When a parent, sibling or other close relative develops a long-term medical condition, many Brisbane families ask the same question: can I stay in Australia to look after them, or can they bring me here? The answer may be the carer visa subclass 836 (for people already in Australia) or its offshore sibling, subclass 116. Both are permanent visas, both are capped, and both sit in a queue. This guide explains what the Department of Home Affairs actually says, what the queue release date means, and how to plan sensibly.
The Department describes the Carer visa (subclass 836) as a permanent visa that "lets you stay in Australia to care for an Australian relative with a long-term medical condition." The Carer visa (subclass 116) is the offshore version, a permanent visa that "lets you move to Australia to care for an Australian relative with a long-term medical condition" (subclass 836, subclass 116).
The main difference is where you are when you apply. If you are in Australia, the 836 is the relevant subclass. If you are outside Australia, the 116 applies. Both sit within the Other Family visa group, which is separate from partner and child visas.
The Department's page on other family visas sets out one requirement for both Carer visas in plain words:
"They must have no reasonable access to care options in Australia." Department of Home Affairs, About other family visas
That sentence matters. A Carer visa is not simply a way to be near family. The focus is on the relative's long-term medical condition and whether other care options are reasonably available to them. Whether your family's circumstances meet that test is a question of evidence and individual facts, and it is one reason to get advice before you lodge.
The detailed criteria, including who may be sponsored and who may sponsor, are set out on the Department's subclass pages. Read the live pages for subclass 836 and subclass 116 on the day you plan to apply, because requirements can change.
The Department states that "a limited number of Other Family visa places are available each Migration Program year," and that once the places for a program year are reached, no more visas are granted that year. It also says demand for these visas is greater than the places available.
For that reason, the Carer visas are subject to capping and queueing. In practical terms, a valid application may be lodged, but it joins a queue and is released for processing in order, rather than being decided as soon as it arrives. Many families are surprised by this. Lodging an application is not the same as being close to a decision, so it helps to understand the queue before you commit to a plan.
The Department publishes queue release dates for Other Family visas. As at 31/08/2026, it states that it has released for processing "Carer visa applications with a queue date up to 31 December 2023." For comparison, the same page lists Remaining Relative and Aged Dependent Relative applications with queue dates up to 30 June 2013 (Other family visas queue release dates).
Read this carefully. It tells you that Carer applications with an earlier queue date have been released for processing. It does not tell you how long a new application will take, and it is not a promise about timing. The figure is also dated as at 31/08/2026, so check the live page for the latest position.
Families naturally ask how long a carer visa takes. The Department's answer is cautious: processing times for Other Family visa applications "can be lengthy," and "we can't provide exact processing timeframes for these visas."
We will not guess either. Any website that gives you a firm number of months or years for a Carer visa is not relying on a published Department timeframe. What you can do is read the queue release date, understand that capping applies each Migration Program year, and plan around uncertainty rather than around a prediction.
That planning should include your relative's care in the meantime, your own visa position while you wait, and how long you can lawfully remain in Australia on your current visa.
Because the Carer visa is permanent, some people assume it is a shortcut to residence for anyone with a sick relative. It is not. The Department ties it to a relative with a long-term medical condition and to the test that the relative has no reasonable access to care options in Australia. Family closeness alone is not the test.
Another common assumption is that applying onshore means a faster outcome than applying offshore. The Department's page treats both subclasses as part of the same capped Other Family group, and it says it cannot provide exact processing timeframes for these visas. Choosing between the 836 and the 116 depends on where you are, not on speed.
A third misunderstanding is that the queue release date is a countdown. It is a snapshot of how far the queue had been released as at 31/08/2026. It does not set a date for any individual application. If you are comparing advice from different sources, prefer anything that points you back to the Department's own pages, and be cautious of firm timeframes that are not sourced there.
Because these visas are capped and queued, the best preparation starts early and stays realistic. Here are sensible first steps:
Whether you may be able to remain lawfully in Australia while an application is processed depends on your current visa and individual circumstances, so confirm that position with a registered migration agent before you lodge anything.
Migration Star is a Brisbane-based registered migration practice; our principal agent is Rohit Sharma, MARA No. 1797395. We can review your family's situation, explain whether the Carer visa or another pathway may suit you, and help you prepare evidence, without promising any outcome, because every decision rests with the Department. See our services, call us on 07 3519 5619, or visit Level 2, 8 Clunies Ross Court, Eight Mile Plains QLD 4113. A 30-minute Migration Consultation ($165) can be booked at https://www.migrationstar.com.au/book-a-consultation
Information current as at 09/11/2026. Migration outcomes depend on individual circumstances. Visa criteria may change.
Information current as at 09/11/2026. Migration Star is a registered migration practice. Principal agent Rohit Sharma, MARA No. 1797395. Migration outcomes depend on individual circumstances. Visa criteria may change. This article is general information only and does not constitute migration advice. For advice on your specific situation, book a consultation at migrationstar.com.au.
Migration Star | MARA No. 1797395 | migrationstar.com.au | 07 3519 5619