Carer visa
(subclass 836) (onshore)
With this visa, you have the privilege to:
- Establish permanent residency in Australia.
- Pursue employment and educational opportunities within the country.
- Enjoy the flexibility of traveling to and from Australia for a duration of five years.
- Be physically present in Australia both during the application process and when a decision is made.
- Act as a carer for your Australian relative or a member of their family who resides with them and requires care, particularly if there is no reasonable access to care in Australia.
- Obtain sponsorship from an eligible sponsor.
With this visa you can
This visa offers you the opportunity to:
- Reside in Australia indefinitely.
- Engage in employment and educational pursuits within the country.
- Access Australia’s public healthcare scheme, Medicare, for your medical needs.
- Sponsor your relatives to join you in Australia.
- Travel to and from Australia for a period of five years.
- Apply for Australian citizenship, if you meet the eligibility criteria.
Moreover, this visa allows you to provide care to an individual with a long-term medical condition who lacks reasonable access to care options in Australia. The person you care for must either be your Australian relative requiring care or a family member of your relative residing with them and in need of care.
Travel to and from Australia for 5 years
You are allowed to travel to and from Australia as frequently as desired for a period of five years from the date this visa is granted, provided the travel facility remains valid.
Should you wish to travel beyond the initial 5-year period, you will need to apply for and obtain a Resident Return (RRV) to re-enter Australia as a permanent resident.
Alternatively, you may consider pursuing Australian citizenship. As an Australian citizen, you won’t require a visa to enter the country. Instead, you will need to apply for an Australian passport and utilize it for your international travels. For detailed information regarding eligibility requirements and current processing times for Australian citizenship, please refer to the relevant resources.
To determine the expiration date of your travel facility, you can check VEVO (Visa Entitlement Verification Online).
​How long you can stay
This visa is a permanent one, granting you the right to reside in Australia indefinitely.
Regarding citizenship eligibility, your permanent residency begins on the day the visa is granted.
Include family
When submitting your application, you have the option to include members of your family unit.
It’s important to note that all family members applying for the visa must meet the health and character requirements set by the immigration authorities.
Cost
The cost of this visa starts from AUD2,055.00 for the main applicant, with an additional charge for each accompanying family member.
Payment for the visa is divided into two instalments. The first instalment is due upon application, and the second instalment is payable upon request by the immigration authorities.
In addition to the visa fees, there may be other expenses such as health checks, police certificates, and biometrics for each applicant.
To estimate the total cost of your visa, you can use the Visa Pricing Estimator, although please note that it doesn’t include the second instalment or other associated costs.
If paying the second instalment would cause severe financial hardship for you or the person you are caring for, you may request a reduction or waiver of this fee. However, this reduction will not be granted for any accompanying applicants.
To request a reduction in the second instalment, you must submit a written request to the immigration authorities.
Apply from
You must be in Australia when you apply and when we decide your application.
Processing times
The demand for Other Family visas often exceeds the available quota each year, resulting in potentially lengthy processing times for these applications.
To get an idea of processing times, you can use the visa processing time guide tool, which provides information on recently decided applications. However, please note that this tool serves as a general guide and may not reflect the exact timeframe for your application.
Several factors can contribute to delays in processing, including incomplete application forms, missing documents, or the need for additional information from you. Furthermore, if your information takes longer than usual to verify, it may prolong the processing time.
It’s essential to ensure the correct visa application charge is paid, as failure to do so can result in the inability to process your application. If this occurs, you will be notified, and if necessary, your application will be returned.
Applications for this visa are subject to capping and queueing, which can impact processing times. For more information on Other Family Visa queues and processing priorities, please refer to the relevant resources.
Further insights into Migration Program outcomes and planning for each migration program year can be found in the Reports on Migration Programs.
Your obligations
Visa label
Eligibility
Be a carer
In addition to other requirements, you must be prepared and capable of offering continuous substantial care and ongoing support or assistance to your Australian relative in need of care, or their family member residing with them who requires care.
To demonstrate this, it’s essential for you to have a thorough understanding of your Australian relative’s medical condition and the specific care requirements they have. This understanding is crucial in showcasing your ability to provide the necessary level of care and support.
Have a sponsor
You are required to have an eligible sponsor to support your application for this visa. It’s important to note that the sponsorship must be approved by the immigration authorities.
Hold or have held a substantive visa
To be eligible for this visa, you must either hold any substantive visa, excluding a Transit visa (subclass 771), or have held any substantive visa (excluding subclass 771) and made a valid application for a subclass 836 visa within a specified timeframe.
Meet the health requirement
You and any family members who apply for the visa with you must meet our health requirement.
Meet the character requirement
You, as well as family members aged 16 years and over who apply for the visa alongside you, must satisfy our character requirement.
In some cases, we may also request that other family members meet this requirement.
Have paid back your debt to the Australian government
If you or any family member have outstanding debts to the Australian Government, it is necessary to have either repaid the debt or established a formal arrangement for repayment.
Not have had a visa cancelled or a previous application refused
Your immigration history will be taken into account during the assessment of your application. If you have previously had a visa cancelled or refused, you may not be eligible for this visa.
However, under certain circumstances, you may still be able to apply for a permanent visa despite past visa cancellations or refusals. Please refer to the Limitations on applications in Australia section for more information.
If you are applying for a visa from outside Australia, please consult the Can I go to Australia section.
For assistance with your visa application, you can refer to the Who can help with your visa application section.
Sign the Australian values statement
If you are 18 years of age or older, there are specific requirements you must meet:
- You must have read the Life in Australia book or have its contents explained to you.
- You must sign an Australian Values Statement, affirming your commitment to respecting the Australian way of life and adhering to Australian laws.
Best interests of the child
This visa will not be granted if it is not deemed to be in the best interests of an applicant who is under 18 years of age.