The Pacific Engagement Visa (PEV) — subclass 192 — is an Australian permanent residence visa that allows eligible nationals of Pacific island countries and Timor-Leste to live and work in Australia permanently. It is distinct from the temporary work pathways available under the PALM scheme — the PEV grants permanent residence immediately on grant, not a temporary work arrangement.

The PEV operates through a ballot-based selection system to ensure fair and equitable access — applicants must first register in the ballot, and if randomly selected, are then invited to apply for the visa. From 1 May 2025, the subclass 192 has two streams: the Pacific Engagement stream (for Pacific island nations and Timor-Leste) and the Treaty stream (for Tuvaluan nationals only, implementing the Australia–Tuvalu Falepili Union treaty). For current guidance, refer to the DHA Pacific Engagement visa page.

• Migration Regulations 1994 — Subclass 192 (Pacific Engagement) — the visa criteria
• Australia–Tuvalu Falepili Union Treaty — the bilateral treaty implementing Australia's obligations to Tuvalu, giving rise to the Treaty stream from 1 May 2025
• DHA: Pacific Engagement visa (subclass 192) — immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/pacific-engagement
• DHA: Pacific Engagement stream — immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/pacific-engagement-stream
• DHA: Treaty stream (Tuvalu) — immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/pacific-engagement-treaty-stream

Pacific Engagement stream — eligible countries

The Pacific Engagement stream is available to nationals of eligible Pacific island countries and Timor-Leste. The eligible countries are set by the Australian Government and are confirmed on the DHA ballot eligibility page. Tuvalu is covered under the separate Treaty stream (below). For the current list of eligible nationalities, refer to the DHA ballot eligibility page.

The ballot process

To apply for the PEV, an eligible national must:

1. Register in the ballot: Pay the ballot registration fee (AUD $25 — refer to DHA for current amount) and register during the open registration period
2. Be randomly selected: The Australian Government randomly selects registrants from the ballot to be invited to apply. The selection is random and not merit-based — all eligible registrants have an equal chance of selection
3. Apply for the visa: Selected persons are invited to apply for the subclass 192 visa within a specified period. The visa application must meet all substantive criteria (health, character, age, and other requirements)

Registering in the ballot does not guarantee an invitation to apply. Persons who register but are not selected in one program year may be eligible to re-register in the next year's ballot.

Age requirement

The main applicant must be aged 18 to 45 inclusive at the time the ballot opens. Partners and dependent children can be included in the application as secondary applicants — the age requirement applies only to the main applicant.

Annual places

Up to 3,000 PEV places are allocated per program year under the Pacific Engagement stream. This figure includes the main applicant, partner, and dependent children — it is not 3,000 families. The actual number granted depends on application volumes, eligibility, and processing. For the current allocation figure, refer to the DHA PEV page.

Treaty stream — Tuvalu (Falepili Union)

The Treaty stream is a separate stream within the subclass 192 available exclusively to Tuvaluan nationals. It implements Australia's commitments under the Australia–Tuvalu Falepili Union treaty — a landmark agreement acknowledging the existential threat of climate change to Tuvalu and providing a pathway for Tuvaluan nationals to migrate to Australia as part of the human mobility component of the treaty.

• Up to 280 places are allocated to the Treaty stream in the 2026–27 program year — refer to DHA for current allocation numbers
• The Treaty stream has its own ballot, eligibility requirements, and registration window. The Treaty stream ballot for Tuvalu nationals runs from 1 May 2026 to 1 June 2026 for the 2026 ballot round
• The Treaty stream ballot eligibility requirements are set out on the DHA Treaty stream ballot eligibility page

What the PEV grants

The subclass 192 is a permanent residence visa — not a temporary visa. A person granted the PEV can:

• Live and work in Australia permanently without restriction on occupation or employer
• Sponsor eligible family members for permanent residence
• Access Medicare (subject to standard eligibility rules)
• Travel to and from Australia for up to 5 years on the initial travel facility
• Apply for Australian citizenship after meeting the residence requirements

Health and character requirements

Applicants and secondary applicants must meet the standard health and character requirements for Australian visas. Health examinations and police clearances will be required as part of the visa application process.

The Pacific Engagement Visa represents a distinct policy commitment to Pacific labour mobility at a permanent residence level — distinct from the temporary seasonal labour arrangements of the PALM scheme. The Treaty stream for Tuvalu is particularly significant as it provides a climate-linked human mobility framework with no direct equivalent in any other Australian visa program. For the current ballot schedule, eligible countries, and application requirements, refer to the DHA Pacific Engagement visa page. For visa application charge amounts, refer to the DHA visa pricing page.