Carer Visa (Onshore) (Subclass 836)

The Subclass 836 Carer Visa is a permanent visa designed for individuals who need to stay in Australia to care for a relative or their family member who has a long-term medical condition. It allows the holder to live, work, and study in Australia indefinitely. The visa also provides access to healthcare services, social security benefits, and the possibility of applying for Australian citizenship.

Benefits of the Subclass 836 Visa

Permanent Residency

Successful applicants receive permanent residency, allowing them to live and work in Australia indefinitely

Sponsor Relatives

Sponsor eligible relative to come to Australia

Work and Study Rights

Visa holders can work and study in Australia while providing care for their designated individual

Travel Rights

Travel in and out of Australia for the first 5 years upon visa approval

Healthcare Scheme

Enrol in Australia’s public health care scheme - Medicare

Citizenship Pathway

After fulfilling residency requirements, visa holders can apply for Australian citizenship

A young female healthcare worker with curly blonde hair smiling and leaning over a woman in a wheelchair. The elderly woman has white hair, a floral blouse, a blue cardigan, and a pearl necklace, and is also smiling. The scene is in a bright, modern kitchen.

Subclass 836 Visa

MAIN REQUIREMENTS

To be eligible for the Subclass 836, Onshore Carer Visa, applicants must meet several essential criteria:

Sponsorship
Applicants must be sponsored by an eligible relative or a person in Australia who is in need of care due to a disability, medical condition, or age-related issues.

Carer Responsibility
The person requiring care must have a significant need for assistance with daily living activities and be unable to care for themselves without help.

Substantive Visa
You must have a substantive visa that is not a Transit visa - subclass 771. The substantive visa must be valid when you apply for a subclass 836 visa.

Health and Character Requirements
Health Checks: Applicants and any dependent family members must undergo medical examinations to ensure they meet Australia's health standards. This is to prevent the Australian healthcare system from being burdened by applicants with significant medical needs.
Character Checks: Police clearances from each country the applicant has lived in for 12 months or more during the past 10 years are required. This ensures that the applicant poses no security or criminal risk to Australia.

Current Processing Time: Subclass 836 Visa

Due to capping and queuing regulations, all Other Family visa applications, including the Carer Visa, are subject to limited visa placements each year. This can result in long wait times, as applications are processed in the order they are received.

Visa Type Acknowledge New Application Visa Assessment (Queue release date)
Carer Visa (Temporary)  (subclass 836) Approximately 3 weeks Date queued up to 30 April 2023

Frequently

Asked       

Questions

  • An eligible sponsor can be an Australian citizen, a permanent resident, or an eligible New Zealand citizen who is in need of care.

  • Yes, you can include eligible family members in your Carer Visa application.

  • If your application is refused, you may be able to seek a review of the decision or apply for a different visa, depending on your circumstances.

  • Holders of the Subclass 116 Carer Visa can work in Australia. Temporary visa holders may have specific work rights depending on their visa conditions.

  • While there is no formal requirement, applicants should have a functional level of English to support their application and daily life in Australia.

  • Yes, you can apply for the Carer Visa while in Australia, provided you meet the eligibility requirements.

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