The Career Visa allows individuals to move to Australia to provide care and support to an Australian relative or a member of their family who has a long-term or permanent medical condition. This visa provides a pathway for carers to stay in Australia permanently, helping their loved ones who are unable to access adequate care elsewhere.
Types of Career Visas
There are two main types of carer visas that allow family members to move to Australia to care for an eligible relative:
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Career Visa (Permanent - Subclass 116)
This visa allows people living outside Australia to move to Australia permanently to care for an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.
- Eligibility: You must be willing and able to provide ongoing care to a relative in Australia who has a long-term or permanent medical condition.
- Permanent Residency: Once granted, the visa provides permanent residency in Australia.
- Medicare Access: The visa grants access to Australia’s public healthcare system, Medicare.
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Carer Visa (Permanent - Subclass 836)
This visa is for individuals already in Australia who need to stay to care for an eligible Australian relative or family member with a medical condition.
- Eligibility: You must already be in Australia and able to provide ongoing care for a relative who has a long-term or permanent medical condition.
- Bridging Visa: If your current visa expires while your carer visa is being processed, you may be granted a bridging visa, allowing you to stay in Australia lawfully while waiting for a decision.
- Permanent Residency: Once granted, this visa allows you to live in Australia permanently.
Key Eligibility Requirements
To apply for a Carer Visa (Subclass 116 or 836), both the carer and the person being cared for must meet specific criteria:
For the Carer:
- Relationship Requirement: You must be a relative or family member of the person you will be caring for. Eligible relatives include parents, siblings, children, grandparents, and more.
- Ability to Provide Care: You must be capable of providing ongoing care for your relative’s long-term or permanent medical condition. Care needs to be provided in the relative’s home.
- Medical Assessment: The Department of Home Affairs requires that an Australian medical professional assesses the relative’s medical condition and confirms that care is needed.
- No Other Care Options Available: The Department must be satisfied that there are no other relatives or community services in Australia able to provide the required care.
- Health and Character Requirements: The carer must meet Australia’s health and character requirements, including undergoing a medical examination and providing police clearance certificates.
For the Relative:
- Australian Citizenship or Residency: The person requiring care must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.
- Medical Condition: The relative must have a long-term or permanent medical condition that requires substantial assistance with daily activities.
Application Process
The Carer Visa application process generally involves several steps:
- Medical Assessment: The relative requiring care must undergo a medical assessment to confirm the need for assistance due to their condition.
- Lodging the Visa Application: Once the medical condition is confirmed, the carer visa application can be submitted either from outside Australia (Subclass 116) or within Australia (Subclass 836).
- Visa Processing: Processing times for carer visas can be long, typically taking 4-6 years due to high demand.
- Bridging Visa (for Subclass 836): If the carer is in Australia and their current visa expires while waiting for a decision, they may be granted a bridging visa, allowing them to remain in Australia lawfully during the processing period.
Visa Costs
The visa application charge for a Carer Visa (Subclass 116 or 836) is approximately AUD 12,115. Additional costs may include medical examinations and police clearance certificates.
Benefits of the Carer Visa
- Permanent Residency: Both the Subclass 116 and Subclass 836 visas grant permanent residency in Australia, allowing you to live, work, and study in Australia indefinitely.
- Family Reunion: The carer visa allows family members to reunite and provide much-needed support to their loved ones.
- Medicare Access: Once granted, the carer can access Medicare, Australia’s public healthcare system.
- Work Rights: You can work in Australia without restrictions while providing care to your relative.
- Pathway to Citizenship: The visa provides a pathway to Australian citizenship after meeting residency requirements.
Limitations
- Processing Time: Carer visas have long processing times, often taking 4-6 years due to the limited number of visas granted each year.
- No Temporary Visa Option: There is no temporary visa option for carers; the process only grants permanent residency.
- No Sponsorship for Family Members: Unlike some other permanent visas, carer visa holders cannot sponsor other family members to move to Australia.
How We Can Help
At A Square Migration Services, we understand the importance of family support during difficult times. Our experienced migration team is here to assist you with the complex carer visa application process. We will:
- Assess Your Eligibility: We evaluate your situation to ensure that both the carer and the relative meet the visa requirements.
- Guide You Through the Medical and Documentation Process: We help gather the necessary medical assessments and other documentation to support your application.
- Manage Your Application: We handle the visa lodgment process and provide ongoing support throughout the waiting period.
Reunite and Provide Care for Your Loved Ones
If you're looking to move to Australia to care for a relative in need, the Carer Visa could be the solution. At A Square Migration Services, we are committed to helping families reunite and ensuring that your application process is smooth and successful.
Contact us today to start your carer visa application.