Carer Visa 116/836: For an Australian Relative

The Carer visa is one of the least correctly understood family visas in Australia. It is not a visa for “coming to live near a relative”, but a visa for someone who will genuinely care for an Australian citizen or permanent resident with a serious and long-term medical condition. This visa has two subclasses: 116 for an applicant outside Australia, and 836 for someone already lawfully inside Australia.

What is this visa for?

The Carer visa allows a person to migrate to Australia (subclass 116) or stay in Australia (subclass 836) to provide substantial and continuing care for an Australian relative — or for a member of that relative’s family — who has a serious medical condition. This is a permanent visa, meaning that if granted, the carer becomes a permanent resident.

The core point: the visa exists because the Australian relative needs care, and that care need cannot reasonably be met another way. The caring role is the central reason for the visa, not a desire for family reunion.

Who usually looks at this visa?

People with a sibling, parent, or other relative who is an Australian citizen or permanent resident with a serious illness or long-term disability.
A family member seen as best placed to care for that relative, when other family members or services in Australia cannot take it on.
Families who have considered other options (community care services, other family members) and found that no other reasonable option exists.

Common misconceptions to avoid

Many people wrongly believe that simply having an elderly or unwell relative in Australia is enough to qualify. In reality, it is not.

This is not a visa for “wanting to be near family” or “caring for old age in general”.
The medical condition of the person being cared for must be confirmed by a designated health-assessment body — not declared by the family.
If the care need can reasonably be met by another relative already in Australia, or by available care services, the application may not be eligible.
An improvement in the health of the person being cared for during processing can also affect the application.

Key conditions to check

The factors usually considered include:

The relationship: the person being cared for (or a member of their family) must be a relative of the applicant under the migration definition, and an Australian citizen/permanent resident.
A serious medical condition: it must be assessed by a health-assessment body designated by the Department of Home Affairs (an approved health-assessment body), not the family’s own doctor.
A genuine and continuing care need: the condition creates a need for help with daily activities.
No other reasonable option: the care cannot reasonably be provided by another relative already in Australia or by care, welfare or hospital services in Australia.
The sponsor: usually the Australian relative or an eligible person who sponsors the applicant.

The detailed criteria, the applicable definition of relative, and how “no other reasonable option” is assessed change over time; when you check the Home Affairs website, confirm the rules that apply to the exact subclass 116 or 836 and your specific circumstances.

The roles of sponsor and applicant

A Carer visa has two sides. The sponsor is usually the Australian relative (or an eligible person acting on their behalf) who commits to support and sponsor the applicant. The applicant is the person who will provide the care.

The person being cared for and the sponsor may be the same person, or the person being cared for may be a member of the sponsor’s family. Correctly identifying who the sponsor is, who is being cared for, and the relationship between them is an important step to get right from the start.

Evidence you usually need to prepare

Documents proving the relationship (birth certificates, civil records, family documents).
Evidence of the citizenship or permanent residence of the person being cared for and the sponsor.
The result of a medical assessment from the designated body about the health condition of the person needing care.
Evidence that the care need is genuine, continuing, and cannot reasonably be met another way (for example, the situation of other relatives in Australia, services already considered).
The applicant’s own character documents.

The general process

In general, the process involves: identifying the correct relationship and the suitable subclass (116 if outside Australia, 836 if lawfully inside Australia); arranging the medical assessment through the designated body; preparing the sponsorship application and the applicant’s application; lodging the application; then meeting the applicant’s own health and police-check requirements. The order and detail of each step are set out on the official page.

Fees, processing times, validity and visa conditions

According to the official Home Affairs page, the base application charge for the Carer visa 116 (lodged outside Australia) for the main applicant is from 2,720 AUDVerified 02/07/2026 · Source: Department of Home Affairs. Confirm using the official tools below. The application charge, processing times, and any cap on the number of visas granted that applies to the Carer visa change over time and are usually different between subclass 116 and 836. Family-group visas usually have long processing times; for the Carer visa, the length also depends on the medical-assessment process and the number of visa places available in the year. When you check the Home Affairs website, confirm the fee figures, the processing-time estimate, and the conditions that apply to the exact subclass and your circumstances at the time you lodge.

Two official tools to use before lodging:

Visa Pricing Estimator: select the exact subclass/stream (116 or 836) and number of dependants to estimate the application charge for your circumstances.
Visa Processing Times: updated monthly; match the exact subclass, stream and your circumstances rather than relying on figures heard second-hand.

Risk of refusal

The medical condition not being assessed by the designated body as serious enough under the definition.
The application showing that the care need can reasonably be met by another relative in Australia or by available services.
The relationship not being fully proven.
The applicant not meeting their own health or police-check requirements.

Common mistakes

Assuming that an “elderly or frail relative in Australia” is automatically eligible.
Using medical documents from the family’s own doctor instead of going through the designated assessment body.
Not anticipating the question “why can’t a service or another relative in Australia be used”.
Confusing the Carer visa with the Remaining Relative visa or the Parent visa — each has a very different purpose and conditions.

When to ask a registered migration agent

The Carer visa is a complex type of application, relying heavily on the medical assessment and the “no other reasonable option” argument. If the health condition is borderline, if there are several relatives in Australia, or if you are unsure which subclass fits, you should consult a Registered Migration Agent registered with OMARA before lodging. Early advice helps avoid mistakes that are hard to fix after the application is lodged.

Self-check before you read on

Is the person needing care an Australian citizen/permanent resident, and a relative of mine under the migration definition?
Can their health condition be confirmed as serious by a designated assessment body?
Can I explain why the care cannot reasonably be provided by someone else in Australia?
Am I inside Australia (think 836) or outside Australia (think 116)?

Official sources

The Department of Home Affairs official page on the Carer visa (subclass 116). This is the only reliable source for the current fees, processing times, definition of relative, and medical-assessment process. Migration agent registration information is available at mara.gov.au.
Visa Pricing Estimator (fee estimate) — Home Affairs.
Visa Processing Times (processing times, updated monthly) — Home Affairs.

The Carer visa addresses a genuine and deeply human family situation — but for that very reason, its conditions are checked very carefully. Do not self-assess based on general information; check the official source and consider professional advice before starting an application.

Migration rules change frequently — always confirm the official source before lodging an application.