Australia has allocated to Tonga a total of 150 new Pacific Engagement Visas for 2024, through an online ballot process set to open on 3 June. The Pacific Engagement Visa (PEV) is a new permanent resident visa for participating countries across the Pacific and Timor-Leste, with up to 3,000 visas opportunity to be given every year.

The first ever Pacific Engagement Visa ballot will open on 3 June 2024, inclusive of partners and dependent children, will be made available annually to the Pacific and Timor-Leste nationals through a ballot process.

The countries currently participating in the Pacific Engagement Visa include Tonga, the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

This year, Australia has allocated the highest number of visas to Papua New Guinea with 1350 visas, Fiji with 300, Tonga, Vanuatu, and Solomon Islands with 150, Tuvalu and Nauru with 100, Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia with 50 visas each.

The visa allocations were based on several factors including population size, diaspora in Australia, existing migration opportunities, expected demand and participating country views.

Eligibility

Up to 3,000 applicants will need to first be randomly selected in the ballot, then be eligible to apply for a Pacific Engagement (subclass 192) visa.

To register for the ballot, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs stated applicants must be aged between 18 to 45 years, and hold a valid passport for a participating country have been born in, or have a parent who was born in.

The applicants that will be randomly selected in the ballot, or their spouse, must secure a formal ongoing job offer in Australia and meet basic English language requirements. They will also need to meet health and character requirements before being granted a visa. Moreover, applicants can also include a partner and legally dependent children in their application.

There will be a $25 registration fee to enter the ballot.

Pacific Engagement Visa ballot

The ballot involves an electronic random selection process.

"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."

For that reason, the Australian Government stated that Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme (PALM) workers in Australia can also access to the ballot.

PALM is a temporary migration program, while the Pacific Engagement Visa is a new permanent resident visa program.

“The Pacific Engagement Visa seeks to grow Australia’s Pacific and Timor-Leste diaspora, build on our strong people-to-people links, and encourage greater cultural, business, investment and educational exchange. ”