The Pacific Engagement Visa program increases permanent migration to Australia from the Pacific and Timor-Leste. The program will grow Pacific and Timor-Leste communities in Australia, deepening links between our people and boosting business, cultural and educational ties.
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What is the Pacific Engagement Visa?
The Pacific Engagement (subclass 192) visa is a new permanent residence visa for eligible citizens of participating Pacific countries and Timor-Leste.
The Australian Government will provide up to 3,000 Pacific Engagement Visas, inclusive of partners and dependent children, each year through a ballot process. Those randomly selected from the ballot will be invited to apply for a visa.
Applying for a Pacific Engagement Visa is a 2-step process:
- Applicants must first register for the Pacific Engagement Visa ballot.
- Registered participants randomly selected from the ballot can apply for the visa.
Before being granted a visa, you must prove you meet all criteria, including having a formal ongoing job offer and meeting health, character and English language requirements.
You must be an eligible citizen of a participating country to register for the ballot and apply for a Pacific Engagement Visa.
The countries participating in the Pacific Engagement Visa program in 2024 are:
With this visa, you and your family can live, work and study anywhere in Australia. There are no restrictions on work location, industry, type of work or employer. Partners also have work rights.
As permanent residents, your children can enrol in public schools and you’ll have access to Australia’s universal public health system and other benefits to help with the cost of raising a family in Australia.
As Pacific Engagement Visa holders, you will also have access to additional benefits to help with the cost of studying and training.
Before entering the ballot, you need to know that as a visa holder you will be responsible for all costs of moving to and settling in Australia. These costs will include things like passports, flights, visas, police and health checks, and accommodation in Australia.
The current charge for a Pacific Engagement Visa is AU$325 for the primary applicant and $80 for each dependent. Other costs will vary depending on which country you live in and the size of your family.
Once you arrive in Australia, there are further costs that you will need to cover. These can include rent and rental bond, household furniture, school supplies and uniforms, food and so on.
Registering for the Pacific Engagement Visa ballot
Before you can apply for a Pacific Engagement Visa, you need to register in the ballot and be randomly selected.
The cost to enter the ballot is AU$25.
The ballot gives everyone an equal chance of being able to apply for a Pacific Engagement Visa. A ballot is a fair and transparent process and ensures access for people of any skill level, occupation and gender.
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More information regarding the ballot and visa processes, visa charges and requirements can be found on the Department of Home Affairs’ website.
What do I need to know before I register for the ballot?
Before you register for the ballot, you should make sure you and any partner and/or dependents you include in your application will be able to meet the conditions of the visa, including passing health and character checks. You (or your partner) will also need to meet the English language requirement for the visa and be prepared to find a job in Australia.
You should also have a good understanding of what is involved in moving to Australia.
To be eligible to register in the Pacific Engagement Visa ballot, you need to:
- be a citizen of a participating country and have a passport for that country
- be between the ages of 18 and 45 when the ballot opens
- have been born in, or have a parent born in, an eligible country, Australia or New Zealand
- be able to afford the AU$25 registration fee as well as the visa, moving and settlement costs involved in migrating to Australia.
You can include your partner and legally dependent children in your ballot registration.
Support to find a job and settle in Australia
The Australian Government has established a free Pacific Engagement Visa Support Service in each participating country to help participants selected from the ballot:
- understand the visa process and requirements
- find a job in Australia so you can meet the employment requirement for the visa
- prepare to move to and settle in Australia.
Information sessions in your country will help you prepare for work in Australia. These sessions will help you understand:
- the types of job opportunities in different regions
- what it’s like to work in Australia
- how to apply for a new job, including writing your resume (CV) and how to succeed at an interview.
You will also be able to connect with employers to discuss job opportunities and specific requirements for employment.
Find out more about our employment support services.
On arrival in Australia, there are a wide range of services and supports available that you, your partner and family can access as Pacific Engagement Visa holders. These include:
- Medicare
- Public schools and Commonwealth-supported university places
- Family Tax Benefit Parts A and B to help with the cost of raising children
- Child Care Subsidy to help with the cost of child care
- Tertiary student loans such as the Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) and Vocational Education and Training Student Loans (VSL)
- Financial supports while studying and training, including Youth Allowance (Student), Youth Allowance (Apprentice) and Austudy
You will also have access to the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) and the Settlement Engagement and Transition Support (SETS) Program, which provides information about settling in Australia, including advice, advocacy and help with accessing services.
How does the Pacific Engagement Visa differ from the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme?
The Pacific Engagement Visa is a permanent residence visa for citizens of Pacific countries and Timor-Leste. Although there is a job requirement for the visa, it is not a labour mobility program. It is designed to grow Pacific and Timor-Leste communities in Australia with ongoing connections to their home countries.
By comparison, the PALM scheme is a temporary migration program that will continue to help meet workforce shortages in rural and regional Australia, support the economic development of Pacific countries, and build skills for when workers return home.
Eligible PALM scheme workers in Australia on valid temporary visas can register for the Pacific Engagement Visa ballot when it is open.