard base application charge
AUD 575 from July 1, 2026
Use the official Visa Pricing Estimator immediately before payment. Card or PayPal surcharges and professional fees, if any, sit outside the base visa application charge.
Bridging Visa B processing time
Home Affairs does not publish a standard BVB processing timeframe that guarantees a decision by a particular date.
However, a standard Bridging Visa B (BVB) typically takes around 1 – 3 weeks to process. Straightforward applications may be decided sooner, while complex cases or peak periods may take 4 weeks or longer.
Completeness
Missing Form 1006, receipt details, signatures or supporting evidence can prevent efficient assessment.
Case circumstances
Visa history, review status, family applicants and the nature of the travel request may require closer consideration.
Workload and timing
Application volumes and proximity to departure can affect whether there is enough time for a decision.
Urgent Bridging Visa B applications
Home Affairs provides a dedicated urgent BVB webform, but its existence does not create a guaranteed Bridging Visa B urgent processing time. An urgent request should include Form 1006, prior payment, and credible evidence of the urgency. Use it only when the official instructions fit your situation.
Practical rule: Apply early, make the requested travel period clear, and wait for the written grant before relying on the BVB. Do not lodge duplicate applications to chase a decision.
See VEM’s Australia visa processing times guide for an explanation of official estimates and why they are not deadlines.
What if a Bridging Visa B expires while you are overseas?
A BVB has a defined travel period. If that period ends while you are outside Australia, you cannot rely on the expired travel facility to return. The online eligibility instructions require a BVB applicant to be in Australia, so applying for another BVB from overseas is generally not the solution.
You may need to obtain another visa that permits entry before travelling back. Which visa, if any, is available depends on your pending application, nationality, previous decisions and personal circumstances. Check your status and obtain case-specific advice before attempting to board a flight.
High-risk situation: If the BVB travel facility is close to expiring, return before the date in the grant notice. Do not assume a pending main visa application preserves your right to re-enter Australia.
Partner visa and Bridging Visa B travel
An applicant waiting in Australia for an onshore Partner visa may hold a BVA and later need a BVB for temporary overseas travel. The BVB is separate from the Partner visa application: it deals with lawful status and travel during the waiting period, not the relationship criteria or the outcome of the Partner visa.
Before travelling, consider the stage of the application, any Home Affairs requests, ability to respond while overseas, grant-location rules that may apply, and the BVB return date. Read VEM’s Partner Visa 820/801 guide and broader Partner Visa Australia guide.
If a Bridging Visa B application is refused
A refusal means you should not rely on the application to travel. Read the refusal notice carefully for the reasons, current visa status and any review information. Review rights and deadlines are not identical in every case.
Do not simply submit the same application again without addressing the reason for refusal. If departure is imminent or the underlying visa matter is complex, obtain advice quickly and avoid leaving Australia until your ability to return is clear.
Official sources
Bridging Visa B FAQs
How long does it take to get a Bridging Visa B?
Home Affairs does not publish a guaranteed standard processing time for BVB applications. Lodge early with Form 1006, payment evidence, and documents supporting the travel request, and do not depart until the BVB is granted.
How much is the Bridging Visa B fee in 2026?
The standard base application charge was AUD 575 when checked on 12 August 2026. Confirm the amount in the official Visa Pricing Estimator before paying because charges and concessions can change.
Can I apply for a Bridging Visa B online?
Yes, but the correct route depends on the underlying matter. If the substantive visa was lodged in ImmiAccount and no review was lodged, Home Affairs directs you to use ImmiAccount. Eligible applicants linked to paper applications or other stated circumstances may use the official webform and attach Form 1006.
Can urgent processing be guaranteed?
No. Home Affairs has an urgent BVB submission channel, but it does not promise a decision within a fixed number of days. Provide credible evidence of urgency and lodge a complete application as soon as possible.
Can I apply for another BVB while overseas?
The official online instructions require a BVB applicant to be in Australia but not in immigration clearance. If the travel facility expires overseas, you may need another visa that allows entry. Obtain advice based on your pending matter before travelling.
Can a Bridging Visa C holder apply for a BVB?
Generally no. The BVB grant requirements include holding a BVA or BVB, and Home Affairs states that a BVC holder cannot apply for a BVB to travel. Seek advice before departure because leaving on a BVC can end that visa.
Does a Partner visa applicant need a BVB to travel?
An onshore Partner visa applicant relying on a BVA generally needs a granted BVB before leaving if they want bridging-visa travel rights to return. Check the current substantive visa, bridging visa effect dates, and the Partner application stage before departure.
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