Australia’s Pacific Engagement Visa (PEV) is gaining traction, with over 50,000 applicants vying for 2,700 available spots. This new visa category allows Pacific Islanders to move permanently to Australia along with their families, provided they pass health checks and secure a job for the first year.
Stephen Howes, director of the Development Policy Centre at the Australian National University, shared insights on the program. He noted that the ballot attracted 56,127 applicants for the limited visas, averaging 21 applicants per visa. If each primary applicant includes family members, the actual number of individuals seeking each visa could be around 50.
While the response has been positive for the initial ballot, there are concerns as some applicants are left disappointed. Howes emphasized the simplicity and low cost of the application process, which may yield continued interest in upcoming opportunities.
In terms of requirements, applicants must have a job offer for at least one year, making it challenging for those currently overseas. However, the Australian government has established an employment matching service to assist applicants in finding suitable jobs.
The motivation behind launching the PEV lies in strengthening the Pacific diaspora in Australia, mirroring similar schemes in New Zealand. With demands for better access from Pacific nations and underlying factors such as climate change and geopolitical competition, this visa serves as a unique opportunity Australia can provide, unlike alternatives offered by China.
The popularity of the PEV is evident in the application rates from specific countries, with around 20 percent of applicants from Tuvalu and 13 percent from Tonga. Papua New Guinea secured the largest allocation of 1,350 visas, illustrating a need for possibly increasing its quota to accommodate demand.
Despite the success of the ballot this year, several countries like the Republic of the Marshall Islands opted not to participate, leaving some visas unallocated; however, these may be redistributed to other nations with higher demand.
Furthermore, the PEV did not attract enough applicants from the Federated States of Micronesia and Palau, which have pre-existing labor market access in the U.S. Overall, the first phase of the PEV indicates a promising future for the program and its potential to evolve in response to regional needs.