-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 F6Uf8F6oZoXm1bOMtdOwIpZu8bendtrTWZI9TzERTHohI0X6CbXQt+HkJCIMFC3X
 teBCdSwYw/gS+u/7SQPJpQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001477123-10-000002.txt : 20100407
<SEC-HEADER>0001477123-10-000002.hdr.sgml : 20100407
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100407101027
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001477123-10-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100405
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100407
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100407

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Segal Lloyd Mitchell
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001477123

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14956
		FILM NUMBER:		10735900

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		38 WINDSOR STREET
		CITY:			WESTMOUNT
		STATE:			A8
		ZIP:			H3Y 2L8

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BIOVAIL CORP INTERNATIONAL
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000885590
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				000000000
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			A6
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7150 MISSISSAUGA ROAD
		STREET 2:		MISSISSAUGA
		CITY:			ONTARIO
		STATE:			A6
		ZIP:			00000
		BUSINESS PHONE:		905 286-3000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7150 MISSISSAUGA ROAD
		STREET 2:		MISSISSAUGA
		CITY:			ONTARIO
		STATE:			A6
		ZIP:			00000
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-04-05</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000885590</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BIOVAIL CORP INTERNATIONAL</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>bvf</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001477123</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Segal Lloyd Mitchell</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O BIOVAIL CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>7150 MISSISSAUGA ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MISSISSAUGA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>A6</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>L5N 8M5</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>ONTARIO, CANADA</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Deferred Share Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-04-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>140</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, no par value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>140</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>26252</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Each Deferred Share Unit entitles its holder, upon ceasing to be a director, to receive an amount of cash having the same value as one share of Common Stock, no par value, of Biovail Corporation (the &quot;Common Stock&quot;) at such time.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Represents dividend equivalents accrued on Deferred Share Units as a result of a dividend paid on the Common Stock on April 5, 2010.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Angie Palmer, by Power-of-Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-04-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----