Waiting for a partner visa can take time. Find out how a Bridging Visa B lets you travel overseas and return to Australia while your visa is being processed.
Waiting on a partner visa can take a while, and life doesn’t go on hold while you do. There may be reasons you need to travel – perhaps a family member becomes unwell, or there is a business trip you need to make. However, being on a bridging visa doesn’t mean you can’t travel out of Australia while you wait for the partner visa to be approved.
A Bridging Visa B (or ‘BVB’) allows you to exit the country and return without jeopardising your lawful status or ongoing visa application. The BVB is a more specific visa than a Bridging Visa A (or ‘BVA’), and getting the timing and paperwork right is very important. If you get the application wrong, or you choose to travel without the visa in place, you could risk delays, an inability to re-enter Australia, or serious complications with your case.
Align Law Immigration has put together this guide to tackle the most common Bridging Visa B questions, including what a Bridging Visa B is, how and when you should apply for one, and the difference between a BVB and a BVA. If you’re planning an overseas trip out of Australia while your visa is being processed, here’s what you need to know.
A Bridging Visa B, Subclass 020, is a temporary visa that allows you to lawfully leave Australia, and return, while you wait on the decision to be made on your more substantive visa, like a permanent residency or partner visa. It is essential if you’re looking at travelling, as leaving Australia on a standard Bridging Visa A will immediately cancel your visa.
There is a limited window in which you are allowed to travel with a Bridging Visa B. This window is usually between 3 and 12 months, and you are granted permission to exit and re-enter Australia during this period. However, you must return to Australia before this travel window closes. Otherwise, your bridging visa will expire while you are overseas, and you become at risk of being denied re-entry into Australia.
The key differences between the Bridging Visa A and Bridging Visa B are:
| Feature | Bridging Visa A (BVA) | Bridging Visa B (BVB) |
| Travel Rights | None. Leaving Australia cancels your BVA | Allows you to travel out of Australia, and return during a specified window. |
| Application | Automatically granted when you apply for a substantive visa within Australia. | Manual application required. You must apply for, and pay a fee, and provide a valid reason for travelling. |
| Validity | Remains valid until your substantive visa is decided | Granted for a specific time frame. You must return before this time expires, else your visa expires as well |
You can apply for a Bridging Visa B, with the help of Align Law, using the Department of Home Affairs online form. Applications cost AUD 575 and should be lodged at least 3 weeks prior to your departure date. This cost has increased since the 1st of July, 2026, so be aware of this.
You should only apply for a BVB when you have a genuine need to travel overseas, such as a family emergency or important business. You can only apply for a BVB if you have a valid BVA, or you have a current BVB whose travel window doesn’t cover the time you require.
Paper applications or in-person applications are no longer accepted by the Department of Home Affairs. Follow these steps to complete your BVB application:
If you’re overseas on a BVB when your substantive visa is decided, the biggest risk you face is being unable to return to Australia due to your BVB automatically ending. If your visa application is granted, you can return to Australia on this new visa. However, if your visa is refused, or the delay extends beyond the travel window of your BVB, you will be stranded outside of Australia without legal re-entry rights.
These are the critical risks and conditions you need to be aware of:
If you choose to travel out of Australia without a Bridging Visa B, your current Bridging Visa A will automatically be cancelled. You will be stranded out of the country with no legal right of return. This can severely complicate your application for a substantive visa.
If your substantive visa application is refused and you are stuck overseas without a BVB, your ability to challenge the Home Affairs decision, from overseas, is extremely limited.
Bridging Visa B applications might look straightforward on paper, but the stakes are high. Get your timing wrong, miss a piece of evidence, or travel without the correct visa in place, and you could jeopardise your entire visa application.
Our visa partner lawyer in Perth, Brisbane, or anywhere in Australia, can help you determine whether you have a genuine need to travel, gather the right supporting evidence, and lodge your BVB application correctly the first time. If your circumstances are complex, such as an approaching decision date, a tight travel window, or an emergency that doesn’t leave much time to prepare, having an experienced team on your side can make all the difference.
For further reading on how Align Law Immigration can help with a partner visa application, you can read this article.
At Align Law Immigration, we guide clients through every stage of the partner visa process, including bridging visa applications and the travel conditions that come with them. If you’re planning to travel while your partner visa is being processed, get in touch with our team before you book your flights. It could save you from a costly and stressful mistake.
I had a fantastic experience with Align Law! I worked with Michelle Collins to transition from a Working Holiday Visa to a Temporary Skills Shortage Visa (Subclass 482) earlier this year and she made the entire process clear and easy to understand and work through. Not only is Michelle skilled,... More
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Great experience with our lawyer Michelle Collins. Since the moment we started to ask for questions regarding our visa she made sure to always give us the best options for us. Michelle was always available for any concerns we might have. Having Michelle as our lawyer made us feel comfortable... More
I had the pleasure of having Michelle, my immigration lawyer on my visa journey and I couldn't be more pleased with the exceptional service she provided. From day one, Michelle made the entire immigration process easy and stress-free. She was organized, calm, and provided me with sound advice at every... More
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