-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 O7+mj/BAtgekQnAfw3ZGaoE85Thgio9JQlZ4mGe84tAxoONXNIfcwCBsciFEjx/a
 frXAKr5j66j2JNYA64+1NA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001116679-07-000161.txt : 20070116
<SEC-HEADER>0001116679-07-000161.hdr.sgml : 20070115
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20070116161337
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001116679-07-000161
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20070112
FILED AS OF DATE:		20070116
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20070116

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Abercrombie Ian
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001296963

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31787
		FILM NUMBER:		07532209

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		212-750-6700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O BIOENVISION, INC.
		STREET 2:		509 MADISON AVE., SUITE 404
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10022

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BIOENVISION INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001028205
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				113375915
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0630

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		345 PARK AVENUE
		STREET 2:		41ST FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10154
		BUSINESS PHONE:		212-750-6700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		345 PARK AVENUE
		STREET 2:		41ST FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10154

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ASCOT GROUP INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19961205
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-01-12</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001028205</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BIOENVISION INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BIVN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001296963</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Abercrombie Ian</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O BIOENVISION, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>345 PARK AVENUE, 41ST FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10154</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Programme Director (Europe)</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option to Purchase Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>4.67</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-01-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>37500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2017-01-12</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>common</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>37500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>173750</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">25% vest on 1/12/2007; 25% vest on 1/12/2008; 25% vest on 1/12/2009 and 25% vest on 1/12/2010.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Granted by the compensation committee pursuant to the Company's 2003 Stock Incentive Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Ian Abercrombie</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-01-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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