Pacific Engagement Visa: Strengthening ties with the Pacific family

The Albanese Government has taken a major step towards delivering on its commitment to strengthen Australia’s ties with the Pacific family.

A new Pacific Engagement Visa will allow up to 3,000 nationals of Pacific island countries and Timor-Leste to migrate to Australia as permanent residents each year.

Boosting Pacific permanent migration to Australia is an essential part of the Government’s plan to build a stronger Pacific family.

The Pacific Engagement Visa will grow Australia’s Pacific and Timor-Leste diaspora, enhance people-to-people links, and encourage greater cultural, business and educational exchange.

Legislation introduced into Parliament today by the Hon Andrew Giles MP, Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, will enable a ballot to select applicants for the program, commencing in July 2023.

Applicants will register themselves, their partners and dependent children in the ballot, and if successful they will then apply for the visa, providing fair and transparent access to the program.

Requirements for being granted a visa include being aged 18 to 45, having a formal offer for a full time job in Australia, and meeting basic English language, health and character requirements.

The Pacific Engagement Visa is being designed in close consultation with Pacific island countries and Timor-Leste, to ensure the program meets shared needs and priorities.

For further information please see: Pacific Engagement Visa | Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (dfat.gov.au)

Quote attributable to Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Honourable Penny Wong:

“The Government is committed to making a uniquely Australian contribution as partner of choice for the countries of the Pacific – demonstrating we are reliable, we turn up, show respect, listen, and are transparent and open.”

Quote attributable to Minister for International Development and the Pacific, the Hon Pat Conroy:

“The Pacific Engagement Visa is an important change in our permanent migration system and is an important way of building people-to-people links with the Pacific family and deepening ties to the region that’s our home and critical to our future.

We will continue to listen to our partners in the Pacific and Timor-Leste as we finalise the design of the Pacific Engagement Visa and look forward to further discussions.”

Quote attributable to Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, the Hon Andrew Giles MP:

“The Pacific Engagement Visa will deliver on the Government’s commitment to secure our region and build a stronger Pacific Family.

The legislation I introduced into parliament today demonstrates to the Australian community, and to our Pacific family, that stronger Pacific partnerships focused on shared needs and priorities are in Australia’s national interest, and support stability, prosperity and security in our region.”