Bridging visa B barred for protection applicants from Nov 2026
A news report says training visa applications must also be lodged while the applicant is offshore from 12 November 2026.
In short
- What changed
- A news report says protection visa applicants in Australia will be barred from applying for a Bridging visa B, and training visa applications must be lodged while the applicant is offshore.
- From
- The training visa offshore rule applies from 12 November 2026. The Bridging visa B bar starts in November 2026; the exact day has not been announced.
- Who it affects
- Protection visa applicants in Australia who want to travel abroad and return, and training visa applicants.
- What to do
- Check the official immigration department website and get advice about your own situation before you plan travel or lodge a training visa application.
Starts12 November 2026
According to a news report, protection visa applicants in Australia will be barred from applying for a Bridging visa B from November 2026. The report also says training visa applications must be lodged while the applicant is offshore from 12 November 2026. The changes affect protection visa applicants who want to travel abroad and return, and training visa applicants.
Bridging visa B and protection visa applicants
The Bridging visa B is the visa used to travel abroad and return to Australia. According to the news report, protection visa applicants in Australia will no longer be able to apply for it from November 2026.
- Who is affected: protection visa applicants in Australia who want to travel abroad and return.
- What changes: they will be barred from applying for a Bridging visa B.
Training visas must be lodged offshore
The news report says training visa applications must be submitted while the applicant is offshore. This requirement begins on 12 November 2026.
What has not been announced
The report does not give the exact day in November when the Bridging visa B bar starts. It also does not set out how the changes apply to people who have already applied. Those details have not been announced in the information available to us.
What to do
- Check the official immigration department website for the final rules.
- Get advice about your own situation before making travel plans or lodging an application.
What this means for you
- If you have applied for a protection visa in Australia and may need to travel abroad, the Bridging visa B option is due to close from November 2026.
- If you plan to apply for a training visa, be ready to lodge the application while you are outside Australia from 12 November 2026.
- Details such as the exact November start day for the Bridging visa B bar have not been announced, so check official information before you act.
Updates
First published.
Questions people ask
What is the Bridging visa B?
It is the visa used to travel abroad and return to Australia. A news report says protection visa applicants in Australia will be barred from applying for it from November 2026.
When does the training visa offshore rule start?
According to the news report, training visa applications must be submitted while the applicant is offshore from 12 November 2026.
Has the exact start day for the Bridging visa B bar been announced?
The report only says November 2026. The exact day has not been announced, so check the official immigration department website for updates.
Have a question about your own situation?
Ask your questionGeneral information only, not legal advice. Immigration rules change often; check the official source and get advice about your own circumstances.