Other Family Visas (Subclasses 114, 838, 116, 836, 115, 835)

Applying for an "Other Family" visa is a two-stage journey: first, you must meet the core criteria to be placed in a "queue," and then you must wait for a visa place to become available. Because these visas are subject to strict annual limits, the wait times are exceptionally long.

Step 1: Determine Your Location and Subclass

You must decide whether you are applying from outside Australia (offshore) or from within Australia (onshore). Note that if you apply onshore, your current visa must not have a Condition 8503 (No Further Stay) restriction.

• Carer Visas: Use Subclass 116 (offshore) or Subclass 836 (onshore).
• Remaining Relative Visas: Use Subclass 115 (offshore) or Subclass 835 (onshore).
• Aged Dependent Relative Visas: Use Subclass 114 (offshore) or Subclass 838 (onshore).

Step 2: Prepare Your Evidence

Gather documents proving your relationship to your sponsor and your specific eligibility:

• For Carer Visas: You must first arrange a medical assessment through Bupa Medical Visa Services. They must certify that your Australian relative has a medical condition requiring care for at least two years.
• For Remaining Relative Visas: Gather birth certificates and family trees to prove you have no "near relatives" (parents, siblings, or non-dependent children) living outside of Australia.
• For Aged Dependent Relative Visas: Provide financial records proving you have been 100% dependent on your Australian sponsor for the 3 years immediately before applying.

Step 3: Lodge the Paper Application

Currently, these applications must be submitted via a paper form.

1. Download and complete Form 47OF (for offshore applicants) or Form 47BT (for onshore applicants).
2. Your sponsor must complete Form 40.
3. Pay the First Instalment of the visa application charge through the ImmiAccount "Manage Payments" section.
4. Mail your completed forms and supporting documents to the Perth Visa and Processing Centre.

Step 4: Queueing and Bridging Visas

The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) will review your application to see if you meet the basic requirements.

• If you do, you will be given a Queue Date.
• Onshore applicants will generally receive a Bridging Visa, allowing them to remain in Australia during the long processing period.
• Offshore applicants must remain outside Australia while waiting.

Step 5: Final Assessment and Grant

When your Queue Date is reached (which may be many years later), the DHA will contact you to:

1. Provide updated police checks and medical exams.
2. Finalize the Assurance of Support (AoS) through Services Australia, which involves your sponsor (or another person) providing a financial bond.
3. Pay the Second Instalment of the visa fee.

The total cost is paid in two separate stages. The second instalment is only requested at the very end of the process, right before the visa is granted.

Item	Cost (AUD)
First Instalment (Main Applicant)	$5,280
Second Instalment (Per Applicant)	$2,065
Bupa Medical Assessment (Carer Visas only)	Varies by location
Assurance of Support Bond	Varies (Refundable after 2 years)

Total Estimate: Approximately $7,345 per adult applicant (excluding the AoS bond). Does not include: Costs for police certificates, standard medical exams, translations of non-English documents, or professional migration advice.

These visas have some of the longest wait times in the world due to annual government caps.

Visa Category	Current Queue Date Being Processed	Estimated Wait for New Applicants
Carer (116/836)	Applications from October 2023	12 years
Remaining Relative (115/835)	Applications from May 2013	22 years
Aged Dependent Relative (114/838)	Applications from May 2013	22 years

Document Validity: Do not obtain police clearances or medical exams until the Department specifically asks for them. These documents usually expire after 12 months, and because of the decade-long wait, they would become invalid long before your visa is ready for a decision.