🇦🇺 Australia opens application for the Pacific Engagement Visa

Volare Editorial | July 8, 2026

The Australian government has officially announced the key dates to participate in its new and innovative permanent migration program called the Pacific Engagement Visa (subclass 192), also known by its acronym PEV. The great news is that the registration process is now open and will close next July 29, 2026, kicking off a unique opportunity to reside indefinitely in Australia and deepen ties with Pacific nations and Timor-Leste.

What is the Pacific Engagement Visa

Unlike other temporary labor mobility programs, subclass 192 is a permanent residence visa from the moment it is granted. It allows up to 3,000 people from participating countries, including their spouses and dependent children, to settle in Australian territory each year with all the rights this entails.

The ballot selection process

To guarantee equal opportunities for all interested parties regardless of their professional skill level or gender, the selection is made through a random electronic ballot. For the 2026-27 program year, the registration process officially opened on July 1, 2026, and will close next July 29, 2026. Those randomly selected will receive an official notification and will have a period of 120 days to formally submit their visa application online.

Main requirements for the application

To be able to enter the initial ballot, candidates must meet certain basic requirements:

• Be between 18 and 45 years of age (inclusive) at the time the registration opens.

• Be a citizen of and hold a valid passport from one of the participating countries (such as Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, among others).

• Have been born in (or have at least one parent born in) an eligible country.

• Pay the ballot registration charge, equivalent to 25 AUD.

Once the candidate is selected in the ballot, they must face the formal requirements of the visa, which include having a continuous and formal job offer in Australia (it can be full-time, part-time, or a fixed-term contract of at least 12 months), demonstrating a basic conversational level of English, and passing medical and criminal background checks.

Exclusive benefits of the permanent visa

The beneficiaries of subclass 192 will enjoy a wide variety of advantages that facilitate successful integration into Australian society:

• Possibility to live, work, and study in any city or territory in Australia indefinitely.

• Direct access to the universal public healthcare system (Medicare).

• Access to public education for children and domestic tuition rates for higher education studies.

• Immediate access to certain family tax benefits and assistance without needing to meet the usual waiting periods for new residents.

• Option to apply for Australian citizenship in the future, provided the required residence time is met.