Carer visa Australia (Subclass 116)

Discover essential tips for a successful application for the Australian Carer Visa – Subclass 116 visa, paving your way to becoming a permanent resident. Learn more about eligibility, application steps, and requirements.

What Is a Subclass 116 Visa?

The Subclass 116 visa, known as the Carer Visa (offshore), allows individuals to migrate to Australia to provide substantial care for a relative with a long-term medical condition. It typically leads to permanent residency, provided sponsorship and eligibility criteria are met. 

Benefits of Subclass 116

The benefits of holding a Subclass 116 visa (Carer Visa) in Australia:

• Provides a pathway to live in Australia permanently.
• Enables individuals to care for a relative with a medical condition.
• Includes healthcare and social services support.
• Allows holders to work in Australia without restrictions.
• Eligibility to apply for Australian citizenship after meeting residency requirements.

Eligibility Criteria for a Carer visa

Among the Family visas, to apply for a Carer visa (offshore), both the sponsor and the applicant need to meet the following conditions:

For applicants:

• You must live in Australia to provide care for a relative with a long-term medical condition or assist another relative who is caring for them.
• The person needing care cannot get the necessary support from any other family member or from professional nursing, hospital, or community services in Australia.
• You must be genuinely willing and capable of providing care or assistance.
• You and any dependent family members included in the application must meet health and character requirements.
• You must be sponsored by the relative needing care or their partner.
• If assisting a relative to care for someone, both the relative and the person needing care must live in the same household.
• Applicants aged 18 or older must sign the Australian Values Statement, confirming they will respect Australian laws and way of life.

For sponsors:

• Must be 18 years or older.
• Must be settled in Australia as an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.
• Must be either the relative who requires care, their spouse or de facto partner, and living in the same household as the person needing care.
• Can be a partner, child, parent, grandparent, sibling, grandchild, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, or their step-equivalents of the applicant.
• Must normally live in Australia.
• Must provide an assurance of financial support and accommodation for the applicant for the first two years in Australia.
• Both the sponsor and applicant must have no unpaid debts to the Australian Government before the visa is granted.
• Both must meet health and character requirements:

• Medical examinations must be done within 12 months of lodging the visa.
• Police certificates are required from all countries where the applicant or family members have lived for 12 months or more in the last 10 years (for those aged 16+).

These Carer visa requirements ensure that the applicant can fulfill the caregiving role and that the sponsor can support the applicant financially and practically while they provide care in Australia.

Contact our registered migration agent to make sure you meet the requirements.

How To Be a Sponsor of a 116 visa? 

To become a sponsor for subclass 116 visa, you need to meet the following requirements:

Sponsorship process

• Complete Form 40 – Sponsorship for migration to Australia.
• Provide the completed form to the visa applicant so it can be submitted with their application.

Sponsor obligations:

Once the applicant is granted the visa, you are responsible for:

• Providing support and assistance.
• Arranging accommodation.
• Helping the applicant and any family members included in the visa.

Medical condition criteria:

The relative needing care must have:

• A long-term or permanent medical condition.
• A requirement for care or assistance for at least 2 years.
• Medical condition assessed by Bupa Medical Visa Services.

Steps To Apply For a Subclass 116

Applying for a Subclass 116 visa involves these steps:

• Step 1: Check eligibility and ensure sponsorship by a relative needing care.
• Step 2:  Gather required documents like identity proof and health assessments.
• Step 3: Complete the online application form and pay the Carer visa fees.
• Step 4: Submit your application and await a decision.
• Step 5: If approved, prepare for your move to Australia; if denied, consider your options.  

For the best support during your Carer visa application process, consider engaging a registered migration agent. At VEM, we’re here to guide you every step of the way. Our qualified consultant (MARN: 1577877) is dedicated to assisting you throughout your application.

Document Checklist

Like the subclass 836 visa, when applying for the Carer Visa (subclass 116), you need to provide a range of documents, such as:

• Relationship evidence
• Identification documents
• Financial documents
• Medical document
• Additional documents

Cost of a Subclass 116 visa

The costs when applying for the Carer Visa offshore (subclass 116) are as follows:

Note: The Subclass 116 visa fee listed above does not include a 1.4% surcharge.

Visa 116 Processing Time

There is no information on the Carer visa 116 processing time at present. VEM will promptly update the processing time on our Fanpage and Website when the DHA announces it.

Important Notice

Responsibilities of the sponsor

The sponsor must provide accommodation and financial support for the main applicant and any dependents for the first 2 years after the Subclass 116 visa is granted. Failure to fulfill these responsibilities may result in the cancellation of the sponsor’s visa.

Degree of Impairment

The relative’s ability to perform daily tasks is assessed using the Disability Support Pension Impairment Tables. A minimum score of 30 is required, showing they need significant help. Mild mental health issues alone are usually not enough.

Applicants must provide medical certificates from Bupa Medical Visa Services confirming that:

• They have a medical condition.
• The condition significantly affects their daily life.
• The impairment meets the required threshold.
• Care will be necessary for at least the next 2 years.

Medical Certificate

If you are unable to provide the Bupa medical certificate when applying, you can submit it within 3 months after lodging your application. However, if you do not provide the medical certificate within this timeframe, your Subclass 116 visa application may not be granted.

We hope you have got the full picture of the Subclass 116 via this writing. If you need more information, please contact VEM.

By: Peter Phong D Cao – Registered migration agent

(MARN: 1577877, MIA: 12648)

Mr. Phong Cao

CEO and Founder of VEM

Mr. Phong Cao is a licensed migration agent by MARA (MARN: 1577877). He is also a member of the Migration Institute of Australia (MIA: 12648), one of the most reputable organizations in the field of immigration in Australia. In addition, Mr. Phong Cao holds a QEAC certification in study abroad consulting (QEAC: K580) and Australian real estate investment (RA85931). With over 12 years of experience in Australian immigration, he provides comprehensive solutions for studying and settling in Australia.