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CECA Sydney > FAMILY VISA > Carer Visa (Subclass 116 and 836)

Carer Visa (Subclass 116 and 836)

Permanent entry to provide essential care.

The Carer Visa lets individuals who are able and willing to provide substantial, ongoing care to a relative (or a member of their family) with a serious, long‑term medical condition — and where appropriate care cannot be reasonably accessed in Australia — move to Australia and obtain permanent residency.

  • Subclass 116: for carers applying from outside Australia (offshore).
  • Subclass 836: for carers applying onshore in Australia, provided they hold a valid substantive visa.
Check Eligibility

Who Qualifies: Eligibility & Sponsor Requirements

You (the Carer / Applicant) Must:

  • Be willing and capable of giving continuous, substantial care and assistance to the relative needing care.
  • Understand the relative’s medical condition and care needs.
  • Meet health, character and identity requirements.
  • Have no outstanding debts to the Australian government (or have arranged repayment).
  • Not have had a previous visa cancellation or refusal, and sign relevant legal statements (e.g. Australian Values Statement).

Your Sponsor (Relative Needing Care) Must:

  • Be an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen, and be “settled” in Australia.
  • Have a long-term medical condition or disability requiring care, which has been assessed by a qualified medical practitioner for visa‑assessment purposes.
  • Demonstrate that there is no reasonable access to adequate care via hospitals, welfare services or other family members in Australia.
  • Provide sponsorship and acceptance of you (the carer) — for the entire care period.

What the Carer Visa Grants If Approved

  • Permanent residency — you and any included dependents can live, work, study in Australia indefinitely.
  • Access to Australia’s public healthcare system (Medicare) and other benefits available to permanent residents.
  • Ability to travel to and from Australia (with initial travel facility), and — when eligible — to apply for Australian citizenship.
  • Potential to sponsor eligible relatives in future (subject to family‑visa rules).

Key Obligations & Realities What You Must Understand

  • You must provide genuine, continuous care to the relative; the need for care must be serious and long-term. The relative must show that alternative care is not reasonably available in Australia.
  • The application requires strong medical evidence: assessment by an authorized medical services provider verifying that the medical condition qualifies for a carer‑visa.
  • For onshore applicants (Subclass 836): you must hold a valid substantive visa (not a Transit visa) when applying, otherwise the application may be invalid.
  • You and any dependents must meet health and character requirements.
  • Carer visa places may be subject to demand and there can be significant wait times depending on application queues.
  • Approval is not guaranteed — each case assessed individually; incomplete or weak evidence may lead to refusal.

FAQs About Carer Visa (Subclass 116 and 836)

The Carer Visa is for individuals wishing to provide substantial care or assistance to an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen who has a long-term medical condition or disability.

Subclass 116 is for applicants who are outside Australia at the time of application, while Subclass 836 is for applicants who are already in Australia.

Eligibility includes having:

  • A valid visa (for Subclass 836, a visa other than a 771-transit visa).
  • Financial backing from a sponsoring family member.
  • The capacity to provide substantial care to the relative in need.

While there are no strict financial requirements for residing in Australia, applicants must demonstrate the ability to support themselves and any dependents financially during their stay.