A new Pacific Engagement Visa will allow up to 3000 people from the Pacific region to migrate to Australia as permanent residents each year, starting in July this year. 

This will be in the form of a ballot that invites applications.

This was announced in a joint media release on 16 February by Hon. Pat Conroy MP, Minister for International Development and the Pacific and Hon. Andrew Giles MP, Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs.

They said that the Australian Government has taken a major step towards delivering on its commitment to strengthen Australia’s ties with the Pacific family.

This new Pacific Engagement Visa will allow up to 3000 nationals of Pacific island countries and Timor-Leste to migrate to Australia as permanent residents each year.

The Pacific Engagement Visa will grow Australia’s Pacific and Timor-Leste diaspora, enhance people-to-people links, and encourage greater cultural, business and educational exchange.

Legislation introduced into Parliament by the Hon. Andrew Giles will enable a ballot to select applicants for the program, commencing in July 2023.

Applicants will register themselves, their partners and dependent children in the ballot, and if successful they will then apply for the visa, providing fair and transparent access to the program.

Requirements for being granted a visa include being aged 18 to 45 years, having a formal offer for a full time job in Australia, and meeting basic English language, health and character requirements.

The Pacific Engagement Visa is being designed in close consultation with Pacific island countries and Timor-Leste, to ensure the program meets shared needs and priorities.

Pacific family

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon Penny Wong said “the Government is committed to making a uniquely Australian contribution as partner of choice for the countries of the Pacific, demonstrating we are reliable, we turn up, show respect, listen, and are transparent and open.”

Hon. Pat Conroy said the Pacific Engagement Visa is an important change in our permanent migration system and is an important way of building people-to-people links with the Pacific family and deepening ties to the region that’s our home and critical to our future.

"We will continue to listen to our partners in the Pacific and Timor-Leste as we finalise the design of the Pacific Engagement Visa and look forward to further discussions.”

While, Hon. Andrew Giles said the Pacific Engagement Visa will deliver on the Government’s commitment to secure our region and build a stronger Pacific Family.

"The legislation I introduced into parliament demonstrates to the Australian community, and to our Pacific family, that stronger Pacific partnerships focused on shared needs and priorities are in Australia’s national interest, and support stability, prosperity and security in our region.”