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PALM scheme

The Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme is a temporary migration program, which allows eligible Australian businesses to hire workers from nine Pacific island countries and Timor-Leste when there are not enough local workers available.

Through the PALM scheme, Pacific and Timor-Leste workers take up a range of short-term (up 
to 9 months) and long-term job opportunities (one to four years) in unskilled, low and semi-skilled positions, enabling them to develop skills and send income home to support their families and communities. 

PALM scheme workers are required to depart Australia to reconnect with their families and communities before they are able to return to Australia to participate in any further placements under the scheme. This is for three months following the conclusion of a short-term placement and six months following the conclusion of a long-term placement.  

Pacific Engagement Stream Visa

The Pacific Engagement Stream Visa, known as the PEV, is a permanent residence visa program for participating countries across the Pacific and Timor-Leste.

Each year up to 3,000 visas, inclusive of partners and dependent children, will be allocated through a random electronic ballot process. Those selected in the ballot will be able to apply for permanent residence in Australia, subject to meeting eligibility requirements. PALM scheme workers on valid temporary visas will be eligible to register for the ballot. 

The Pacific Engagement Stream Visa seeks to grow Australia’s Pacific and Timor-Leste diaspora, build on our strong people-to-people links, and encourage greater cultural, business, investment and educational exchange.

Table 1: Comparison between the Pacific Engagement Stream Visa and PALM scheme

Program settings Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) 
scheme 		 Pacific Engagement Stream Visa (PEV)
Purpose The PALM scheme is a temporary migration program allows eligible Australian businesses to hire workers from nine Pacific island countries and Timor-Leste when there are not enough local workers available. It allows workers to take up jobs in Australia, develop their skills and send income home to support their families and communities.  The PEV is a permanent residence visa aimed at building greater people, cultural, business, and educational links between Australia and the Pacific.
Participating countries  Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu Countries participating in 2025: Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, and Vanuatu 
Number of participants https://www.palmscheme.gov.au/
palm-scheme-data		 Up to 3,000 visas each year (inclusive of partners and children)
Application process

Worker registers interest with the participating country labour sending unit and is placed in the country’s ‘work ready pool.’ 

Employer undertakes a recruitment process.

Employers will support workers to apply for an employer-sponsored visa. 

Further details:
https://www.palmscheme.gov.au/
how-apply (for workers)

https://www.palmscheme.gov.au/
recruitment (for employers). 

Eligible citizens from participating countries are able to register in an annual ballot during ballot open periods. 

An electronic system will randomly select from those registered in that year’s ballot. 

Successful registrants, and any partners and immediate family they included in their registration, will be invited to apply for a PEV.
Length of stay in Australia

Short-term: up to 9 months

Long-term: 1-4 years

 Enables permanent stay in Australia
Visa type Temporary Work (International Relations) visa (subclass 403) Pacific Australia Labour Mobility stream Pacific Engagement (subclass 192) visa 
Eligibility

Citizen and resident of a participating PALM scheme country. 

21 years and over.

Sponsored by a PALM scheme employer.

English language (long-term work only), health and character requirements.

Have a qualification, licence, skills, or experience where required by regulatory or licencing standards.

Further details: 
https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au
/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/
temporary-work-403/pacific-
australia-labour-mobility-stream#Eligibility

Citizen of a participating country.

Born in or have a parent born in an eligible country.

Aged 18-45 years to enter the ballot (applicants can include partner and legally dependent children in their application). 

Primary applicant selected through the ballot process.

English language, formal ongoing job offer in Australia, health and character requirements.

Employment

 

Employer sponsored – worker must have an offer of employment from a PALM scheme employer.

Under the PALM scheme visa conditions, workers cannot work with any employer other than their sponsor unless approved by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.

Primary or secondary applicant must have an ongoing job offer in Australia to meet the employment requirement for a PEV (job offer not required to enter the ballot).

Can work for any employer in Australia. 

PEV Support Service is a free resource available to connect successful ballot entrants with employers.
Duration of work placements

Short-term work: up to 9 months. 

Long-term work: 1-4 years.

Employers must be able to demonstrate workers receive a reasonable Net Financial Benefit during their stay, in accordance with the Guidelines. 

 Can work for any employer without restriction.
Location 

Employers in the agriculture sector can be based anywhere in Australia, including employers in agriculture-related food product manufacturing. 

Employers in other sectors must be based in regional or rural Australia.

 No geographic restrictions
Skill level Unskilled, low-skilled and semi-skilled Any skill level
Family/dependants

PALM scheme short-term workers: cannot bring family members to Australia.

PALM scheme long-term workers: a family accompaniment pilot is underway allowing up to 200 workers to bring their families to Australia. 

 Primary applicant can bring a partner and legally dependent children.
Access to benefits

PALM scheme workers (short-term and long-term) must have health insurance.

Participants in the family accompaniment pilot will have access to Family Tax Benefits, the Child Care Subsidy and Medicare.

Support as available to permanent residents, including access to Medicare, public schools, Child Care Subsidy and Family Tax Benefits.

No waiting periods for Austudy or Youth Allowance (student and apprentice), and access to the Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) and VET Student Loans. Eligibility requirements still apply.
Mobilisation costs

PALM scheme workers fund passport.  

PALM scheme employers fund initial worker mobilisation costs (e.g., visa, flights, health checks) which they may recoup from workers through deductions from wages, less a $300 employer contribution.

 PEV holder responsible for all costs associated with moving and settling in Australia.
Pre departure support

Yes

Pre departure briefings provide culturally relevant information in language about employment and life in Australia.

Yes

The PEV Support Service is available to connect applicants with Australian employers and support the visa application process.

Pre departure briefings are available to provide culturally relevant information in language about life in Australia.
Arrival support/welfare and wellbeing requirements

Yes

PALM scheme employer is responsible for providing an arrival briefing; meeting accommodation standards, providing sufficient hours of work; and for the welfare and wellbeing of workers, including supporting connections to community and sporting groups, churches and diaspora groups.

PALM scheme workers receive ongoing support from and through their:

  • PALM scheme employers,
  • PALM scheme support service line,
  • Country Liaison Officers / Labour Attachés

Yes

Settlement support, including through the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) and the Settlement Engagement and Transition Support (SETS) program.