Protection visa reviews now need an upfront fee, with new Bridging visa limits

Official release date: 31 October 2026 · Protection

Protection visa merits reviews now carry a fee at lodgement for decisions made from 1 November 2026, and people with pending Protection matters can no longer get a Bridging B travel visa.

Picture this. You have applied for a Protection visa, the decision has not gone your way, and you are thinking about asking the Administrative Review Tribunal to take another look. From 1 November 2026, the way you pay for that review has changed, along with a few related bridging visa rules.

What has changed

Here's the thing. Previously, the Tribunal fee for a Protection visa review was only payable if the review was unsuccessful, within 7 days of being notified of the outcome. Now the fee must be paid when the review application is lodged.

At commencement the fee is $1,863.50. That is half the standard fee for reviewing other migration decisions, and it will be indexed each year. The upfront fee applies to reviews of decisions made on or after 1 November 2026.

There are some sensible protections built in:

• People in immigration detention are exempt from the fee
• Combined applications where the fee has already been paid are exempt
• The fee is refunded in full if the Tribunal sets aside, varies or remits the decision

Bridging visa changes

Two other changes started at the same time. First, people with a pending Protection (Class XA) visa application, or a pending judicial review relating to one, can no longer make a valid application for, or be granted, a Bridging B visa. The Bridging B is the visa that allows travel outside Australia and return while an application is processed.

Second, the Minister can once again choose to impose condition 8564 (no criminal conduct) and condition 8566 (Code of Behaviour) on certain Bridging E visas. This restores a discretion that changes made in 2024 had unintentionally removed.

Who is affected

• Protection visa applicants who receive a refusal made on or after 1 November 2026 and want merits review
• People with a pending Protection visa application or related judicial review who were hoping to travel
• Some Bridging E visa holders, who may now be granted their visa with these extra conditions

What you should do

If you are considering a review, plan for the fee at the time of lodging and keep a close eye on the review deadline, because missing it can mean losing the chance of review altogether. If you hold a Bridging E visa, read your visa conditions carefully. Breaching a visa condition can lead to cancellation, possible detention and real difficulty with future applications. And if you have a pending Protection matter, it is wise not to make travel plans that assume a Bridging B will be available.

This is general information only and not personal advice. If you would like to talk through how this applies to you, our registered migration agents and lawyers at Auzworld are here to help.

Official source: Federal Register of Legislation – Migration Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Regulations 2026