Medical & Care Assessment
Review the medical circumstances, expected care needs and whether the case may meet the Carer visa criteria.
Permanent Onshore Family Visa · Subclass 836
Carer Visa 836
The Carer Visa 836 is a permanent onshore visa for an eligible relative who will provide substantial and ongoing care to someone in Australia with a long-term medical condition.
Medical evidence alone is not enough
The applicant must also show the required ongoing care need and that suitable care is not reasonably available from other relatives or Australian services.
How We Can Help
Carer Visa 836 Application Support
Bupa Assessment Guidance
Help prepare for the required Bupa Medical Visa Services assessment and organise the supporting medical evidence.
Alternative Care Evidence
Review evidence explaining why suitable care is not reasonably available through relatives or Australian care services.
Onshore Application Support
Check visa status, sponsor eligibility and supporting documents before preparing the paper application.
At a Glance
Key Requirements and Current Position
| Requirement | Current Position |
|---|---|
| Visa type | Permanent onshore Other Family visa |
| Core purpose | Provide substantial and ongoing care to an eligible relative in Australia |
| Medical assessment | Bupa Medical Visa Services assessment required |
| Care period | Expected need for support for at least 2 years |
| Impairment rating | 30 or higher |
| Alternative care test | Suitable care must not be reasonably available from relatives or Australian services |
| Application location | Onshore |
| Sponsorship | Required |
| Assurance of Support | Not required under the current Subclass 836 criteria |
| Queue | Capped and queued |
| Estimated processing | Around 12 years for new applications, as at 31 May 2026 |
| Visa stay | Permanent |
Three Core Tests
Eligibility Goes Beyond Family Relationship
The applicant must have an eligible family connection and be willing and able to provide the ongoing care and support their relative needs.
Qualifying relationships can include:
- Spouse or de facto partner
- Parent or child
- Brother or sister
- Grandparent or grandchild
- Aunt or uncle
- Niece or nephew
- Certain step-relatives
The Assessment Must Be Started Before Lodgement
The person who needs care must complete an assessment through Bupa Medical Visa Services.
Evidence at lodgementThe application should include either the completed medical certificate or confirmation that the Bupa assessment is in progress.
This assessment is separate from the immigration health examination that the visa applicant may be asked to complete later.
Why This Carer Is Needed
The application should explain why the required care is not reasonably available from other sources.
- Another eligible relative in Australia
- Welfare services
- Hospital services
- Nursing services
- Community support services
Sponsor Requirements
Who Can Sponsor?
Age
The sponsor must be at least 18 years old.
Settled in Australia
The sponsor must be settled and usually resident in Australia.
Australian Status
The sponsor must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen.
Relative’s Partner
In some cases, the relative’s spouse or de facto partner may also be able to act as sponsor if the relevant requirements are met.
The sponsorship must still be approved when the visa application is decided.
Applying Onshore
Your Visa Position Matters Before Lodgement
01
Current Visa
Subclass 836 is an onshore visa, so the applicant generally needs to be in Australia and hold an eligible substantive visa when applying.
02
Immigration History
Current and previous visas, expiry dates, refusals, cancellations and restrictions on further applications should be checked before lodgement.
03
Bridging Visa
After a valid application is lodged, a bridging visa may allow the applicant to remain lawfully in Australia if the current visa expires while the application is being processed.
Work or travel conditions depend on the bridging visa actually granted and should be checked separately.
Government Charges
Government Visa Costs
Charges shown apply from 1 July 2026.Government visa charges can change, so the latest fees should always be checked before lodging.
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| Main applicant – first instalment | AUD 2,720 |
| Additional applicant aged 18 or over | AUD 1,365 |
| Additional applicant under 18 | AUD 680 |
| Second instalment | AUD 2,065 per applicable applicant |
Processing TimeAcknowledgement for new applicationsAround 5 weeks Queue dates released for final processingUp to 31 December 2023 Estimated processing time for new applicationsAround 12 years
Processing Is Capped and Queued
Eligible applications may receive a queue date and later be released for final processing as visa places become available.
Figures shown are as at 31 May 2026.
How to Apply
Application Process
Check Onshore Eligibility
Review the applicant’s current visa, previous visas and immigration history to confirm they can apply from within Australia.
Assess the Care Situation
Confirm the family relationship, medical condition, level of care required and whether suitable care is reasonably available from other relatives or services.
Start the Bupa Assessment
Begin the required Bupa Medical Visa Services assessment before lodging the visa application.
Check the Sponsor
Make sure the proposed sponsor meets the relevant sponsorship requirements.
Prepare and Lodge the Application
Collect the required relationship, medical, care, sponsorship and visa documents and lodge the paper application.
Queue and Final Processing
After acknowledgement, eligible applications can be managed through ImmiAccount and may be assigned a queue date. Updated health, character, medical or other documents may be requested before a final decision.
Document Checklist
What to Prepare
Passport & ID
Relationship Evidence
Bupa Certificate
Medical Evidence
Care Needs
Alternative Care
Carer Capacity
Sponsor Evidence
Visa History
Family Documents
Health Checks
Character Checks
After Grant
What You Receive After Grant
Permanent Residence
Stay in Australia permanently.
Work & Study
Work and study in Australia.
Medicare
Access Medicare, subject to the usual eligibility requirements.
Travel Facility
Travel to and from Australia using the visa’s 5-year travel facility. After it expires, an RRV may be needed to return as a permanent resident.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common Questions About the Application
Can the person needing care be someone in my relative's family?
Yes, in certain circumstances. The medical condition can affect a member of the Australian relative's family unit where the relevant requirements are met and the Australian relative needs ongoing assistance in providing that care.
Does a Bupa medical certificate guarantee the visa?
No. The Bupa assessment addresses the medical and care requirements. The applicant must still meet the relationship, sponsorship, onshore, health, character and other applicable criteria.
Does Carer Visa 836 require an Assurance of Support?
The current Subclass 836 criteria do not include an Assurance of Support requirement. This differs from some other Other Family visas.
Can family members be included?
Eligible members of the applicant's family unit may be included, subject to the applicable secondary applicant, health and character requirements.
What if the person's care needs change while waiting?
The applicant must still meet the Carer criteria when Home Affairs decides the visa. Significant changes to the medical condition, care needs, availability of alternative care or the applicant's ability to assist can therefore affect the application.
Get Help With Your Application
Assess the Medical, Care and Onshore Requirements Together
Carer visa eligibility depends on how the medical condition, long-term care requirements, available care options and the proposed carer’s circumstances fit together.
Think Higher can assess these factors and assist with Bupa assessment preparation, care evidence, sponsor review and onshore visa considerations.
Bupa assessmentCare evidenceSponsor reviewOnshore visa positionMedical requirementsApplication support