The Pacific Engagement Visa is a permanent residence visa for participating countries across the Pacific and Timor-Leste which aims to deepen connections between Australia and the region.
Up to 3,000 visas, inclusive of partners and dependent children, are available annually to Pacific and Timor-Leste nationals through a ballot process.
The Pacific Engagement Visa aims to grow the Pacific and Timor-Leste diaspora in Australia with ongoing connections to their home countries, strengthen people-to-people links, and encourage greater cultural, business and educational exchange.
For the latest updates on the Pacific Engagement Visa, please visit the official Facebook page.
The Pacific Engagement Visa is different to the Falepili Mobility Pathway - also known as the Falepili visa or Treaty Stream (Tuvalu) visa.
The Pacific Engagement Visa Support Service
The Australian Government is providing a free support service in participating countries to encourage informed participation and drive positive settlement outcomes.
The Pacific Engagement Visa Support Service undertakes program outreach in participating countries to inform prospective applicants about the process and requirements for entering the ballot and obtaining a visa.
The Support Service can help connect PEV applicants with Australian employers and also provides pre-departure support to help PEV holders prepare for their life in Australia.
Connecting with the Pacific Engagement Visa Support Service
If you have been selected in the ballot and invited to apply for a visa, the free Pacific Engagement Visa Support Service is ready to help you find a job and prepare for life in Australia. Please visit pev.gov.au or follow them on Facebook.
Eligibility
To be eligible to apply for a Pacific Engagement Visa (subclass 192) – Pacific Engagement stream, primary applicants will need to first be randomly selected in the ballot.
To register for the ballot, applicants must:
- be aged between 18 to 45
- hold a valid passport for a participating country
- have been born in, or have a parent who was born in, an eligible country
- pay a $25 registration fee.
If randomly selected in the ballot, the primary applicant or their spouse/partner must secure a formal ongoing job offer in Australia and meet character, health and basic English language requirements.
Applicants can include a partner and legally dependent children in their application.
Participating countries
Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, and Tuvalu.
Visa allocations
Visa allocations are based on several factors including population size, diaspora in Australia, existing migration opportunities, expected demand and participating country views.
Visa allocations for 2026–27:
| Country | Places |
|---|---|
| Federated States of Micronesia | 50 |
| Fiji | 300 |
| Kiribati | 100 |
| Palau | 50 |
| Papua New Guinea | 1,350 |
| Republic of the Marshall Islands | 50 |
| Samoa | 150 |
| Solomon Islands | 300 |
| Timor-Leste | 300 |
| Tonga | 150 |
| Tuvalu | 100 |
Pacific Engagement Visa ballot
Prospective applicants can register for the ballot online through the Department of Home Affairs' ImmiAccount during ballot open periods.
The ballot involves an electronic random selection process. Those drawn from the ballot are then invited to apply for a Pacific Engagement visa (subclass 192) – Pacific Engagement stream. Applicants need to demonstrate that they meet all relevant criteria before being granted a visa.
The ballot aims to provide eligible individuals from Pacific island countries and Timor-Leste fair and transparent access to the program by randomly selecting ballot participants. This includes providing access to the ballot for existing Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme (PALM) workers in Australia.
The charge for entering the Pacific Engagement Visa ballot is $25.
If the registered person is not selected from that year’s ballot, a new registration will need to be submitted for participants to enter the next ballot, provided they continue to meet the eligibility criteria.
Further information about the ballot and visa application process is available via the Department of Home Affairs.
Settlement Supports
The Pacific Engagement Visa program includes measures to support a positive settlement experience in Australia. As permanent residents, visa holders have access to Australia's universal health care system Medicare, as well as Government-funded public schools and Commonwealth-supported university places at domestic rates.
Eligible Pacific Engagement Visa holders also have access to a range of benefits to assist with the cost of raising a family and to ease the financial burden of education and training. This includes access to Family Tax Benefit (FTB) which is a payment that helps eligible families with the cost of raising children, and the Child Care Subsidy which helps with the cost of childcare.
The Australian Government has also extended to Pacific Engagement Visa holders' access to the Higher Education Loan Program (HELP), VET student loans (VSL), Youth Allowance (Student) and Youth Allowance (Apprentice) to support participation in study and training. There are no waiting periods for Pacific Engagement Visa holders to access these benefits however visa holders are required to meet eligibility criteria.
All Pacific Engagement Visa holders also have free access to the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) and the Settlement Engagement and Transition Support (SETS) Program which provides settlement-related information, advice, advocacy and assistance to access relevant services.