The Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme is an Australian Government initiative that allows approved Australian employers to hire workers from eligible Pacific Island nations and Timor-Leste to fill labour shortages, primarily in agriculture, horticulture, and selected regional industries. The scheme operates through the subclass 403 (Temporary Work — International Relations) visa, PALM stream, and offers both seasonal (up to 9 months) and longer-term (up to 4 years) work arrangements.

The PALM scheme consolidated two previous programs — the Seasonal Worker Program (SWP) and the Pacific Labour Scheme (PLS) — into a single framework on 4 April 2022. No new applications are accepted under the former SWP or PLS streams. For current PALM scheme guidance, refer to the DHA PALM stream page.

• Migration Regulations 1994 — Subclass 403 (PALM stream) — the regulatory basis for the visa
• DHA: Pacific Australia Labour Mobility stream — immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/palm-stream
• DHA: Seasonal Worker Program stream (now closed) — immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/swp-stream
• Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR): PALM scheme — DEWR administers the employer approval and worker placement aspects of the scheme

Eligible sending countries

Workers in the PALM scheme must be nationals of one of the following countries:

• Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Timor-Leste

The PALM scheme is designed as a development partnership — remittances sent home by PALM workers represent a significant income source for these Pacific Island economies, and the scheme includes welfare and return-home obligations for approved employers.

Seasonal versus longer-term arrangements

The PALM scheme offers two types of work arrangement:

• Seasonal arrangement: Workers are placed in Australia for up to 9 months in a 12-month period. This arrangement is used primarily for seasonal agricultural and horticultural work where the labour need is temporary.
• Longer-term arrangement: Workers are placed in Australia for up to 4 years. This arrangement suits industries with ongoing labour needs, including meat processing, packhouse work, and year-round horticulture.

Who can employ PALM workers — employer approval

Not all employers can participate in the PALM scheme. Employers must be approved by DEWR (the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations) to access PALM workers. Approved employers are responsible for:

• Arranging or assisting with flights, accommodation, and pastoral care for PALM workers during their placement
• Ensuring workers are paid at least the relevant minimum wage or award rate for the work performed
• Complying with all Australian workplace laws — including the Fair Work Act 2009
• Ensuring workers return to their home countries after the placement (unless an extension has been approved)

Geographic coverage

PALM scheme employers can hire workers in all regional and rural postcodes in Australia. For agriculture and select agriculture-related food product manufacturing occupations, there are no postcode restrictions — metropolitan employers in these industries can also access the PALM scheme. For other industries, the work must be in regional or rural areas.

The PALM stream and the visa (subclass 403)

PALM workers are placed on the subclass 403 visa under the PALM stream. The visa is employer-specific — PALM workers are approved for the placement with the specific approved employer and must work in the nominated role. Changing employers within the PALM scheme requires a new nomination and approval. PALM workers are subject to the same visa conditions as other subclass 403 holders in the PALM stream, including conditions relating to work, study, and reporting.

Worker protections

PALM workers are protected by the same Australian workplace laws as all other workers in Australia — including minimum wages, leave entitlements, and safe work conditions under the Fair Work Act 2009 and Work Health and Safety legislation. The Migration Amendment (Strengthening Employer Compliance) Act 2024 (from 1 July 2024) also applies to PALM workers — employers cannot use a worker's visa or migration status to coerce or exploit them. For more on the exploitation laws, refer to the migrant worker protections page.

The PALM scheme is a bilateral development and labour mobility initiative — it differs from standard employer-sponsored migration programs in that it includes explicit welfare obligations for employers and an expectation that workers will return to their home countries after their placement. PALM is not a pathway to permanent residence. For the current list of approved occupations, eligible postcodes, and the employer approval process, refer to the DHA PALM stream page and the DEWR PALM scheme pages.