Australia's proposed new visa system

Highlights

• Essential details about Pacific Engagement Visa (PEV)

• List of Pacific Island countries included in the PEV system

• Qualifications for this new visa scheme

Pacific Engagement Visa (PEV) aims to expand the diaspora in Australia, foster stronger people-to-people connections, and promote greater cultural, commercial, and educational interchange.

Pacific Engagement Visa

Under a proposed law that mirrors the "green card" system employed in the United States, Australia intends to establish a lottery to enable 3000 foreign employees to enter the country each year, with the victors being granted a route to citizenship. This new visa scheme is open to people from across the Pacific and Timor-Leste.

This is a two-phase program that requires those who pass the initial stage must secure a job offer in Australia and fulfill requirements to assess their health, character, and fundamental English proficiency before their arrival. Moreover, candidates must fall within the age bracket of 18 to 45.

Scheduled to commence in July, the Pacific Engagement Visa program is currently being deliberated with regional leaders in anticipation of the Pacific Island Forum.

List of Pacific Island countries included in the PEV system

After entering a ballot to apply, the visa will enable a maximum of 3000 individuals from Pacific island nations and Timor-Leste to immigrate to Australia as permanent residents every year.

• Federated States of Micronesia

• Fiji

• Kiribati

• Nauru

• Palau

• Papua New Guinea

• Republic of the Marshall Islands

• Samoa

• Solomon Islands

• Timor-Leste

• Tonga

• Tuvalu

• Vanuatu

Qualifications to apply for PEV

Applicants can include a partner and legally dependent children in their application. To be eligible for the PEV, primary applicants will need to:

• be aged between 18 and 45 years to enter the ballot

• hold a passport from a participating country

• have been born in, or have a parent who was born in, a participating country

• be selected through the ballot process

• secure a formal full-time job offer in Australia

• Meet English language, character, and health requirements

For those residing in Pacific island nations, this presents a promising opportunity. Nonetheless, Australian immigration regulations and criteria are frequently evolving, underscoring the need to consult certified immigration specialists for guidance.