Migration Amendment (Subclass 192 (Pacific Engagement) Visa) Regulations 2024 dated 14 March 2024 amend the Migration Regulations 1994 to introduce a new permanent Subclass 192 (Pacific Engagement) visa which will provide access to permanent residence in Australia for citizens of a number of Pacific island countries and Timor-Leste, and members of their family units.
The regulations also prescribe the requirements to be met for making a valid application for the subclass 192 visa including the requirement that a primary applicant must have been randomly selected in a visa pre-application process relating to the country of which the applicant is a citizen and other requirements to be met in relation to the grant of a Subclass 192 (Pacific Engagement) visa.
The PEV program will offer permanent residency to eligible citizens of participating Pacific island countries and Timor-Leste, and their immediate family members, who have been randomly selected through a visa pre-application ballot process (the rules that apply in relation to the eligibility for, and conduct of, the PEV pre-application ballot process will be set out in the PEV Determination). Entrants successfully drawn in the ballot and their immediate family members are able to apply for a PEV.
As per the Amendment Regulations, in order to make a valid application for a PEV, a primary applicant must
- Qualify as a selected participant through the relevant visa pre-application process
- Be between 18 and 45 years old at the start of the registration period for the applicable visa pre-application process
- Possess a valid passport issued by the relevant country at the time of registration as a participant in that process
- Be born in, or have a parent born in, a specific country listed in Schedule 1 to the PEV Determination
- not be a citizen of New Zealand;
- Submit a PEV application on or before the specified date in the selection notice (indicating success in the ballot)).
The visa application charge (VAC) for the PEV is AUD325 for the primary applicant and AUD80 for each additional applicant included in the application as a migrating family member, payable at the time the visa application is made.
Pacific Engagement Visa endorses the Government’s commitment to enhance Australia’s connections with the Pacific region and will notably raise the number of people from Pacific island nations and Timor-Leste who can obtain permanent residency in Australia.
The Instrument is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation on 19 March 2024 and commenced on 29 March 2024.
To access the instrument, click here.
