What Happens if My 116 Carer Visa Is Refused in 2026? Refunds and Review Rights
No — if your Carer visa (Subclass 116) application is refused, the application fee is not refunded, and the Australian Department of Home Affairs will tell you in writing why it refused the visa and whether you have a right to have that decision reviewed. That is what the department's official Carer visa (Subclass 116) page states as of July 2026, alongside the reminder that you must be outside Australia both when you apply and when the decision is made.
Do I get the application fee back if my 116 visa is refused?
No. The official page is unambiguous: "We will not refund the application fee if we refuse your application." There is no partial refund tied to how far the case got, and no amount is quoted in the official material, so treat the whole fee as spent once the application is lodged.
The practical consequence is that money and outcome are separate questions. A refusal does not entitle you to the fee back, and paying the fee never entitled anyone to a grant.
What about the second instalment?
The second instalment works differently from the application fee. The department sends the invoice for it only after you have met all other requirements for the visa, and it will not grant the visa unless it is paid. Because that invoice comes at the end of a successful assessment, a refusal usually happens before the instalment is ever requested.
We might consider reducing your second instalment to nil if you can show us it is likely to cause you or the person you are caring for severe financial hardship, and you must send us a request in writing; we will not reduce the second instalment for anyone applying for the visa with you. The official page covers when the instalment is payable rather than any return of it.
What does the refusal letter have to tell me?
Two things, by law of the process described on the official page:
- why the visa was refused;
- whether you have a right to a review of the decision.
Keep a copy of the decision. The stated reason is the only reliable map of what went wrong, and it is also what determines whether reapplying is realistic or whether you are facing a longer exclusion.
Do I have review rights — and how do I find out?
The decision notice is the authority on this. It tells you whether you have a right to a review of the decision. Not every refusal carries review rights, so do not assume the option exists just because you disagree with the reason.
While this is unresolved, one rule from the official page stays in force: do not arrange travel to Australia until the department tells you in writing that a visa has been granted.
Can I just apply again?
You can lodge a fresh application, but the department considers your immigration history when deciding, and having had a visa cancelled or an application refused can itself affect whether you are eligible. A new application is a new decision on new evidence, and it carries its own fee — nothing carries over from the refused one.
Two practical points for a reapplication, both from the official page:
- The Bupa Medical Visa Services certificate is time-sensitive. If you did not include it when you applied, it should reach the department within three months of applying; if it is not on file when the decision is made, the visa will not be granted. The certificate must state that your relative or their family member has a medical condition and requires a certain amount of care for it.
- Written evidence is needed that care is not reasonably accessible in Australia. You must also give written evidence that your Australian relative or their family member does not have reasonable access to care options in Australia.
When does a refusal turn into a multi-year bar?
This is where the stakes exceed the fee. If you cannot prove your identity, the department will refuse the application and might not grant you — or any family member listed on your application — another visa for 10 years.
Separately, the Migration Regulations 1994 include Public Interest Criteria 4020 and 4021, which deal with false or misleading information and bogus documents. A finding against you on that basis generally leads to refusal plus an exclusion period, commonly described as three years in some situations and ten years in others; confirm the period that applies to you against the current official wording, since the department's own page states a possible 10-year bar for identity failures.
What the refusal reason means for your next step
The Subclass 116 criteria in the Migration Regulations 1994 show where refusals most often bite, and each one points to a different next move.
| Where the application failed | What the criteria require | What it means next |
|---|---|---|
| Carer definition (116.221, regulation 1.15AA) | The relative’s long-term or permanent condition means they cannot do at least four activities of daily living, care is not reasonably available in Australia, and you are willing and able to provide direct and continuing substantial care | Fresh medical evidence and care-availability evidence, not a repeat of the same file |
| Sponsorship (116.212, 116.222) | An eligible sponsor who is approved and still valid | A different or better-documented sponsor |
| Health (PIC 4005) | Applicants, and sometimes non-migrating family members, meet the health requirement | Health question to be resolved before any reapplication |
| Character (PIC 4001–4004) | Character requirement for applicants and family members aged 16 and over | Police certificates are requested, not prepared in advance |
| Information authenticity (PIC 4020, 4021) | No false or misleading information or bogus documents | Exclusion period likely applies; check the notice |
One condition attached to the visa is also worth knowing before you commit to a new attempt: condition 8515 may be imposed, which means that after entry you must not stop providing care without a reasonable reason.
This article is general information about how the process works, not advice about your individual case; the written decision notice you receive and the current official pages are what govern your situation, and where the outcome matters to you, an immigration professional can assess the notice itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Subclass 116 application fee refunded if my visa is refused?
No. The Department of Home Affairs states on the official Carer visa (Subclass 116) page that it will not refund the application fee if it refuses the application. The fee pays for the assessment of your case, not for the outcome.
Will I be told why my carer visa was refused?
Yes. The department says it will let you know in writing and will tell you why it refused the visa. That written reason should be kept, because it determines both your review options and what would need to change in a new application.
Does every 116 refusal come with a right to a review?
No. The decision notice tells you whether you have a right to a review of the decision, and that statement governs your case.
If I reapply after a refusal, do I have to pay again?
Yes, in effect — a new application is a fresh decision with its own fee, and nothing from the refused application carries over. The department also considers your immigration history, so a previous refusal can affect whether you are eligible.
Can a refusal stop me from getting another Australian visa for years?
It can. If you cannot prove your identity, the department might not grant you or listed family members another visa for 10 years. False or misleading information under PIC 4020 also carries an exclusion period, so check the notice and the current official wording.
Can I travel to Australia while I deal with a refusal?
Not on the strength of this application. The department advises arranging no travel until it tells you in writing that the visa has been granted, and a Subclass 116 applicant must be outside Australia when the decision is made.