Eligibility Review
We assess your age, citizenship, passport, birthplace connection and family circumstances.
Permanent Residence · Subclass 192
Pacific Engagement Visa Australia
The Pacific Engagement Visa Subclass 192 is a ballot-based permanent residence pathway for eligible citizens of participating Pacific island countries and Timor-Leste.
Applicants cannot apply directly for the visa. They must first register in their country’s ballot, be randomly selected and receive a Notification of Selection from the Department of Home Affairs.
Once selected, you still need to complete the visa application and meet all relevant requirements.
Current Ballot Status
2026–27 registration is closed
Random selections may continue during the selection period until available country allocations are filled.
Registration opened1 July 2026
Registration closed29 July 2026
Random selection period5 Aug 2026 – 26 Feb 2027
Information last checked: 6 August 2026
From Ballot to Visa Application
How We Can Help
Think Higher Consultants can review your eligibility and supporting documents and guide you through each stage of the Subclass 192 application.
Ballot Guidance
We explain the ImmiAccount registration process and help you understand your ballot status.
Job Offer Review
We check whether the proposed Australian employment addresses the visa requirements.
Document Support
We review identity, relationship, English, financial, employment and character evidence.
Visa Application
We guide selected participants through lodgement and further Home Affairs requests.
10 Clear Stages
From Ballot Registration to Visa Application
The ballot and visa application are separate stages. Selection allows you to apply, but it does not guarantee visa approval.
Wait for Your Country Ballot
Each participating country has a published registration period. Registrations cannot be submitted before the ballot opens or after it closes.
Register Through ImmiAccount
Eligible applicants complete the pre-application registration form and pay the applicable ballot charge.
Wait for Random Selection
Home Affairs conducts an electronic selection process after registrations close. Selection is not based on points, occupation, education, gender or professional experience.
Receive the Selection Letter
Selected participants receive application instructions through email and ImmiAccount.
Check the Application Deadline
Read the Notification of Selection carefully and confirm the expiry date.
Complete the Online Application
Use the application link in the letter or ImmiAccount and include all migrating family members.
Upload Supporting Evidence
Provide the available identity, family, English, financial and employment documents.
Pay the Visa Charge
Pay the applicable visa application charge before submitting the application.
Complete Further Requirements
Provide missing employment evidence, health examinations or biometrics when requested.
Monitor ImmiAccount
Check for correspondence and respond to further Home Affairs requests.
Important: Ballot registration does not guarantee selection, and selection does not guarantee visa approval.
Eligibility Changes by Stage
Pacific Engagement Visa Requirements
First, you must qualify to enter the ballot. If selected, a separate set of visa requirements applies.
Requirements to Enter the Ballot
- Be aged 18 to 45 inclusive when the ballot opens
- Hold a valid passport from a participating country
- Register while their country ballot is open
- Submit only one registration in that ballot process
- Pay the ballot registration fee
- Meet the applicable birthplace or parental-birth connection
- Not be a New Zealand citizen
Age note: An applicant who is 45 when the ballot opens can remain eligible even if they turn 46 later in the process.
Requirements After Selection
- Apply within the deadline
- Keep the same eligible citizenship
- Meet employment and English requirements
- Show sufficient financial support
- Meet health and character requirements
- Provide correct family details
- Meet visa compliance requirements
- Clear Australian Government debts
- Sign the Australian Values Statement, if required
Important: The main applicant or partner may meet the employment and English requirements.
Program Snapshot
What Makes Subclass 192 Different?
3,000annual places, including family members
$25ballot registration fee
120days after selection to lodge
0prescribed occupation list requirement
A skills assessment is not generally required, and selection is electronic and random rather than points-based.
2026–27 Program
Eligible Countries and Allocations
Country allocations include the primary applicant, partner and dependent children. Applicants must use a valid passport from the same participating country declared in their ballot registration.
Country allocations can change between program years.
Before Visa Grant
Job Offer Requirement
The main applicant or an included spouse or de facto partner must have a genuine written offer of ongoing employment in Australia before the visa can be granted.
Can you apply before finding a job?
A selected participant may lodge before securing an acceptable job offer where the application deadline is approaching. However, the employment evidence must be provided as soon as possible and the visa cannot be granted until the job requirement is met.
What Type of Employment May Be Accepted?
Permanent full-time employmentYes
Permanent part-time employmentYes
Suitable fixed-term contractMay be accepted
Casual employmentNo
Verbal job offerNo
General promise of future workNo
A fixed-term contract should provide employment entitlements comparable to permanent employment.
Language Evidence
English Requirement
The main applicant or an included spouse or de facto partner must meet the English requirement.
English may be demonstrated through eligible:
- Secondary education completed in a Pacific island country
- Work in Australia for a combined period of at least 12 months
- Study in Australia at secondary level or above for at least 12 months
- Work or study in an approved English-speaking country
- English-language test results
| Test | Minimum Result |
|---|---|
| IELTS | 5.0 in Listening and Speaking |
| PTE Academic | 36 in Listening and Speaking |
| TOEFL iBT | 4 in Listening and 14 in Speaking |
| OET | B in Listening and Speaking |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced | 154 in Listening and Speaking |
No separate minimum score is listed for reading or writing under these test options. Where neither the main applicant nor partner can demonstrate the required level, a PEV English Language Undertaking may be available. Home Affairs may still request an English test in some cases.
No Fixed Minimum Bank Balance
Applicants may need to demonstrate that they can support themselves and included family members during their first 12 months in Australia.
- Expected earnings from the Australian job
- Personal savings
- Bank statements
- A partner’s expected income
- Financial assistance from Australian citizen or permanent resident relatives
The amount considered adequate depends on factors such as family size, location and expected living expenses.
