A method for processing a silicon carbide wafer includes implanting ions into the silicon carbide wafer to form an absorption layer in the silicon carbide wafer. The absorption coefficient of the absorption layer is at least 100 times the absorption coefficient of silicon carbide material of the silicon carbide wafer outside the absorption layer, for light of a target wavelength. The silicon carbide wafer is split along the absorption layer at least by irradiating the silicon carbide wafer with light of the target wavelength to obtain a silicon carbide device wafer and a remaining silicon carbide wafer.