Eligibility Quiz
Do you have a sponsor who is an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen?
Requirements
Eligibility is split between offshore subclasses (applying from outside Australia) and onshore subclasses (applying while already in Australia). All applicants must be sponsored by an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen who is "settled" (typically residing in Australia for at least two years).
Carer Visas (Subclasses 116 & 836)
These visas are for individuals needed to provide long-term care for an Australian relative.
- Medical Necessity: The Australian relative must have a medical condition that significantly impairs their ability to attend to daily needs (eating, dressing, hygiene) for at least the next two years.
- Professional Assessment: The condition must be certified by a Bupa Medical Visa Services assessment. A standard GP letter is insufficient.
- Unavailability of Local Care: You must demonstrate that the required care cannot be reasonably provided by any other relative in Australia or accessed through Australian health and welfare services.
Remaining Relative Visas (Subclasses 115 & 835)
This pathway is for people whose entire immediate family lives in Australia.
- The Near Relative Test: You (and your partner, if applicable) must have no "near relatives" living outside of Australia.
- Definition: A "near relative" includes parents, step-parents, siblings, step-siblings, children, or step-children.
- Strict Ineligibility: If you have even one sibling or parent living in a third country (any country other than Australia), you do not qualify for this visa.
Aged Dependent Relative Visas (Subclasses 114 & 838)
These visas are for older, single relatives who rely on an Australian family member for financial support.
- Age Threshold: You must be old enough to receive the Australian Age Pension (currently 67 years or older).
- Dependency Period: You must prove you have been wholly or substantially dependent on your Australian sponsor for basic needs (food, shelter, clothing) for at least the three years immediately preceding your application.
- Marital Status: You must be single (widowed, divorced, or never married).
Conditions & Warnings
Extremely long wait times: Carer visas take ~12 years, while Remaining Relative and Aged Dependent visas take ~22 years.
Strict 'Near Relative' test for Subclasses 115/835: having even one sibling or parent outside Australia disqualifies you.
Offshore applicants (114, 115, 116) do not receive a bridging visa and must wait for the decades-long processing period outside Australia.
Qualifications
No language requirement for these family-based permanent residency visas.
Fees
First instalment at lodgement; a second instalment is required before the visa is granted years later.
Program Details
Australia is on our roadmap
We can notify you when we're ready to support Australia.
Key Developments
The Department of Home Affairs updated the queue release dates for "Other Family" visas, with Carer visa applications now released for final processing up to a queue date of October 31, 2023, while Remaining Relative and Aged Dependent Relative visas remain at May 31, 2013.
immi.homeaffairs.gov.au ↗Visa application charges for most Australian visa subclasses, including the Other Family visa stream, increased by approximately 3% as part of the annual indexation of fees.
visasavenue.com ↗The Australian Government implemented a general increase in Visa Application Charges (VAC) across most visa subclasses, including a standard indexation increase for the 114, 838, 116, 836, 115, and 835 family visas.
katsaros.com.au ↗