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Onshore 836
The Carer visa (subclass 836) allows you to stay in Australia permanently to provide daily, long-term care for a relative (or their household member) who has a serious medical condition and no reasonable alternative care. Lodgement and decision must both occur on-shore. A Bridging Visa A (BVA) keeps you lawful—and usually Medicare-eligible—while you wait, but the queue is about eight years due to annual caps.
Criterion | Key points |
Location | You must be inside Australia (not immigration clearance) to lodge and when the visa is decided. |
Age & capacity | Applicant ≥ 18 yrs and physically able to provide continuing personal care. |
Care recipient | Australian citizen/PR/eligible NZ citizen with a long-term (≥ 2 years) medical condition certified via Form 1149. |
No reasonable care | Show community, nursing or hospital services are unavailable or unaffordable. |
Sponsor | The patient (or their partner) aged 18+, settled in Australia. |
Health & character | Standard checks for all applicants. |
Stage | What you do | Tips |
1. Prep | Collect Form 1149, care plan, AoS evidence, police & health checks. | DMO report should be ≤ 6 months old on lodgement day. |
2. Lodge | Lodge your application with supporting documents and pay first VAC | Keep payment receipt; incomplete files delay queue date. |
3. Bridging Visa A | BVA arrives when your current visa expires. | Check conditions—work is not automatic. |
4. Queue date | Department issues queue date ~4 weeks after core criteria met. | Update contact details; queue order is strict. |
5. Long wait | Median wait ≈ 8 years. Maintain Medicare; renew police/health when asked. | Move house? Update ImmiAccount within 14 days. |
6. Final stage | Provide fresh Form 1149 & AoS bond; sponsor income checked again. | Have bond funds ready to avoid extra delay. |
7. Decision | Visa granted while you are in Australia; PR starts immediately. | Celebrate—then apply for Medicare card update. |
Fee item | AUD | Due |
First VAC – main applicant | 2,175 | Lodgement |
Additional applicant ≥ 18 yrs | 1,090 | Lodgement |
Additional applicant < 18 yrs | 545 | Lodgement |
Assurance of Support bond | 10,000 first adult / 4,000 each extra | Before grant (10-year bond) |
Caps & queue: Carer visas share the Other Family cap. Applications with queue dates up to 31 Jul 2023 are currently in final processing.
Estimated wait for new 836 lodgements: ≈ 8 years at present planning levels.
Pitfall | How to avoid it |
DMO report older than six months at lodgement | Get fresh Form 1149 just before you file. |
Sponsor can’t fund AoS bond | Start saving or arrange a bank guarantee early. |
Care recipient’s condition improves | Provide updated Form 1149 showing ongoing need. |
Incomplete care plan | Include roster, backup carer, and how you’ll balance work/care. |
Book a 30-minute consultation with Jade Immigration Lawyers for $250. If you proceed with us, your consultation fee will be credited towards your legal fees. We assist clients Australia-wide and internationally.
Let us handle the paperwork — so you can focus on your future.
Get answers to frequently asked questions about our immigration services and processes. For additional assistance, please reach out to us.
Yes. Once granted, you become a permanent resident with full work and study rights.
Yes, you can enrol in courses, but international student fees may apply until your 836 visa is granted.
No maximum age, but you must be at least 18 and physically able to provide daily care.
You can apply for a different visa at any time, but if that new visa is granted, your 836 application will be withdrawn automatically.