The Carer visa Australia pathway allows eligible relatives to live permanently in Australia to provide substantial, ongoing care. It applies where someone has a long-term medical condition and cannot reasonably obtain the care they need in Australia.
There are two subclasses: Carer Visa (Subclass 116) for applicants outside Australia and Carer Visa (Subclass 836) for applicants already in Australia. Eligibility involves more than having a sick relative or wanting to help your family.
Quick Answer
You may qualify for a Carer visa if you have an eligible Australian relative, an approved sponsor and the ability to provide the required care. The person needing care must undergo a Bupa Medical Visa Services assessment, and suitable care must not be reasonably available locally.
Both subclasses are permanent visas, but applications are capped and queued. Home Affairs currently estimates approximately 16 years for new Carer visa applications.
Why This Matters
A family member’s need for care can create difficult decisions about work, housing and who will provide daily assistance.
Before planning a move, families need to establish whether their circumstances meet the visa rules and how care will continue during the application process. A long queue makes interim arrangements particularly important.
This is a family migration pathway. A job offer from an aged-care facility or experience as a professional caregiver does not establish eligibility for a Carer visa.
Carer Visa Australia: Subclass 116 or Subclass 836?
Your location determines which subclass you should consider. The care and sponsorship requirements still need to be assessed separately.
| Requirement | Carer Visa (Subclass 116) | Carer Visa (Subclass 836) |
|---|---|---|
| Location when applying | Outside Australia | In Australia, outside immigration clearance |
| Location when the application is decided | Outside Australia | In Australia |
| Residence outcome | Permanent | Permanent |
| Existing Australian visa | An offshore application does not provide permission to live in Australia while waiting | Current or previous visa status affects eligibility to apply |
Being in Australia does not automatically make you eligible for Subclass 836. Home Affairs applies requirements concerning the substantive visa you hold or previously held, and other restrictions may affect an onshore application.
Who Can Sponsor a Carer Visa Applicant?
The sponsor generally needs to be:
- At least 18 years old.
- An Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen.
- Settled and resident in Australia.
- Your qualifying relative or, where permitted, that relative’s partner.
Sponsorship involves responsibilities, including assistance with accommodation and reasonable living needs when required. These obligations generally cover the first two years after arrival or visa grant, depending on the application circumstances.
The person needing care may be your Australian relative or a qualifying member of that relative’s family who lives with them. The relationship, immigration status and household circumstances all need checking.
What Care Needs Qualify for a Carer Visa?
The assessment considers how the medical condition affects everyday life, rather than simply whether someone has a diagnosis.
The relevant medical criteria include:
- A condition causing physical, intellectual or sensory impairment.
- An impairment rating meeting the required threshold, generally 30 points or more.
- A need for direct assistance with practical daily activities that is expected to continue for at least two years.
Families should be able to explain what help is needed, how often it is required and how the applicant would provide it.
For example, useful evidence may describe assistance with personal care, moving around the home or other daily tasks. General statements such as “my parent is getting older” do not explain the level of care required.
Why Available Care in Australia Matters
The visa requires more than a preference for care from a particular family member. Suitable assistance must not be reasonably available in Australia.
Families should investigate existing care arrangements and explain any gaps. That may involve considering help from other relatives and relevant care services.
The applicant must also understand the person’s condition and be willing and able to provide substantial, continuing assistance.
How Does the Bupa Carer Visa Assessment Work?
The person requiring care undergoes a dedicated assessment through Bupa Medical Visa Services.
Bupa currently asks for documents including:
- A completed, signed Statement of Assistance.
- A signed medical report less than 12 months old.
- Details of the diagnosis, prognosis, treatment and effects on daily living.
- Identification and documents relating to previous applications, where relevant.
Bupa states that hospital discharge letters are not accepted as the required medical report. Follow its current booking instructions before arranging the appointment.
Home Affairs requires evidence that the Bupa assessment process has at least started when the visa application is lodged. A treating doctor’s letter supports the process but does not replace the required Bupa assessment.
Do Applicants Need Their Own Health Checks?
Yes. Assessing the Australian relative’s care needs is separate from assessing the visa applicant’s health.
Applicants and accompanying family members must meet the applicable health requirements. Character requirements and immigration history also affect eligibility.
This distinction matters when considering health-related visa refusals. A favourable care assessment does not settle the applicant’s separate visa health assessment.
How to Apply for a Carer Visa in Australia
Start by checking the relationship, sponsor, care needs and correct subclass before preparing the application.
The main steps are:
- Confirm the relevant visa requirements and application restrictions.
- Begin the Bupa care assessment process.
- Prepare identity, relationship, sponsorship and care evidence.
- Complete Form 47OF and the relevant sponsorship form.
- Pay the first visa application charge and include payment evidence.
