Australia: New Permanent Resident Visa Program for Nationals of Pacific Island Countries and Timor Leste To Be Implemented
April 30, 2024
Update - April 30, 2024: The government will open the program on June 3, 2024 (later than expected). On this date, Pacific Island and Timor-Leste nationals will be able to apply for the new permanent resident visa program. There will be 3,000 allotted slots for this program and, to be eligible, applicants must secure a formal ongoing job offer in Australia and meet health and character requirements. Once granted, these visa holders will have access to a range of benefits, including migrant settlement services, English language programs, public schools, healthcare and financial support. Further details on eligibility and allocation details are available here.
March 21, 2024: The Department of Home Affairs announced that it will implement the new Subclass 192 – Pacific Engagement visa on March 29, 2024. This will provide an additional pathway to permanent residency in Australia for nationals of participating Pacific Island countries (The Cook Islands, Micronesia, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga, Niue, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu) and Timor-Leste (including their dependents). Through this program, Australia intends to deepen its connections to the region by growing the Pacific and Timor-Leste diaspora in the country and by encouraging a greater cultural, business and educational exchange.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected]
Explore more at Fragomen
Fragomen news
Fragomen’s "Immigration Guide for the UK Tech Sector" introduces visa options available for those working and recruiting in the tech sector.
Blog post
Assistant Business Immigration Manager Shirley Kock and Senior Business Immigration Consultant Eunice Leo examine why applying early for Singapore permanent residency can strengthen long-term outcomes for foreign professionals and their families amid increasing competition and evolving immigration policies.
Blog post
UK Government Affairs Strategy Director Shuyeb Muquit outlines key passport and documentation considerations for British and Irish dual nationals as the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme moves into full enforcement from 25 February 2026, warning that failure to carry proof of British or Irish citizenship may result in boarding delays or refusal.
Media mentions
Senior Manager Géraldine Renaudière highlights how evolving policies and growing talent visa programs are shaping France’s immigration landscape.
Video
Senior Immigration Consultant Adriana Martinez Garro outlines the main visa and residency options available in Costa Rica, offering a practical overview for visitors, remote workers, retirees, investors and families exploring short- or long-term pathways.
Awards
Managing Partner Nadine Goldfoot and Senior Counsel David Crawford are recognized in Uglobal Immigration Magazine’s 2025 Top 25 Global Migration Attorneys list.
Media mentions
Partner Karolina Schiffter addresses the rise in Polish citizenship refusals and the impact of automated decision-making on individual cases.
Blog post
Manager Adam Hickling, Senior Associate Veronica Ciocea and Immigration Consultant Daisy Dale analyse the UK government’s A Fairer Pathway to Settlement consultation and its potential implications for the aviation sector, including proposed changes to Indefinite Leave to Remain, settlement timelines and dependant eligibility.
Media mentions
Partner Parisa Karaahmet discusses how recent US immigration policy changes, including potential impacts on the H-1B lottery, are shaping employer planning.
Media mentions
Media mentions
Partners Isha Atassi and Rahul Soni discuss US investment-based immigration options for Middle Eastern investors.
Fragomen news
Fragomen’s "Immigration Guide for the UK Tech Sector" introduces visa options available for those working and recruiting in the tech sector.
Blog post
Assistant Business Immigration Manager Shirley Kock and Senior Business Immigration Consultant Eunice Leo examine why applying early for Singapore permanent residency can strengthen long-term outcomes for foreign professionals and their families amid increasing competition and evolving immigration policies.
Blog post
UK Government Affairs Strategy Director Shuyeb Muquit outlines key passport and documentation considerations for British and Irish dual nationals as the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme moves into full enforcement from 25 February 2026, warning that failure to carry proof of British or Irish citizenship may result in boarding delays or refusal.
Media mentions
Senior Manager Géraldine Renaudière highlights how evolving policies and growing talent visa programs are shaping France’s immigration landscape.
Video
Senior Immigration Consultant Adriana Martinez Garro outlines the main visa and residency options available in Costa Rica, offering a practical overview for visitors, remote workers, retirees, investors and families exploring short- or long-term pathways.
Awards
Managing Partner Nadine Goldfoot and Senior Counsel David Crawford are recognized in Uglobal Immigration Magazine’s 2025 Top 25 Global Migration Attorneys list.
Media mentions
Partner Karolina Schiffter addresses the rise in Polish citizenship refusals and the impact of automated decision-making on individual cases.
Blog post
Manager Adam Hickling, Senior Associate Veronica Ciocea and Immigration Consultant Daisy Dale analyse the UK government’s A Fairer Pathway to Settlement consultation and its potential implications for the aviation sector, including proposed changes to Indefinite Leave to Remain, settlement timelines and dependant eligibility.
Media mentions
Partner Parisa Karaahmet discusses how recent US immigration policy changes, including potential impacts on the H-1B lottery, are shaping employer planning.
Media mentions
Media mentions
Partners Isha Atassi and Rahul Soni discuss US investment-based immigration options for Middle Eastern investors.