The Carer Visa: Move to Australia to Care for a Relative in Need.
When an Australian relative has a long-term medical condition and needs real, ongoing care, the carer visa lets you come and provide it. The 116 is for applicants overseas, the 836 for those already here. Both are permanent on grant - but be ready for an independent medical assessment and a long wait.
For substantial, ongoing care that can't be arranged any other way.
The carer visa is for someone who will give substantial and continuing care to an Australian relative - or a member of that relative's family unit - who has a long-term medical condition that genuinely limits their ability to manage everyday tasks. The 116 is the offshore version, for applicants outside Australia. The 836 is the onshore version, for applicants already here on an eligible visa. Both lead to permanent residence the moment they're granted.
The medical assessment is the real gate - not a formality. The need for care must be verified by an independent assessment, currently carried out by a government-appointed provider, not by your relative's own doctor. That assessment decides whether the condition is serious enough, whether the impairment is long-term, and whether the care you'd give is genuinely needed. We treat this step as the centre of the whole case.
The eligibility tests are strict - each one matters.
- An Australian relative who sponsors you - a citizen, permanent resident or eligible NZ citizen
- That relative (or a member of their family unit) to have a long-term medical condition impairing everyday tasks
- An independent medical assessment, by a government-appointed provider, verifying the need for care
- Proof the care cannot reasonably be provided by other relatives in Australia
- Proof the care cannot reasonably be obtained from welfare, hospital, nursing or community services
- The usual health and character requirements for the applicant
Even a strong application waits in line - plan for years.
Carer visas are capped, so the wait can run for years. We won't pretend otherwise. The processing time is set by the government and reviewed over time - we'll confirm the current position for you. The thing that's in your control is the strength of the case, so getting the medical assessment and evidence right from the start matters more here than almost anywhere else.
Same care test, two different starting points.
The eligibility tests - the medical assessment, the care need, the proof that care can't be obtained elsewhere - are the same for both. What separates the Subclass 116 [Carer] visa from the Subclass 836 [Carer] visa is where you are when you apply and where you wait. This table sets out the practical differences; we confirm which subclass fits your situation before anything is lodged.
| Subclass 116 (offshore) | Subclass 836 (onshore) | |
|---|---|---|
| Where you apply from | Outside Australia | Inside Australia, on a substantive visa |
| Where you must be at grant | Generally offshore when the visa is granted | Generally in Australia when the visa is granted |
| Status while you wait | You remain overseas; you are not in Australia waiting | Generally a bridging visa lets you stay while it's processed |
| Care test & medical assessment | Same independent assessment, by a government-appointed provider | Same independent assessment, by a government-appointed provider |
| Outcome on grant | Permanent residence | Permanent residence |
| Waiting time | Capped and queued; generally years - we confirm the current position | Capped and queued; generally years - we confirm the current position |
What it costs. Both subclasses carry a government application charge, and there is a professional fee for the work of building and running the case. We don't publish a fixed price, because the charge depends on who is included in the application and the professional fee depends on the complexity of your situation - the medical assessment, the care evidence and any other relatives involved all affect the work. We quote in writing before you commit. See how we quote.
Carer visa questions.
Written and reviewed by Brian Chan, Registered Migration Agent (MARN 2217857)
Visa Store Australia, Perth · Last reviewed June 2026 · Verify on the MARA register · General information only, not personal migration advice.
A relative in genuine need?
We assess whether your situation meets the care test, then build the strongest possible case around the medical assessment. Getting this right at the start is what makes the difference.