If you’re considering moving to Australia to care for a family member, the Carer Visa Australia could be your pathway to a new life. This visa is designed for individuals who are coming to Australia to provide essential care to a relative with a medical condition, disability, or age-related illness. There are different subclasses of the Carer Visa, including the Carer Visa 836, Carer Visa 116, and specific requirements depending on your situation.

Here in this article, we will try to present the major facts of the Carer Visa 836, the Carer Visa 116, and their processing time in as simple a way as possible so that you can easily understand your decision while making the application.

What Is the Carer Visa?

Carer Visa facilitates work and residency in Australia and care for an endangered relative due to conditions resulting from sickness. Carer Visa has two main subclasses where the visa is accessible: Carer Visa 836 and Carer Visa 116. Both visas lead to permanent residence but are constituted differently and have varied eligibility requirements.

Carer Visa 836: The Key to Permanent Residence

Carer Visa 836 is for those who wish to visit Australia to care for a relative residing in Australia. The visa is a permanent visa, and the applicants can settle in Australia and care for their relatives in the long term.

Eligibility conditions for Carer Visa 836

• You have to be sponsored by a relative who has to be provided with full-time care in Australia by virtue of a disease, disability, or old age.
• The relative has to be an Australian resident, Australian citizen, or eligible New Zealand citizen.
• The applicant also has to pass the health and character tests.
• The care has to be necessary and the relative's needs have to still not be provided for by the existing labor force within Australia.

This visa is suitable for individuals who wish to migrate to Australia and settle in the country to offer a valuable service to a needy relative.

Carer Visa 116: For Overseas Applicants

Carer Visa 116 is identical to subclass 836 where the individual applies overseas on making application for the visa and on being granted the visa. This allows you to move to Australia to care for a relative.

Carer Visa 116 Eligibility Criteria:

• You must apply overseas.
• The applicant should be sponsored by an Australian resident, his/her relative having an Australian full-time need for care.
• The applicant has to satisfy all the eligibility requirements of character and health and must establish the necessity for care which cannot be fulfilled by Australian employees or the local society.

Once you acquire the visa, you can permanently stay in Australia and provide essential proof of needed care to your relative.

Carer Visa Requirements: What You Should Know

To successfully apply for the Carer Visa 836 or Carer Visa 116, applicants are required to satisfy a series of significant requirements:

1. Sponsorship: Your Australian relative should be willing and capable of sponsoring you. The sponsor should also have some minimum qualifications as requirements, i.e., he/she should be a citizen or permanent resident.
2. Health and Character: Sponsor and applicant shall both be eligible to meet health and character standards established by the Department of Home Affairs. Such requirements may cover police clearance as well as medical clearance.
3. Evidence of Need for Care: You are to state that your relative is in full-time need of care that can't be provided by the Australian healthcare system or available staff. This is most often submitted through a medical certificate or letter issued by a medical practitioner.
4. Ability to Care for Your Relative: You will be required to prove that you possess the skills and knowledge to provide care for your relative. This could be through information on your medical qualification or previous experience looking after a person.
5. Financial Requirements: You do not necessarily have to substantiate a level of income in any form to be qualified, but occasionally you will have to show that you can support yourself and your relative.

Carer Visa Processing Time

Most asked about Carer Visa Australia was the duration of processing of the carer visa. Carer Visa 836 and Carer Visa 116 processing will take a lengthy period based on various factors, such as case complexity and how many applications require processing.

Generally, you may expect the following:

• Carer Visa 836: This visa has a processing time of about 12 to 18 months. It is longer if some complexity is added in applying for it or extra documentation is needed.
• Carer Visa 116: Processing of the Carer Visa 116 also takes 12 to 18 months. If the applicants are overseas, there could be additional waiting time depending on the Department of Home Affairs' workload and additional checking.

All documents requested must be lodged and respond by the immigration authorities as soon as possible any request for information in order to avoid delay.

Advantages of the Carer Visa

Carer Visa 836 and Carer Visa 116 both possess some advantages, which are as under:

1. Permanent Residence: Both the visas permit the applicant to stay permanently in Australia and care for their family whenever needed.
2. Right to Work: You can work on a visa and stay in Australia.
3. Access to Medical Facilities: You will be entitled to access Australia's world-class medical facilities with Medicare.
4. Family Sponsorship: After you're established in Australia, you can sponsor other relatives to come and join you based on various circumstances.

Final Thoughts

Australia Carer Visa gives one a great opportunity to look after a dependent loved one while becoming a permanent resident of a beautiful and wealthy country. When applying for Carer Visa 836 or the Carer Visa 116, understanding the eligibility requirements, processing time, and necessary documents can help.

If you are unsure if you are eligible and need help to go through the application process, you may want to consult a registered migration agent to take you through it step by step.