Subclass 116 and 836
The Subclass 116 and 836 visas are permanent pathways for individuals to provide care to an Australian relative who is an Australian permanent resident, citizen, or ENZC.
Get Dedicated Care for Your Wellbeing
The Carer visa allows individuals to move to or remain in Australia permanently to care for a relative who has a long-term medical condition and cannot access sufficient care within Australia. The primary distinction is the applicant's location at the time of lodgement: the 116 is for offshore applicants, while the 836 is for those already in Australia.
These visas require a formal impairment rating from the Department’s health service provider and a detailed demonstration that no other care options are available in Australia.
Key Factors:
- Medical Necessity: The Australian relative (or a member of their family) must have a long-term medical condition that results in a need for assistance with daily activities for at least 2 years.
- Impairment Rating: The medical condition must be assessed by Bupa Medical Visa Services and given an impairment rating of 30 or higher.
- The "No Other Care" Rule: You must prove that the required care cannot reasonably be provided by any other relative in Australia or accessed through Australian health, welfare, or community services.
- Relationship: The applicant must be a relative (parent, child, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, or step-equivalent) of the person needing care.
Subclass 116 - Carer (Offshore)
Applicant Requirements
What it is for: Relatives outside Australia migrating to provide long-term care.
What it allows: Entry to Australia; permanent residency; full work/study rights; and a pathway to Citizenship.
Key Requirements:
- Must be outside Australia at time of application and grant.
- Must provide substantial, ongoing assistance to an eligible Australian relative.
- Must meet health and character standards.
Length of Stay: Permanent.
Work Rights: Unrestricted.
Sponsor Requirements
Eligibility: Must be an Australian citizen, PR, or ENZC.
Key Limitations:
- Relationship: Must be the relative needing care (or the partner of that person).
- Support Undertaking: Must assist the applicant financially and with accommodation for the first 2 years in Australia.
Subclass 836 - Carer (Onshore)
Applicant Requirements
What it is for: Relatives currently in Australia remaining to provide long-term care.
What it allows: Permanent residency; full work/study rights; access to Medicare; and a pathway to Citizenship.
Key Requirements:
- Must be in Australia at time of application and grant.
- Must hold a substantive visa or satisfy Schedule 3 criteria.
- Must be providing (or intend to provide) substantial, ongoing care.
- Must meet health and character standards.
Length of Stay: Permanent.
Work Rights: Unrestricted.
Sponsor Requirements
Eligibility: Must be an Australian citizen, PR, or ENZC.
Key Limitations:
- Residency: Must be "settled" and usually resident in Australia.
- Financial Undertaking: Must assist the applicant with accommodation and financial support for at least 2 years.
Maintaining compliance
- Provision of Care: The primary purpose of the visa is to provide care. If the care is no longer required (e.g., the relative recovers or moves into professional residential care) before the visa is granted, eligibility may cease.
- Sponsorship Obligations: The sponsor must provide for the applicant’s needs for the first two years to ensure they do not rely on the Australian social security system.
The 116 & 836 Application Process
Medical Audit
The Australian relative must undergo amedical assessment by Bupa Medical Visa Services to receive an impairment rating of 30 or higher.
Lodgement
Compile evidence that the care cannot be provided by any other means in Australia. Submit the application (Offshore for 116; Onshore for 836).
Queue Placement
The Department performs an initial assessment. If the core medical and relationship criteria are met, the application is assigned a Queue Date.
Final Assessment
When a place becomes available under the annual cap, the Department requests final health/character checks and an Assurance of Support (AoS) bond before the decision.
For 116 & 836 Applicants
The Subclasses 116 and 836 require strict adherence to the Medical Assessment. Immilex helps to ensure that the relative's medical condition meets the mandatory impairment rating of 30. It is not enough to simply be unwell; the condition must significantly impede daily living and require the specific assistance of the applicant.
If the Department determines that professional home-care services or other local relatives can meet the need, the visa will be refused. Furthermore, these visas are subjected to Capping and Queueing, with estimated wait times in 2026 reaching approximately 25 years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. A bond (typically AUD 5,000) is usually required at the final processing stage to ensure the applicant does not rely on social security.
No. The relative can be a parent, child, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, or a step-relative.
If there is a relative in Australia who could reasonably provide the care even if they are busy or unwilling, the Department may refuse the application. You must prove why it is "not reasonable" for them to provide the care.
Yes. Once the visa (or a valid Bridging Visa with work rights) is granted, you have unrestricted work rights. However, your work must not interfere with your primary obligation to provide substantial, ongoing care to your relative.
This is a technical score based on how much the medical condition affects the relative’s ability to perform tasks like bathing, dressing, eating, and moving. Bupa Medical Visa Services is the only authority that can provide this rating for visa purposes.
Manage Your Carer Visa with Care
The Carer visa involves complex requirements. Contact us at Immilex for an assessment of your evidence to ensure your application meets the Department's high standards.