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Carer visa (Subclass 116)

AustraliaFamily

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

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Explore pathways in Australia Read the five questions ↓

Which family relationships qualify?

The qualifying family relationship is that of a carer applying to look after a relative in Australia, or a member of that relative's family who lives with them, who has no reasonable access to care options in Australia for a long-term medical condition. The applicant must be outside Australia both when applying and when the decision is made.

See recorded sources
  • Overview tab — Check your eligibility
    provide care for a relative, or a member of their family who lives with them, who has no reasonable access to care options in Australia.
  • Overview tab — introduction
    This permanent visa lets you move to Australia to care for someone with a long-term medical condition. They must have no reasonable access to care options in Australia.

Who may sponsor or bring the family member, and what immigration/citizenship status must that person hold?

The applicant must be sponsored by the relative needing care, or that relative's partner, for the applicant's first 2 years in Australia, and the Department must approve the sponsorship before the visa can be granted.

See recorded sources

What is important for proving marriage, partnership, parentage, custody, dependency or another qualifying relationship?

What matters for this visa is not proof of a family bond alone but proof of caring capacity and need: the applicant must be willing and able to provide ongoing substantial care and support for the sponsoring relative (or the family member who lives with them), and must fully understand the sponsor's medical condition and care needs, which in turn must be such that no reasonable care option exists for them in Australia.

See recorded sources
  • Eligibility tab — Be a carer
    Among other things, you must be willing and able to provide ongoing substantial care and support for your sponsoring relative or the family member who lives with them.
  • Eligibility tab — Be a carer
    To show this, you should fully understand your sponsor's medical condition and what their care needs are.
  • Overview tab — Check your eligibility
    provide care for a relative, or a member of their family who lives with them, who has no reasonable access to care options in Australia.

What important financial, accommodation, insurance or maintenance responsibilities apply?

The applicant and any family members applying with them must meet Australia's health requirement, and family members aged 16 or over must meet the character requirement; family members not migrating may also be asked to meet these requirements. Any debt owed to the Australian Government by the applicant or family members (including those not applying) must be repaid or subject to an arranged repayment plan.

See recorded sources

How does the application work at a high level, what rights does the family member receive, how long does the status last, and how can it become independent or longer-term where officially stated?

This is a permanent visa: once granted, the applicant can stay in Australia indefinitely, work and study, enrol in Medicare, sponsor their own relatives, travel to and from Australia for 5 years, attend free English classes under the Adult Migrant English Program if eligible, and apply for Australian citizenship if eligible. There is no temporary-to-permanent progression built into this pathway, though the applicant must be sponsored by the cared-for relative or their partner for the first 2 years. The visa cost is from AUD2,720.00 (concessions apply in limited circumstances).

See recorded sources

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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