介護者ビザ
To care for an Australian relative with a long-term medical condition.
What this visa is for#
The Australian Carer visa, subclass 116, is for a person outside Australia who plans to move to Australia to care for an Australian relative with a long-term medical condition.
This is a permanent visa in the Other family stream. In the visa system data used here, its category is listed as partner.
The purpose of this visa is not general family reunion or short-term help after an illness. It exists for cases where an Australian relative needs ongoing care because of a long-term medical condition, and that care cannot reasonably be arranged from services available in Australia.
A visa in this class is usually tied to medical evidence about the person needing care, and family relationship evidence about the person providing that care. The Department assesses the application against the legal criteria in force at the time of decision.
Who it is generally for#
This visa is for people who will go to Australia to care for an Australian relative with a long-term medical condition.
This visa is for people who are outside Australia when the application is lodged and when a decision is made. It is part of the offshore carer visa pathway.
This visa is for people whose family relationship to the person needing care falls within the family relationships covered by the visa rules. In practice, applications in this area usually rely on clear civil documents that show how the parties are related.
This visa is also for cases where the need for care is ongoing, not temporary, and where the need is supported by medical and other evidence. The process often also looks at whether the required care is the kind of care that cannot reasonably be met by welfare, health or community services in Australia.
If family members are included in an application, they are usually assessed as additional applicants under the visa rules. Separate identity, health and character documents are commonly required for each person included.
What it costs#
The government visa application charge for subclass 116 is:
- Main applicant: $5,160
- Additional applicant 18 or over: $2,580
- Additional applicant under 18: $1,290
These are government charges. They are payable to the Department, and the government charge is the same no matter who lodges the application, whether that is the applicant, a registered migration agent or an Australian legal practitioner.
Professional fees are separate. A registered migration agent or lawyer may charge for preparing the application, checking documents, managing correspondence and answering legal or procedural questions. Those fees are set by the professional, not by the government, so they can vary a lot from one provider to another.
Charges are indexed and usually change on 1 July. Before lodging, it is sensible to check the current government charge and any professional fee proposal in writing.
Other third-party costs can arise during the process, such as medical examinations, police certificates, translations, document replacement fees and courier costs. These are not part of the visa application charge.
How long it takes#
Processing times for Carer visas can be long. This is a permanent family visa stream, and applications can take years rather than months.
Timeframes vary because not all applications are alike. Processing can depend on queueing arrangements, demand in the visa program, how complete the application is at lodgement, how quickly documents are provided when requested, and how long external checks take.
Medical and character documents can also affect the timeline. Some documents expire if the case is not decided within a certain period, and the Department may ask for updated documents before a decision is made.
Published processing times can change over time. They are a guide to past case completion, not a promise for any future application.
What the process involves#
The process usually starts with checking the current document requirements and preparing evidence. A subclass 116 application generally involves identity documents, family relationship documents and evidence about the Australian relative who needs care.
Medical evidence is central to this visa. The person needing care generally needs to be assessed as having a long-term medical condition, and the application material usually needs to address the type of care required and the availability of care from services in Australia.
The application is lodged from outside Australia. The Department may later contact the applicant for more information, updated documents or health and character requirements for any person included in the application.
After lodgement, the Department may issue requests with deadlines. It is important in any visa process to respond within the timeframe given, or to ask for more time if the Department's system allows that and there is a valid reason.
If the Department asks for health examinations, those are usually arranged through the Department's health examination system. If police certificates are required, they usually need to be obtained from each relevant country according to the Department's instructions.
The Department may also require evidence that personal details are still current. This can include passports, contact details, family composition and address history.
If the application is granted, the visa holder becomes a permanent visa holder from the date of grant. If family members are included, each person included in the grant must also meet the applicable visa criteria at time of decision.
What commonly goes wrong#
A common problem is incomplete evidence at lodgement. In carer cases, missing family relationship documents, unclear identity records, or medical material that does not clearly describe the long-term condition can lead to delays, more requests for information, or refusal if key criteria are not met on the evidence before the Department.
Another frequent issue is relying on documents that are hard to match across records. Names can appear differently on passports, birth certificates, marriage records and national ID cards. If dates of birth, spelling or family names do not line up, the Department may ask for explanations and supporting records, which adds time.
Expired documents during a long processing period cause trouble. Passports, police certificates and some health-related clearances may need updating before decision. If a passport expires mid-process and is replaced, the new details need to be given to the Department so the file stays current.
Changes in contact details are often overlooked. If an applicant changes address, email or phone number and does not tell the Department, important requests can be missed. Missing a request for documents or failing to meet a deadline can affect the application.
Family composition changes also need to be reported. Marriage, separation, a new de facto relationship, the birth of a child or the death of a family member can all affect what information the Department needs on file.
Poor quality scans are another practical problem. Documents that are cut off, too dark, translated only in part, or uploaded in the wrong category can slow assessment. Clear, complete copies and consistent file naming help reduce avoidable delays.
Some applicants assume a visa process automatically gives travel or work rights. For onshore applications in other visa classes, people sometimes assume a bridging visa carries the same rights as the substantive visa it follows. A bridging visa does not automatically carry the same conditions or travel rights as the earlier visa, and conditions depend on the grant notice. While subclass 116 is an offshore visa, this misunderstanding still matters where family members are dealing with other visa statuses in Australia at the same time.
Another common mistake is treating Department requests as informal. If the Department asks for a specific form, a new police certificate, or an updated passport copy, the exact request matters. Sending different documents and hoping they will be enough can create more delay.
Frequently asked questions#
What is the Carer visa 116?#
The Carer visa, subclass 116, is a permanent offshore visa for a person who will move to Australia to care for an Australian relative with a long-term medical condition. It sits in the Other family stream. In the visa system data used here, its category is listed as partner.
Is the Carer visa 116 a permanent visa?#
Yes. Subclass 116 is a permanent visa if it is granted. Permanent residence starts from the date of grant.
How much does the Carer visa 116 cost?#
The government charge is $5,160 for the main applicant, $2,580 for each additional applicant aged 18 or over, and $1,290 for each additional applicant under 18. Professional fees from a registered migration agent or lawyer are separate, and the government charge is the same no matter who lodges the application.
Do I have to be outside Australia for a Carer visa 116?#
This visa is an offshore visa. The application is lodged from outside Australia, and the applicant is outside Australia at the time of decision.
How long does a Carer visa 116 take?#
Carer visa processing can be lengthy and is often measured in years rather than months. The overall timeframe depends on queueing, document completeness, health and character checks, and whether updated documents are needed before a decision is made.
About this page. This is general information about how the Carer visa (subclass 116) works. It is not immigration assistance and it is not advice about your situation. Under section 280 of the Migration Act 1958 only a registered migration agent or an Australian legal practitioner can give you that. Charges are indexed and most change on 1 July, so check any figure against immi.homeaffairs.gov.au before you rely on it, and check any agent's registration on the OMARA register.