How is the Pacific Engagement Visa different to the PALM scheme?

Permanent residence visa

Aimed at building greater people-to-people, cultural, business and educational links between Australia and the Pacific

Temporary migration program

Allows workers to take up jobs in Australia, develop skills and send money home to families and communities

Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu

Short-term: up to 9 months

Long-term: 1-4 years.

Citizen of a participating country

Must be born in or have a parent born in an eligible country

18-45 years of age to enter the ballot (applicants can include partner and legally dependent children)

Primary applicant selected through the ballot process

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

21 years and over

Sponsored by a PALM scheme employer

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

Primary or secondary applicant must have received an ongoing job offer in Australia to be eligible for a visa (job offer not required to enter the ballot)

Can work for any employer in Australia

Support is provided to connect successful ballot entrants with employers

Employer-sponsored. Must have an offer of employment from a PALM scheme employer 

Workers cannot work with any employer other than their sponsor unless approved by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations

Can work for any employer without restriction

Short-term: up to 9 months (workers must achieve a ‘net financial benefit’ during their stay)

Long-term: 1-4 years

1. Eligible citizens from participating countries register in an annual ballot 
2. An electronic system randomly selects ballot entrants 
3. Those selected from the ballot secure a job offer and apply for a visa

1. Worker registers interest with the participating country labour-sending unit and is added to the country’s ‘work ready pool’
2. Employer undertakes recruitment process
3. Worker applies for an employer-sponsored visa

Employers in the agriculture sector (including in agriculture-related food product manufacturing) can be based anywhere in Australia

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

Any skill level

Relocation costs

PALM scheme worker pays for passport and health check

PALM scheme employer pays for initial worker moving costs (e.g. visa and flights), which they may recoup through deductions from wages after a $300 employer contribution

PALM scheme short-term workers: cannot bring a partner or dependents to Australia

PALM scheme long-term workers: 200 families will be selected for family accompaniment in 2024

Visa holders receive permanent resident benefits, including access to Medicare, public schools, Child Care Subsidy and Family Tax Benefits

No waiting periods for Austudy or Youth Allowance (Student or Apprentice), and access to the Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) and VET Student Loans (VSL)

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

PALM scheme long-term workers who are participating in the family accompaniment pilot have access to Family Tax Benefits, Child Care Subsidy and Medicare

Pre-departure support

Employment Support Service connects applicants with Australian employers 

Pre-departure briefings to provide culturally and language-relevant information about the visa application process and life in Australia

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

The PALM employer must provide an arrival briefing, meet accommodation standards, provide enough hours of work, and ensure the well-being of workers, including supporting connections to community and sporting groups, churches and diaspora groups

PALM scheme workers receive ongoing support from their PALM scheme employers, PALM scheme support service line and Country Liaison Officers/Labour Attachés