For families separated by distance, the Carer Visa Australia offers a powerful solution. Designed to reunite loved ones while ensuring support for Australians with long-term medical conditions, the Carer Visa 836 and Carer Visa 116 allow individuals to migrate and provide full-time care. Whether you’re applying from within or outside Australia, this carer visa for medical support provides a pathway for compassionate and permanent support.
This article breaks down everything you need to know—from Carer Visa 836 requirements to Carer Visa 116 processing times—ensuring you’re fully informed before applying.
🔹 What is the Carer Visa Australia?
The Carer Visa is a permanent visa that allows someone to move to or stay in Australia to provide care or assistance to an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen who has a long-term medical condition.
There are two types of Carer Visas under the Australian immigration program:
- Carer Visa Subclass 116 – for applicants outside Australia
- Carer Visa Subclass 836 – for applicants inside Australia
🔹 Carer Visa 836—For Onshore Applicants
If you are already in Australia and your visa allows you to apply for another visa while staying here, the Carer Visa 836 could be your path forward.
✅ Carer Visa 836 Requirements:
To be eligible for the Visa Subclass 836, you must:
- Be in Australia when applying and when the visa is granted.
- Be sponsored by a relative or their family member who needs care.
- The person needing care must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.
- Provide ongoing substantial care or assistance for a medical condition (physical or mental disability).
- A medical assessment must confirm that the care is necessary for at least 2 years.
- Meet health and character requirements.
This visa is permanent, allowing you to stay in Australia indefinitely, work, study, and enrol in Medicare.
🔹 Carer Visa 116 – For Offshore Applicants
If you’re outside Australia and want to support a relative in need, the Carer Visa 116 is designed for you.
✅ Carer Visa 116 Requirements:
To qualify for Visa Subclass 116, you must:
- Be outside Australia when applying and when the visa is granted.
- Be sponsored by a relative in Australia who requires daily care due to a serious medical condition.
- Demonstrate that no suitable care option is available in Australia.
- Pass a medical assessment, confirming the necessity of care for at least two years.
- Meet public interest criteria like health and character checks.
- Agree to provide substantial and continuing care to the sponsor or their family member.
Like the 836 visa, this is also a permanent visa, granting the right to work, study, and access healthcare.
🔹 Carer Visa Processing Time
The processing time for carer visas can be lengthy, largely due to the limited places allocated under the Family Migration stream.
- There is a queue system, and applications are processed in the order they’re received.
- The processing time can range from 3 to 6 years or more, depending on the number of applications and government quotas.
- Once your application reaches the front of the queue and is fully assessed, a decision will be made.
Important Tip: Make sure your documentation is complete and your medical assessments are thorough to avoid unnecessary delays.
🔹 Key Differences Between Visa Subclasses 116 and 836
| Feature | Carer Visa 116 | Carer Visa 836 |
|---|---|---|
| Applicant Location | Outside Australia | Inside Australia |
| Visa Type | Permanent | Permanent |
| Sponsor Requirement | Yes | Yes |
| Medical Assessment Needed | Yes | Yes |
| Processing Time | Queue-based (long wait) | Queue-based (long wait) |
| Ability to Work & Study | Yes | Yes |
🔹 Can I Include Family Members?
Yes. Both subclasses allow you to include family members (like your spouse or dependent children) in your application. However, they will also need to meet health and character requirements.
🔹 Who Can Sponsor You?
The sponsor must be:
- 18 years or older,
- An Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen,
- Usually a relative (parent, child, sibling, grandparent, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew),
- In need of ongoing care or have a family member in need of it.
Sponsors must also agree to support the applicant (including financially, if needed) for the first 2 years after arrival.
🔹 Why Choose a Carer Visa?
If you have a loved one in Australia who is battling a long-term medical condition, this visa lets you be close, make a meaningful difference in their life, and build your future in Australia at the same time.
It is not just a migration option; it is a humanitarian pathway, built on compassion and family unity.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Can I work on a Carer Visa?
Yes. Both Carer Visa 116 and Carer Visa 836 allow you to work and study in Australia once granted.
Q2: Is there a visa application charge?
Yes. The fee structure changes yearly. It’s best to check the latest fee on the official Department of Home Affairs website or consult a registered migration agent.
Q3: Can the person I’m caring for be my in-law or extended relative?
Yes, provided they are eligible and meet the visa conditions.
Q4: What happens if my visa is refused?
You may have review rights through the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT). A migration agent can help assess your chances for appeal.
🔹 Final Thoughts
The Carer Visa Australia offers a compassionate pathway for families wishing to stay together and support their loved ones in need. Whether applying for Carer Visa 836 from within the country or Carer Visa 116 from overseas, understanding the process and requirements is crucial.
Due to the complexity and lengthy carer visa processing time, it’s highly recommended to consult a qualified migration agent to guide you through the application and ensure everything is in order.
