Australia Restricts Bridging Visa B Access for Protection Visa Applicants

•  Effective Nov. 1, 2026, Protection visa (subclass 866) applicants can no longer apply for a Bridging Visa B (BVB) to travel overseas and return to Australia while their application is pending.  

Australia Restricts Bridging Visa B Eligibility for Protection Visa Applicants 

The Department of Home Affairs has announced a change affecting applicants for the Protection visa (subclass 866). Effective Nov. 1, 2026, Protection visa applicants are no longer eligible to apply for a Bridging Visa B (Subclass 020) to travel outside Australia and re-enter while awaiting a decision on their visa application.  

Under the updated policy: 

• Applicants for a Protection visa (subclass 866) can no longer apply for a Bridging Visa B (BVB) to travel overseas and re-enter Australia.  
• The change took effect on Nov. 1, 2026.  
• Bridging Visa B applications lodged before Nov. 1, 2026 will continue to be processed.  

Existing Bridging Visa B Holders 

The government has also stated that if a Protection visa applicant already holds a Bridging Visa B and its travel facility has expired: 

• They cannot apply for another Bridging Visa B; and 
• They cannot request additional travel authorization.  

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