How Much Does the Subclass 116 Carer Visa Cost in 2026? Two Instalments Explained

According to the Australian Department of Home Affairs' official Carer visa (Subclass 116) page (current as at July 2026), the Subclass 116 Carer visa is not paid as a single upfront amount: the cost is split into two instalments. You pay the first instalment when you apply, and you pay the second instalment only when the department asks you to, after you have met all other visa requirements. The page sets out a starting visa application charge for the main applicant, notes that concessions apply in limited circumstances, and confirms an extra charge for each family member who applies with you. That headline figure is only part of the money you need to plan for, because the department's Visa Pricing Estimator does not count the second instalment or other costs such as health checks, police certificates and biometrics.

What does the Subclass 116 Carer visa cost for the main applicant and family members?

The official page describes the visa as costing "from" a base amount for the main applicant, with concessions applying in limited circumstances. The figure is presented as a starting point rather than a fixed total, and the department points applicants to the Visa Pricing Estimator to see what their own visa will cost.

Family members are charged separately. There is a charge for each family member who applies with you, so the total application charge rises with the number of people included in the application, not just the main applicant.

From 1 July 2026, a lower visa application charge (VAC) applies to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens who lodge a valid visa application. The department charges the lower VAC during the application process in ImmiAccount and recognises eligible applicants by a valid passport from one of the specified countries. Family members are also eligible for the lower VAC, based on the passport of the primary applicant or visa holder who satisfies the primary visa criteria. The primary applicant must hold a valid passport issued by one of:

• Federated States of Micronesia
• Fiji
• Kiribati
• Nauru
• Palau
• Papua New Guinea
• Republic of the Marshall Islands
• Samoa
• Solomon Islands
• Timor-Leste
• Tonga
• Tuvalu
• Vanuatu

The Visa Pricing Estimator remains the department's own tool for estimating the visa cost, but it does not consider the second instalment or other costs, so its result should not be read as the full cash you will need.

How does the two-instalment payment work in practice?

You pay the first instalment when you apply. Although the Subclass 116 application itself is made on paper, the department's step-by-step instructions say the application must be paid before it is submitted, using the online portal payment function in ImmiAccount, and evidence of payment must be included with the application. The department cannot process the application if the correct visa application charge is not paid; in that case it will notify you and, if necessary, return the application.

You pay the second instalment when the department tells you to. The department sends an invoice for the second instalment after you have met all other requirements for the visa. The second instalment is not optional in the sense of being able to ignore it: you must pay it, or the department will not grant the visa. If the application is refused, the department will not refund the application fee.

Who can have the second instalment waived or reduced?

The department might consider waiving the second instalment, or reducing it to nil, if you can show that paying it is likely to cause you or the person you are caring for severe financial hardship. Any request for this must be sent in writing.

This possible reduction does not extend to anyone applying with you. The department will not waive or reduce the second instalment for accompanying family members, so the hardship concession is limited to the main applicant's own second instalment. These outcomes depend on your evidence and the department's assessment, and this article is general information only rather than personalised immigration advice — before relying on a waiver or a concession, confirm the current position on the department's official page or with a qualified professional.

What other costs should you budget for?

For each applicant, you might also need to pay other costs for health checks, police certificates and biometrics. These sit outside the visa application charge itself and are charged per applicant, not only for the main applicant.

Because the estimator excludes both the second instalment and these other costs, a realistic budget should treat the estimator figure as covering only part of the total. The remaining amounts are the second instalment once it is invoiced, plus any per-person health, police and biometrics expenses that arise during processing.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is the Carer visa 116 application charge in 2026?

The Department of Home Affairs' official page describes the charge as starting "from" a base amount for the main applicant, with concessions in limited circumstances and a separate charge for each family member who applies with you. The department does not present a single all-inclusive price in that text, and the current figure is shown on the official page and in the Visa Pricing Estimator. Because the estimator omits the second instalment and other costs, the published charge is not the total you should budget for.

Do I have to pay the second instalment of the Subclass 116 visa?

Yes. You pay the first instalment when you apply and the second instalment when the department asks you to, which happens after you have met all other visa requirements. The department sends an invoice for the second instalment, and it will not grant the visa if the second instalment is not paid.

Can the second instalment be waived because of financial hardship?

The department might consider reducing the second instalment to nil if you can show that paying it is likely to cause you or the person you are caring for severe financial hardship, and you must make the request in writing. This possible waiver does not apply to anyone applying for the visa with you; the department will not reduce the second instalment for accompanying family members.

Is there a separate charge for each family member?

Yes, there is a charge for each family member who applies with you, on top of the main applicant's charge. From 1 July 2026, eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste family members can also receive the lower VAC, based on the passport of the primary applicant who satisfies the primary criteria.

Does the Visa Pricing Estimator include the second instalment?

No. The department's estimator shows what your visa will cost but explicitly does not consider the second instalment or other costs. Other costs you may need to pay for each applicant include health checks, police certificates and biometrics.

Will I get a refund if my Subclass 116 application is refused?

No. The department states that it will not refund the application fee if it refuses your application. The department also cannot process an application where the correct visa application charge has not been paid, and it will notify you and may return the application in that case.

References

Australian Department of Home Affairs — Carer visa (Subclass 116)

Australian Department of Home Affairs — Visa Pricing Estimator (subclass 116)