116 Carer visa (subclass 116)

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	Carer visa (subclass 116)
Visa type	Permanent
Purpose	Care for eligible relative
Stay	Indefinitely
Apply/decision location	Outside Australia
Cost	From AUD2,720
Payment	Two instalments
Processing	Capped and queued
Work rights	Work permitted
Study	Study permitted
Medicare	Eligible to enrol
Travel facility	Five years
Citizenship	May apply if eligible
Family sponsorship	May sponsor eligible relatives
Family inclusion	Family unit members permitted
Visa record	Digitally linked to passport

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Purpose

The Carer visa is for a person who will provide ongoing substantial care and support to:

• an Australian relative with a long-term medical condition; or
• a family member living with that relative.

The person needing care must have no reasonable access to care options in Australia.

Eligibility

You must:

• be outside Australia when applying and when the decision is made
• be willing and able to provide ongoing substantial care and support
• be sponsored by an eligible relative or their partner
• have the sponsorship approved
• meet health and character requirements
• repay, or arrange repayment of, Australian Government debts
• sign the Australian Values Statement if aged 18 or over
• meet any requirements relating to prior visa cancellations or refusals.

The Department may refuse an application involving a person under 18 if grant is not in that child’s best interests.

Sponsor and care requirements

You must understand the sponsor’s medical condition and care needs. The relative needing care, or their household family member, must obtain a medical certificate from Bupa Medical Visa Services.

The certificate must state that the person has a medical condition requiring care. You must also provide written evidence that they have no reasonable access to care options in Australia.

The application will not be accepted unless evidence shows the Bupa assessment process has at least started.

Stay and rights

This is a permanent visa. It allows you to:

• stay in Australia indefinitely
• work and study in Australia
• enrol in Medicare
• access free Adult Migrant English Program classes, if eligible
• sponsor eligible relatives for Australian visas
• apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible.

For citizenship purposes, permanent residence starts when you first enter Australia on this visa.

Newly arrived residents may need to wait before accessing certain Australian Government payments and benefits.

Family members

You can include members of your family unit in the application.

All applying family members must meet health requirements. Family members aged 16 or over must meet character requirements. Non-migrating family members may also need to meet health or character requirements.

Dependent children

A child aged 18 to under 23 must be dependent on you or your partner.

A child aged 23 or over must be dependent because of physical or cognitive limitations that prevent them from earning a living.

For children under 18, obtain consent from any person with legal authority over where the child lives who is not migrating. Provide either:

• Form 1229, or a statutory declaration consenting to migration; or
• an Australian court order permitting migration; or
• evidence that the child’s home-country laws permit departure.

Cost

The visa costs from AUD2,720 for the main applicant. There is an additional charge for each family member included.

You pay in two instalments:

1. First instalment when applying.
2. Second instalment when requested.

You may also pay for health examinations, police certificates and biometrics.

The Department may consider waiving the main applicant’s second instalment where payment would cause severe financial hardship to the applicant or the person receiving care. This does not apply to accompanying family members. Make the request in writing.

Pacific Island and Timor-Leste concession

From 1 July 2026, a lower visa application charge applies to eligible citizens of:

• Federated States of Micronesia
• Fiji
• Kiribati
• Nauru
• Palau
• Papua New Guinea
• Republic of the Marshall Islands
• Samoa
• Solomon Islands
• Timor-Leste
• Tonga
• Tuvalu
• Vanuatu.

The primary applicant must hold a valid passport from one of these countries. Eligible accompanying family members may also receive the lower charge.

Processing

Demand exceeds the number of places available annually. Processing can be lengthy.

Applications are subject to capping and queueing. Processing may take longer if the application is incomplete, documents are missing, further information is needed, or information requires verification.

The Department cannot process an application unless the correct visa application charge has been paid.

Required documents

Provide certified copies unless the Department requests originals. Send original police certificates only when requested.

Documents may include:

• current passport identity pages
• national identity card, if available
• name-change evidence, if applicable
• Bupa medical certificate or Bupa letter confirming assessment has begun
• evidence that the person needing care lacks reasonable care options
• family relationship evidence
• dependent-child evidence
• partner relationship evidence
• four recent passport-size photographs for each applicant
• translations of non-English documents.

Non-English documents must be translated into English. Translators in Australia must be NAATI-accredited. Overseas translators must state their name, contact details, qualifications and experience in English.

Partner evidence

Provide either:

• a current marriage certificate; or
• evidence of a de facto relationship lasting at least 12 months before application, except in limited circumstances.

Evidence can include joint bank accounts, bills, leases, mortgages or shared-address records.

Adult dependent child evidence

Provide:

• proof of relationship
• Form 47a
• financial dependency evidence, such as bank statements or money transfers
• a medical report for a child aged 23 or over, or likely to turn 23, where disability-based dependency is claimed.

How to apply

You must apply on paper while outside Australia.

1. Obtain or begin the Bupa medical assessment.
2. Complete Form 47OF Application for migration to Australia by other family members.
3. Have your sponsor complete their required form and documents.
4. Pay the application charge through the ImmiAccount online payment function.
5. Include payment evidence, forms and certified supporting documents.
6. Post or courier the application to the Child and Other Family Processing Centre in Perth at the address on the form.
7. Keep copies of the complete application and supporting documents.

Forms must be completed in English.

An incomplete application may be invalid and will not be processed.

After applying

After receiving the acknowledgement letter, you may import the paper application into ImmiAccount.

You can use ImmiAccount to:

• upload supporting documents
• view messages and application status
• update details
• apply for a Bridging visa
• withdraw the application.

Applications made outside Australia on or after 25 June 2020 can be imported. From 23 July 2025, applicants for this subclass can import eligible paper applications into ImmiAccount.

If the Bupa certificate was not submitted with the application, provide it within three months. The visa will not be granted without it.

The Department may request health examinations, biometrics, police certificates or additional information.

Pay the second instalment when invoiced. The visa cannot be granted until it is paid.

Obligations

You and included family members must:

• comply with all visa conditions
• obey Australian laws
• enter Australia by the date in the grant letter.

The first-entry date is generally 12 months after visa grant.

Tell the Department about changes to contact details, passport, relationship status, birth of a child, or plans to withdraw the application.

Use Form 1023 to correct incorrect answers in an application.

Travel

You may travel to and from Australia as often as you wish for five years from visa grant, while the travel facility remains valid.

After five years, obtain a Resident Return visa (subclass 155 or 157) before returning to Australia as a permanent resident.

Check travel-facility validity in VEVO.

New Zealand passport holders

At the Australian border, tell the officer that you hold a Carer visa (subclass 116) and do not want a Special Category visa (subclass 444). A subclass 444 grant may affect Australian citizenship eligibility.

Important warnings

• Do not arrange travel until the visa is granted in writing.
• You must be outside Australia when the Department decides the application.
• Do not arrange police certificates until requested.
• Failure to prove identity can result in refusal and possible visa consequences for up to 10 years.
• False or inaccurate information can affect the application.
• A refused application does not result in a visa-charge refund.
• The visa is digitally linked to your passport; no visa label is issued.