- Submit the paper application by post or courier using the current Home Affairs instructions.
The July 2026 version of Form 47OF specifies paper lodgement with the Parent, Child and Other Family Processing Centre. The ability to import an application into ImmiAccount later does not mean the initial application can be lodged online.
Keep copies of the application and supporting evidence. Respond to further requests and report changes in circumstances during processing.
How Much Does a Carer Visa Cost?
At the time of writing, the standard first instalment for the main applicant is AUD2,720. The second instalment is AUD2,065, making the standard government charges AUD4,785 for one applicant before other expenses or concessions.
Additional applicants attract separate charges. You also need to budget for the Bupa care assessment, applicant health examinations, police certificates and document preparation.
Home Affairs may consider waiving the main applicant’s second instalment where payment would cause severe financial hardship. This requires a written request and is not automatic. Lower charges also apply to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste applicants.
Check the current Home Affairs pricing information before paying. The Visa Pricing Estimator does not include the second instalment.
How Long Does Carer Visa Processing Take?
Home Affairs currently estimates approximately 16 years for new Carer visa applications. This is a planning estimate, not a guaranteed decision date.
Applications undergo an initial assessment. Those meeting the core requirements receive a queue date, then wait for a place to become available for final processing.
As at 31 August 2026, Home Affairs had released Carer applications with queue dates up to 31 December 2023 for final processing. That release date does not mean a new application will take only a few years.
Families should check the official Other Family visa queue information and maintain practical care arrangements while waiting.
Can You Stay in Australia While Waiting?
For Subclass 836, a valid onshore application may involve a bridging visa that allows you to remain after your current visa expires. Check the actual visa grant and its conditions, including work and travel permissions.
For Subclass 116, lodging an application overseas does not provide permission to move to Australia while it is processed. Any temporary visit requires separate lawful permission.
What Does a Carer Visa Allow After Approval?
Both subclasses provide a permanent residency pathway. A grant allows you to stay indefinitely and work or study in Australia.
The initial travel facility lasts five years. Permanent residence and permission to re-enter Australia are different: after that travel facility expires, you may need a Resident Return visa to return as a permanent resident.
Eligible permanent residents can enrol in Medicare. Planning your own healthcare in Australia remains useful, including enrolment and expenses Medicare may not cover.
How Does the Carer Visa Differ From Other Family Visas?
The direction of care is important. Under the Carer visa pathway, the applicant comes to provide care to an eligible person in Australia.
Someone whose circumstances involve financial dependency on a relative needs a different assessment from someone applying to provide care.
The Remaining Relative visa concerns where an applicant’s near relatives live. The Orphan Relative visa addresses qualifying children without parental care joining relatives.
These pathways have different requirements. Having family in Australia does not make them interchangeable.
Common Carer Visa Mistakes
Common mistakes include:
- Confusing the family Carer visa with sponsorship for a paid care-worker job.
- Assuming a diagnosis alone proves eligibility.
- Treating a doctor’s letter as a replacement for the Bupa assessment.
- Failing to explain why suitable care is not reasonably available.
- Assuming a complete application avoids the queue.
- Overlooking the second instalment when budgeting.
- Assuming an onshore application provides unrestricted work or travel rights.
A practical starting point is to check eligibility before making relocation commitments, then plan for the care needed during the wait.
Where to Go Next
These pages can help you explore permanent residence, temporary visits and related family pathways:
FAQs
Yes. Carer Visa (Subclass 116) and Carer Visa (Subclass 836) allow permanent residence if granted. Applications are still subject to eligibility checks, capping and queueing.
Possibly, but the relationship alone is insufficient. The care needs, medical assessment, availability of suitable assistance and sponsorship requirements must all be assessed.
This is a family visa rather than an occupational skills-assessment pathway. You must demonstrate that you understand the person’s needs and can provide the required care.
The current instructions require an initial paper application. Eligible paper applications can subsequently be imported into ImmiAccount for management.
No. Home Affairs may consider priority processing in limited compassionate circumstances, but decisions are individual. Families should not assume urgency guarantees an early grant.
Conclusion
The Carer visa provides a permanent migration pathway for eligible relatives who will provide substantial, ongoing care to someone in Australia.
Applicants need to consider more than their relationship with the person needing assistance. Sponsorship, the Bupa care assessment, availability of suitable care, applicant health and character requirements, visa charges and application location can all affect eligibility.
Processing is particularly important because Carer visa applications are capped and queued. Families should use current Home Affairs queue information and maintain realistic care arrangements while waiting.
If you’re unsure whether the Carer visa or another Australian family visa suits your circumstances, book a consultation with IC Australia to discuss your options.
Claire Dawson
Australian visa content specialist focused on skilled migration, employer sponsorship, partner visas, student pathways, and long-term options for moving to Australia.
