The Carer visas — subclass 116 (offshore) and subclass 836 (onshore) — are permanent visas for persons who wish to migrate to Australia (or remain in Australia) to provide care to a relative who has a long-term or permanent medical condition and has no reasonable access to adequate care from community, government, or commercial sources in Australia. Both visas are in the "Other Family" visa category and are subject to an annual cap, resulting in a queue for applicants who meet the criteria.

For current queue dates, processing priorities, and application requirements for the Carer visas, refer to the DHA subclass 836 Carer visa page and the DHA subclass 116 Carer visa page.

• Migration Regulations 1994 — Subclass 116 (Carer) — offshore carer visa criteria
• Migration Regulations 1994 — Subclass 836 (Carer) — onshore carer visa criteria
• DHA: Carer 836 visa — immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/carer-836
• DHA: Carer 116 visa — immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/carer-116
• DHA: Other family visas — immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/other-family-visas

Subclass 116 vs subclass 836 — offshore and onshore

The difference between the two Carer visas is the applicant's location at the time of application:

• Subclass 116 — the applicant is outside Australia and intends to migrate to Australia to provide care
• Subclass 836 — the applicant is inside Australia (already in Australia on a valid visa) and intends to remain in Australia as a carer

Both are permanent visas and have the same substantive eligibility criteria — the difference is procedural (where the application is lodged and where the applicant must be).

Who the relative in need of care must be

The person who needs care must be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen who is a relative of the carer applicant. "Relative" for Carer visa purposes includes a broad range of family members — parents, siblings, children, aunts, uncles, cousins, and other relatives — not just immediate family. For the current definition of qualifying relative relationships, refer to the DHA carer visa page.

The medical condition requirement

The relative must have a long-term or permanent medical condition that means they need ongoing assistance with daily activities (personal care, mobility, communication, or other activities of daily living). The condition must be verified through medical evidence — typically from treating doctors and specialist practitioners. A temporary or recoverable condition does not meet this requirement.

No reasonable access to care in Australia

A central requirement is that the relative must have no reasonable access to adequate care from other sources in Australia. This includes:

• Government-funded care services (NDIS, aged care, community health services)
• Private commercial care services (paid carers, residential facilities)
• Other family members already in Australia who could provide care

The decision-maker assesses whether the care currently available is adequate for the relative's specific needs — inadequacy of existing care (not merely inconvenience or preference) is what must be demonstrated. Evidence typically includes a statement from the relative's doctor about the care required, documentation of care services explored and found inadequate, and information about any other family members already in Australia and why they cannot provide the required care.

Sponsor requirement

An eligible person must sponsor the carer applicant. The sponsor is generally the relative needing care or, in some circumstances, another family member. The sponsor must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen and must meet any character and other requirements for sponsorship under the Other Family visa framework.

The queue system — annual cap

The Carer visas are subject to an annual cap — only a limited number are granted per migration program year as part of the Family Stream. Applications that meet the substantive criteria are placed in a queue and are assessed in lodgement date order as places become available in future program years. This means there can be a significant wait between meeting the visa criteria and being granted. For current queue dates and processing priorities for the Carer visas, refer to the DHA Other Family visa queue release dates page.

Health and character requirements

The carer applicant must meet Australia's health and character requirements. The relative needing care may also be assessed. For current health and character requirements for the Carer visa, refer to the DHA Carer 836 page.

Outcome of the Carer visa

If granted, the Carer visa is a permanent visa — the holder can live, work, and study in Australia permanently. Family members (spouse/partner and dependent children) may be included in the application as secondary applicants. There is no requirement that the holder continue to provide care indefinitely — the visa is not tied to the ongoing care relationship once granted.

The Carer visas are among the less commonly known Australian family visas but serve an important function for families in which a relative in Australia needs ongoing care from a family member overseas. The key practical challenges are: (1) demonstrating that the relative's condition meets the long-term medical requirement (not just current difficulty); and (2) demonstrating the absence of adequate alternative care — this is a high bar, as officers will look at whether NDIS supports, aged care services, or other family members in Australia could realistically provide the required level of care. For current queue dates, application fees, and Form 47OF (Other Family sponsorship form), refer to the DHA Carer 836 page.