Bridging Visa B (BVB) (020)

The purpose of a Bridging Visa B (020) is to allow you to briefly travel overseas and re-enter Australia on your return. You will need a BVB if you are in Australia, have a pending  substantive visa application which requires you to be in Australia at the time of grant, hold an ‘active’ Bridging Visa A (BVA) in association with that substantive visa application and need to travel overseas for a compelling reason.

In order to obtain a BVB you will need to make an application, generally through ImmiAccount. Once the Department of Home Affairs has considered your BVB application and is satisfied of your need to travel, the BVB will be granted and specify the date of grant, the validity of the BVB and the number of entries permitted. Once the date of validity of the BVB passes, the BVB will operate similar to a BVA and let you remain lawfully in Australia till a decision of the substantive visa application is made. A key difference is that after the BVB expiry date, you will not be able to re-enter Australia if you decide to travel overseas.

As the purpose of a BVB is to permit you to briefly travel overseas for a compelling reason, you will need to provide evidence of that compelling reason. For example, if you need to travel overseas to attend an event, support a sick relative or for your personal medical reason, then you will need to provide documentary evidence of the event, the health condition of the relative or evidence of your personal health reasons.

As at 1 July 2024, the Home Affairs fee for a Bridging Visa B (020) is A$ 185.