Who Can Be Included?
The selected applicant may include eligible members of the family unit, including:
- A spouse or de facto partner
- Dependent children
- Certain eligible dependent children aged over 18
Parents, parents-in-law, aunts, uncles and cousins cannot be included as members of the family unit.
Include all eligible family members who intend to migrate in the visa application and notify Home Affairs promptly if circumstances change before decision.
ImmiAccount
What Does Your Ballot Status Mean?
| ImmiAccount Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Draft | The registration has not been submitted |
| Ready for payment | Payment must be completed before entry into the ballot |
| Awaiting payment | The BPAY payment has not yet cleared |
| Received | The registration remains in the ballot |
| Selected | You have been selected and may apply |
| Visa application submitted | The visa application has been lodged |
| Selection expired | You were selected but did not apply within the permitted period |
| Expired | The selection process has ended for that registration |
Home Affairs emails selected participants, but applicants should continue checking their ImmiAccount and ensure their contact details remain current.
Location Rules
Applying From Inside Australia
Selected applicants may apply from inside or outside Australia.
An applicant applying from Australia must generally hold a substantive visa, Bridging Visa A, Bridging Visa B or Bridging Visa C.
The applicant cannot be in immigration clearance when applying or when the visa is decided.
Permanent Residence
Pacific Engagement Visa Benefits
Live, work and study anywhere in Australia
Access Medicare
Use government-funded public education
Access eligible settlement services
Sponsor eligible relatives
Apply for Australian citizenship when eligible
Travel to and from Australia during the initial five-year travel facility
After the initial five-year travel facility expires, a Resident Return Visa may be required for future overseas travel unless the person has become an Australian citizen. Eligibility for payments, loans and other government services remains subject to the rules of each program.
Fees and Timing
Cost and Processing Time
Ballot and Visa Charges
Ballot registrationAUD 25
Visa application chargeCheck current pricing
Additional family applicantsCheck current pricing
The ballot fee is not refunded if the applicant is not selected.
Other possible expenses include police certificates, health examinations, biometrics, English testing, document translations and professional assistance.
Use the Think Higher Visa Fee Estimator →No Single Guaranteed Timeframe
Processing times vary between applicants. The assessment period may depend on:
- Application completeness
- Employment evidence
- Health and character checks
- Family composition
- Document verification
- Response time to further requests
- Information received from external agencies
The ballot selection period and visa processing period are separate. Avoid making non-refundable travel plans before receiving the visa decision.
Tuvalu280places each year
Separate Subclass 192 Stream
Treaty Stream for Tuvalu
Subclass 192 also has a separate Treaty stream for eligible Tuvalu citizens under the Australia–Tuvalu Falepili Union.
The Treaty stream uses a separate ballot and has different eligibility and visa arrangements. Up to 280 places are available to Tuvalu nationals each year, including partners and dependent children.
The 2026 Treaty stream ballot closed on 1 June 2026, with random selections scheduled between 9 June 2026 and 30 June 2027.
Tuvalu applicants should check which Subclass 192 stream applies to their circumstances before registering.
Protect Your Application
Avoid Pacific Engagement Visa Scams
No individual, employer or organisation can guarantee random ballot selection.
Use official government channels and check the registration of anyone providing immigration assistance.
Be cautious of anyone who:
- Promises a guaranteed ballot result
- Claims to control the selection process
- Sells a guaranteed Australian job offer
- Uses unofficial registration links
- Requests your ImmiAccount password
- Demands payment without explaining the service provided
Why Think Higher
Why Choose Think Higher Consultants?
Registered Agent
Receive guidance from Registered Migration Agent Aneel Khowaja, MARN 1571699.
11+ Years’ Experience
Our team has more than 11 years of experience in Australian migration matters.
Selection Review
We explain the difference between ballot registration, random selection and visa eligibility.
Job Evidence
We assess whether the proposed employment documents address the relevant requirements.
Family Support
We help organise partner, child, relationship and dependency evidence.
Application Guidance
We assist with ImmiAccount lodgement and Home Affairs requests after selection.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What Happens if I Am Not Selected?
You cannot lodge a visa application using that ballot registration. You may register in a future ballot if your country participates and you continue to meet the requirements.
Is the Ballot Fee Refundable?
No. The AUD 25 registration charge is not refunded where the applicant is not selected.
Do I Need a Points Score or Skills Assessment?
No points test or prescribed occupation list applies to the ballot. However, selected applicants must still meet all visa requirements.
What Happens if I Cannot Find a Job Before the Application Deadline?
You may lodge the application before securing an acceptable job offer. However, the employment requirement must be met before the visa can be granted.
Does the Government Support Service Prepare My Visa Application?
No. The PEV Support Service may assist with employer connections and settlement preparation, but the applicant remains responsible for meeting the visa requirements and providing supporting evidence.
Can PALM Workers Register?
Yes. PALM workers may register if they meet the same ballot requirements as other applicants. They do not receive automatic selection or priority.
Can a Migration Agent Guarantee Selection?
No. The ballot is random, and no migration agent can influence or guarantee the outcome.
Can a Migration Agent Help After Selection?
Yes. A registered migration agent can assess visa eligibility, review the job offer and supporting documents, and assist with the application before the selection deadline.
Subclass 192 Assessment
Get Help With Your Pacific Engagement Visa Application
Random selection is only the first stage. The visa application must still satisfy the employment, English, financial, health, character and family requirements.
Think Higher Consultants can assess your circumstances, review your evidence and guide you through the Pacific Engagement Visa application after selection.
Eligibility reviewSelection status guidanceJob offer reviewFamily and document support