Overview
The Carer visa allows individuals to provide care to a relative or their family member with a long-term medical condition who has no reasonable access to care options in Australia.
Subclass 116
This is a permanent visa for applicants outside Australia at the time of application and visa decision.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Be outside Australia when applying and when the visa is granted.
- Be sponsored by a relative or their partner for your first two years in Australia.
- Provide care to a relative or a member of their family who lives with them and has no reasonable access to care options in Australia.
What You Can Do:
- Stay in Australia indefinitely.
- Work and study in Australia.
- Enroll in Medicare, Australia’s public health care system.
- Sponsor relatives to migrate to Australia.
- Travel to and from Australia for 5 years.
- Apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible.
Subclass 836
This is a permanent visa for applicants in Australia at the time of application and visa decision.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Be in Australia when applying and when the visa is granted.
- Be a carer for an Australian relative or a member of their family who lives with them and needs care, and who has no reasonable access to care in Australia.
- Be sponsored by an eligible relative or their partner.
What You Can Do:
- Stay in Australia indefinitely.
- Work and study in Australia.
- Enroll in Medicare.
- Sponsor relatives to migrate to Australia.
- Travel to and from Australia for 5 years.
- Apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible.
Important Notes for the Sponsor for Both Visas
- Sponsorship:
- The Sponsor or their partner can sponsor a relative to provide care for them or a family member living with them.
- Sponsorship applies to the main applicant and their accompanying family members.
- Sponsors must be Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens and agree to support the applicant and their family for the first 2 years.
- Scope:
- The visa allows carers to assist with long-term medical needs.
- Sponsorship is tied to the care of either the sponsor or their family member living with them.
These visas are ideal for families requiring dedicated care for a member with medical challenges, ensuring support from a relative who can live permanently in Australia.