Australia blocks travel visas for protection applicants from 1 November
From today, 1 November 2026, some people waiting for a protection visa decision in Australia can no longer apply for the travel visa that would let them leave the country and come back. The change comes from the Migration Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Regulations 2026, which took effect today.
The visa at the centre of the change is the Bridging Visa B, or BVB. Home Affairs says it is the only bridging visa that lets a person leave Australia and return while waiting for a decision on their main visa. Leaving on another type of bridging visa ends that visa, so an overseas trip could now mean they cannot return while their case is still open.
The restrictions cover people with a valid permanent Protection (Class XA) visa application that has not yet been decided or withdrawn. They also cover people whose protection refusal is still before the Administrative Review Tribunal, and people with court proceedings over a protection decision, including appeals. A separate, non-protection visa application in progress does not get around the restriction.
There are limits. A valid BVB application made before 1 November is not covered, even if it is decided after that date. A BVB already granted is not automatically cancelled, though holders must still check the end date of their travel period and their visa conditions. The same regulations also bring in an upfront fee of $1,863.50 for protection reviews at the Administrative Review Tribunal from 1 November, according to migration advisers iExcel Group.
Why it matters
Protection visa cases can take a long time, and during that wait people may face urgent family events overseas, such as a serious illness or a death in the family. For this group, leaving Australia is now a much bigger risk than it was yesterday.
What happens next
Anyone affected should check their visa grant notice and travel conditions before booking any travel, and seek advice on their own case. People with a BVB application already lodged before today should keep their lodgement acknowledgement as proof of when it was made. The government has not said how many people the restrictions will affect.
This article is for general information and education only. It is not legal or financial advice.
Sources
- https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2026L01448/asmade (Federal Register of Legislation, 31 October 2026)
- https://www.iexcelgroup.com.au/migration-insights/bridging-visa-b-protection-visa-travel-restrictions-november-2026 (iExcel Group, 31 October 2026)
- https://globalconsult.com.au/2026/11/01/bridging-visa-b-changes-november-2026/ (Global Consult, 1 November 2026)
- https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/entering-and-leaving-australia/travelling-and-your-visa/travel-while-your-visa-is-being-processed (Department of Home Affairs, accessed 1 November 2026)
