Other Visas · Travel Requests
Travel requests
If you hold a Bridging Visa A and need to travel outside Australia, you must obtain a Bridging Visa B before you depart. Leaving without one can have serious and irreversible consequences for your visa application and your ability to return. Our immigration lawyers handle urgent BVB applications same-day.
What Is a Bridging Visa — and Why Does It Matter?
A Bridging Visa is a temporary visa that allows you to remain in Australia lawfully while a substantive visa application is being processed, reviewed or appealed. The most common type — the Bridging Visa A (BVA) — is automatically granted when you lodge a valid onshore application for a substantive visa.
Bridging visas are essential — they maintain your lawful status in Australia throughout what can be a lengthy application process. However, most bridging visas do not permit you to travel outside Australia. If you depart without the correct travel permission in place, your bridging visa ceases and you lose the ability to return on it.
The Different Types of Bridging Visas
There are five main classes of bridging visa, each designed for different circumstances. Understanding which one you hold is the first step in understanding your travel rights:
Most Common
Bridging Visa A (BVA)
- Auto-granted on lodgement
- Work rights (varies)
- Cannot travel without BVB
- Remains valid during appeal
Travel Permission
Bridging Visa B (BVB)
- Allows overseas travel
- BVA reinstated on return
- Must return by specified date
- Requires application + fee
Unlawful Applicants
Bridging Visa C (BVC)
- No travel rights
- Generally no work rights
- Cannot get BVB
- Maintains lawful status
Urgent/Detention
Bridging Visa E (BVE)
- No travel rights
- Very restricted conditions
- Cannot get BVB
- Prevents unlawful status
What Is the Bridging Visa B?
The BVB is a travel permission that allows you to temporarily leave Australia while your substantive visa application continues to be processed. It specifies a travel period — a date range within which you must depart and return. When you return within that period, your BVA is automatically reinstated and your application continues without interruption.
Who Needs a Bridging Visa B?
You need a BVB if you hold a BVA and need to travel for any reason, including:
- A family visit, holiday or work trip overseas
- A family emergency, bereavement or critical illness of a family member
- A wedding, graduation or other significant family event
- Pre-planned travel where you need certainty about returning to Australia
Critical warning: If you hold a Bridging Visa A and leave Australia without a valid Bridging Visa B, your BVA ceases automatically on the day you depart. Your substantive application will continue to be processed offshore — but you will have no visa to return to Australia on until it is granted. This can mean being separated from your family, employment and life in Australia for months or longer. Please contact us before booking any flights.
How Long Does a BVB Take to Be Granted?
The BVB application fee is currently $160 (subject to annual change). This is a non-refundable government fee. There is no fee waiver available based on financial hardship, but fee exemptions apply in limited circumstances (such as certain humanitarian visa applicants). Our lawyers confirm the current fee and any exemptions that may apply at your consultation.
| Application Type | Typical Processing Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard BVB (general travel) | 5–20 business days | Well-prepared applications process faster |
| Urgent BVB (compassionate grounds) | 24–72 hours (sometimes faster) | Requires compelling supporting evidence |
| BVB for AAT appellants | Similar to standard | Confirm BVA is still valid first |
How to Apply for a Bridging Visa B
A BVB application is lodged online through the Department of Home Affairs’ ImmiAccount portal. While the application is technically straightforward, it requires careful attention to the travel period you request, the purpose you state, and ensuring you meet the eligibility criteria. Getting these details wrong can result in a shorter travel period than you need, a refusal, or future complications with your immigration history.
Eligibility — Who Can Apply for a BVB?
- You must hold a current, valid Bridging Visa A (BVA) at the time of application
- Your underlying substantive visa application must still be valid and not finally determined
- You must have a genuine reason for travel outside Australia
- You must intend to return to Australia within the requested travel period
- You must not have a BVC or BVE condition that prevents BVB access
Urgent BVB Applications
A family member may pass away suddenly, a parent may become critically ill, or a personal emergency may require immediate travel — regardless of where your visa application is at. The Department of Home Affairs recognises genuine urgent circumstances, and urgent BVB applications can be processed within 24 to 72 hours in appropriate cases.
Our immigration lawyers handle urgent BVB applications with absolute priority and genuine compassion. Contact us immediately and we will act without delay.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions — Bridging Visa
Answers to the questions we hear most often. Each page on our website contains detailed guides for every visa type.
Can I travel overseas while my Australian visa application is pending?
Yes — but only if you hold a valid Bridging Visa B before you depart. If you hold a Bridging Visa A and leave Australia without a BVB in place, your BVA ceases automatically on departure and you will have no visa to return on until your substantive application is decided.
How long does it take to get a Bridging Visa B?
Standard applications typically process within 5 to 20 business days. Urgent applications on compassionate grounds can be processed within 24 to 72 hours where genuine supporting evidence is provided.
What happens if I leave Australia without a Bridging Visa B?
Your Bridging Visa A ceases on the day you depart. Your substantive visa application continues to be processed, but you will be unable to return to Australia until it is granted. This can result in a lengthy separation from your family, home and employment in Australia. Contact us before booking any travel.
Can I get an urgent Bridging Visa B for a funeral or family emergency?
Yes. The Department of Home Affairs recognises genuine compassionate circumstances and urgent applications can be processed within 24 to 72 hours in appropriate cases. Our immigration lawyers handle urgent BVB applications as an immediate priority.
Will my Bridging Visa A be reinstated when I return to Australia on a BVB?
Yes — provided you return to Australia before the travel period specified on your BVB expires, your BVA is automatically reinstated and your substantive visa application continues as normal.
What travel period can I request on a Bridging Visa B?
The travel period you request must be reasonable and consistent with your stated purpose of travel. Our lawyers advise on the appropriate period to request based on your circumstances to avoid it being granted for a shorter time than you need.
Can I apply for a Bridging Visa B while on a Bridging Visa C or E?
No. A BVB is only available to holders of a valid Bridging Visa A. If you hold a BVC or BVE, you do not have access to travel permission through a BVB.
How much does a Bridging Visa B application cost?
The government application fee is subject to annual review. Our immigration lawyers confirm the current fee and advise on any exemptions that may apply to your situation at your consultation.