The Pacific Engagement (subclass 192) Visa is a permanent visa for eligible citizens of participating countries across the Pacific and Timor-Leste.
Introduced in May 2025, the Pacific Engagement Visa (PEV) aims to grow the Pacific and Timor-Leste community in Australia while deepening the connection between Australia and the region – encouraging greater cultural, business and educational connections.
Up to 3,000 visas which will include partners and dependent children will be available annually to Pacific and Timor-Leste nationals through a ballot process.
The Pacific Engagement Visa has two streams, the Pacific Engagement stream and the Treaty stream (Tuvalu).
The Pacific Engagement Stream
The Pacific Engagement stream allows citizens of Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste to live, work and study in Australia permanently. PEV applicants can be onshore or offshore when applying for this visa.
Pacific Engagement Visa holders may:
- Travel to and from Australia as long as the travel facility on their visa permits
- Sponsor eligible relatives to come to Australia
- Access Medicare
- Apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible
To be eligible for this visa, applicants must:
– Be selected in the Pacific Engagement stream ballot
– Be a citizen and hold a passport of one of the following countries:
- Federated State of Micronesia
- Fiji
- Kiribati
- Nauru
- Palau
- Papua New Guinea
- Samoa
- Solomon Islands
- Timor-Leste
- Tonga
- Vanuatu
– Be born or have a parent that was born in one of the following countries:
- Australia*
- Federated State of Micronesia
- Fiji
- Kiribati
- Nauru
- Palau
- Papua New Guinea
- New Zealand*
- Republic of Marshall Islands
- Samoa
- Solomon Islands
- Timor-Leste
- Tonga
- Tuvalu
- Vanuatu
– Not be a citizen of New Zealand
– Be between 18 to 45 years of age on the date the ballot registration opens
– Hold a substantive visa or bridging visa A, B or C if applying from within Australia
– Have an offer of employment in Australia
– Be able to support themselves and any migrating family members
– Meet English language requirements
– Have complied with previous visa conditions
– Have not had a visa cancelled or application refused
– Meet health requirements
– Meet character requirements
– Have paid back any debt to the Australian Government
– Sign the Australian values statement
* Some countries have been added to the list to recognise eligible citizens that may have been born outside of their country of citizenship in order to access alternative medical facilities.
The Treaty Stream (Tuvalu)
The Pacific Engagement – Treaty stream (Tuvalu) allows Tuvaluans to live, work and study in Australia permanently. Applicants can be onshore or offshore when applying for this visa.
Pacific Engagement Visa – Treaty stream (Tuvalu) holders may:
- Travel to and from Australia
- Sponsor eligible relatives to come to Australia
- Access Medicare
- Apply for Australian citizenship, if eligible
To be eligible for this visa, applicants must:
- Be selected in the Pacific Engagement – Treaty stream (Tuvalu) ballot
- Be a citizen of Tuvalu
- Not have obtained citizenship of Tuvalu due to an investment
- Not be a citizen of New Zealand
- Be at least 18 years of age on the date the ballot registration opens
- Hold a substantive visa or bridging visa A, B or C if applying from within Australia
- Meet English language requirements
- Have complied with previous visa conditions
- Have not had a visa cancelled or application refused
- Meet health requirements
- Meet character requirements
- Have paid back any debt to the Australian Government
- Sign the Australian values statement
Processing Times
Pacific Engagement Visa applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis. Many factors can affect processing times, including:
- The volume of visa applications received
- Any changes to Ministerial Directions
- Whether the application was submitted with all necessary supporting documentation
- How quickly applicants respond to requests for more information
- How long it takes to perform the required checks
- How long it takes to receive information from external agencies particularly relating to health, character and national security requirements
Information About the Ballot Process
Prior to applying for the Pacific Engagement Visa, eligible citizens of Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste must be registered in the pre-application ballot. The ballot gives citizens of these countries regardless of skill level, occupation or gender equal access to the PEV. Individuals are selected randomly making this a fair and transparent process.
Successful individuals will receive a Notification of Selection letter. Applications for the Pacific Engagement Visa must be submitted prior to the expiry date provided in the letter.
To learn more about the Pacific Engagement Visa or any other aspect of migration, contact the team of experienced migration agents at Visa Solutions Australia. Book a consultation.
