Pacific Engagement Visa (Subclass 192)

Eligibility is assessed at two distinct points: when you enter the ballot and when you apply for the visa after being selected.

1. Ballot Eligibility

To enter the lottery, the primary applicant must meet these foundational criteria:

• Age: You must be between 18 and 45 years old at the time you register for the ballot.
• Nationality: You must be a citizen of a participating country (see list below).
• Heritage: You must have been born in, or have at least one parent who was born in, an eligible country.
• Residency: You must currently live in either an eligible Pacific country, Timor-Leste, or within Australia on a valid visa.

2. Visa Application Eligibility (If Selected)

If your name is drawn in the ballot, you must then satisfy these requirements to be granted the visa:

• Job Offer: You must secure a formal, ongoing, full-time job offer in Australia. The position must be genuine and pay at least the Fair Work minimum wage or the relevant market rate.
• English Language: You must demonstrate Functional English. This is typically proven by an IELTS overall score of at least 4.5, a similar score on a different approved test, or evidence of education completed in English.
• Financial Capacity: You must show you have enough money to support yourself and any accompanying family members for your first 12 months in Australia.
• Health and Character: All applicants must pass Australian medical examinations and provide police clearances to prove they are of good character.

Participating Countries and Annual Quotas

The program grants up to 3,000 visas annually. The 2025-26 cycle included the following approximate quotas:

• High Quota: Papua New Guinea (1,350), Fiji (300).
• Medium Quota: Solomon Islands, Samoa, Vanuatu, Timor-Leste, and Tonga (150 each).
• Small Quota: Kiribati, Nauru (100 each), Federated States of Micronesia, and Palau (50 each).
• Special Stream: Tuvalu is managed via a specific "Treaty Stream" under the Falepili Union.