Australia Carer visa (Subclass 116)
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.
- Route type
- Family
- Can bring
- children from the official record
- Requirements
- 8 each quoted below
Who this route is for
Every item below is the government’s own wording, quoted from the official source. Whether you personally qualify depends on your full profile.
8 requirements quoted from the official source.
- Australian Government Debt Cleared
If you or any family members (including those who don't apply for the visa with you) owe the Australian Government money, you or they must have paid it back or arranged to pay it back. .
- Australian Values Statement Required
If you are 18 years of age or older, you must: have read, or had explained to you, the Life in Australia sign an Australian Values Statement that confirms you will respect the Australian way of life and obey Australian laws.
- 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. To show this, you should fully understand your sponsor's medical condition and what their care needs are.
- Best Interests Of The Child
We might not grant this visa if it is not in the best interests of an applicant under 18.
- Character and security
You, and family members aged 16 years and over who apply for the visa with you, must meet our character requirement . We might also ask that other family members meet the requirement.
- Health Requirement
You and any family members who apply for the visa with you must meet our health requirement . Family members who are not coming to Australia might also have to meet our health requirement.
- Not Have Had A Visa Cancelled Or A Previous Application Refused
We will consider your immigration history when we make a decision on your application, which means you might not be eligible for this visa if you have had a visa cancelled or refused. In some circumstances you may still apply for a permanent visa if you have had a visa cancelled or an application refused, see Limitations on applications in Australia . If applying for a visa from outside Australia,
- Sponsor Required
You must be sponsored by an eligible sponsor. We must approve the sponsorship.
- Eligibility summary
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. To show this, you should fully understand your sponsor's medical condition and what their care needs are.
- Official Rights Text
stay in Australia indefinitely work and study in Australia enrol in Australia's public healthcare scheme, Medicare sponsor your relatives to come to Australia travel to and from Australia for 5 years attend free English language classes provided by the Adult Migrant English Program , if eligible apply for Australian citizenship , if eligible.
- Official source basis
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. To show this, you should fully understand your sponsor's medical condition and what their care needs are.
- Report summary
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. To show this, you should fully understand your sponsor's medical condition and what their care needs are.
- Visa Subclass
The official page identifies this route as subclass 116.
Who you can bring
What the source prices
- Official Cost Text
From . Concessions apply in limited circumstances. Cost concession From 1 July 2026, a lower visa cost applies to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens who lodge a valid visa application. See About this visa .
checked 2026-07-26
- Official Stay Text
Permanently
- Processing time
For an indication of processing times for this visa, use the visa processing time guide tool . This will show the processing times for recently decided applications. It is a guide only and not specific to your application. For more information, see Other Family Visa Queue
From here to a yes
Straight answers
01Who qualifies for the Subclass 116 to Australia?
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.
02Can I bring my family?
Every answer is quoted from the official immi.homeaffairs.gov.au page for this route, last read 2026-07-26.
We checked 16 points against the official source; 16 are quoted on this page. The other 0 are either not addressed by the source or not yet backed by a quote — we would rather show you the edge of the record than fill it with a plausible guess.
See the 0 open points
Not stated in the official source — the official source names no exclusion for this route.
Where every quote comes from
Official government source immi.homeaffairs.gov.auLast read 2026-07-26 Every quote on this page is from this Australia government page.Other family routes to Australia
25 other family routes to Australia.
Family routes in other countries
201 other countries publish at least one family route. Nearest first.
Does the Subclass 116 fit your numbers?
That depends on your income, savings and family — the parts of the story only you know. The free 3-minute check scores your profile against every Australia route at once, this one included. Then the full Australia report takes you the rest of the way.
• Free • 3 minutes • No signup