Pacific Engagement Visa (subclass 192)

Permanent Residency for Citizens of Pacific Island Countries and Timor-Leste

The Subclass 192 visa, also known as the Pacific Engagement Visa, allows eligible nationals from Pacific island countries and Timor-Leste to live and work in Australia permanently. It is part of Australia’s commitment to strengthening regional ties and supporting economic development through migration.

Key Benefits

• Permanent Residency
  Live, work, and study in Australia indefinitely.
• Family Inclusion
  Include your spouse and dependent children in your visa application.
• No Points Test or Employer Sponsorship
  Selection is based on a ballot system, not points or job offers.
• Annual Ballot System
  Fair and transparent selection process for eligible applicants.
• Pathway to Citizenship
  Eligible to apply for Australian citizenship after meeting residency requirements.

Eligibility Criteria

To apply for Subclass 192, you must meet the following:

General Requirements

• Be a citizen of a participating Pacific island country or Timor-Leste.
• Be 18 years or older at the time of ballot registration.
• Register in the annual ballot and be randomly selected.
• Submit a visa application within 120 days of selection.
• Meet health and character
• Hold a valid passport from your country of citizenship.

Visa Streams

1. Pacific Engagement Stream

• Open to nationals from:
  • Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Micronesia.
• Ballot registration for 2025–26 opened on 28 July 2025 and closes on 25 August 2025

2. Treaty Stream (Tuvalu Only)

• For Tuvaluan nationals under the Australia–Tuvalu Falepili Union Treaty
• Ballot closed on 18 July 2025. Future ballots will be held annually.

Visa Conditions

• Permanent Residency: You can live, work, and study in Australia without restrictions.
• Travel Facility: Travel freely for 5 years from the visa grant date. After that, apply for a Resident Return Visa (RRV).
• Family Inclusion: Eligible family members can be included in your visa application.
• Ballot-Based Selection: You must be selected in the ballot before applying for the visa.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)