Make a family Dream

Applicants can include a partner and legally dependent children in their application.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

When will the PEV ballot commence?

The ballot will commence on 3 June 2024, once all legislative and administrative arrangements for the visa are in place. Please continue to check this webpage for official updates from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

What is the Pacific Engagement Visa?

The Pacific Engagement Visa will be a new permanent resident visa for participating countries across the Pacific and Timor-Leste.

Up to 3,000 visas, inclusive of partners and dependent children, will be allocated annually to Pacific and Timor-Leste nationals through a ballot process.

The Pacific Engagement Visa will grow the Pacific and Timor-Leste diaspora in Australia, build on our strong people-to-people links, and encourage greater cultural, business, and educational exchange.

Which countries will be involved?

Countries participating in the first Pacific Engagement visa ballot will include:

Federated States of Micronesia

Fiji

Nauru

Palau

Papua New Guinea

Solomon Islands

Timor-Leste

Tonga

Tuvalu

Vanuatu.

Up to 3000 visa places, inclusive of partners and dependent children, will be allocated annually through a ballot process.

The Australian Government continues to consult Pacific countries and Timor-Leste on their interest in participating in the program.

How will country allocations be determined?

Visa allocations will be based on several factors, including population size, diaspora in Australia, existing migration opportunities, expected demand, and participating country views.

Allocations will be a decision for the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister for International Development and the Pacific.

The government will be consulting further with Pacific partners on their inclusion and country allocations to ensure the program is delivering on shared needs and objectives.

What is the Pacific Engagement Visa ballot?

The ballot is an electronic random selection process, with successful entrants and their immediate family members able to apply for a Pacific Engagement Visa.

The ballot aims to provide eligible individuals from Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste with 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.

Will visa holders be able to live and work anywhere in Australia?

Yes. This visa is a permanent resident visa, and therefore applicants will be free to choose where they live, work, and study in Australia. There are no restrictions on work location, industry, type of work, or employer.

What settlement support will be available?

The Pacific Engagement Visa program will include measures to support a positive settlement experience.

Planned supports include help to find work in Australia and access to a range of benefits to support the cost of raising a family and ease the financial burden of education and training. This includes access to student loans and support payments while studying.

This is in addition to the services and supports available to permanent residents upon arrival in Australia, including access to Australia’s universal health care and public schools.

How will participants be supported to find employment and prepare for life in Australia?

The Australian Government will establish a service in the Pacific to connect successful applicants with employers in Australia, providing access to a variety of roles at a range of skill levels.

The resource will also guide successful applicants through the visa application process, deliver culturally and language-relevant program outreach, and inform applicants about life in Australia.