Guide to Ballot Registration
The Australian Government has introduced the Pacific Engagement Visa (PEV) – Subclass 192 to strengthen people-to-people links between Australia and participating Pacific nations and Timor-Leste. This permanent visa program provides eligible citizens with the opportunity to live and work in Australia through a fair and transparent ballot process.
For the 2026–27 program year, the Pacific Engagement Visa ballot will open on 1 July 2026 and close on 29 July 2026. Following the closure of the ballot period, registrations will be randomly selected, and successful participants will be invited to lodge a visa application.
What is the Pacific Engagement Visa (Subclass 192)?
The Pacific Engagement Visa (PEV) Subclass 192 is a permanent visa pathway available to eligible citizens from participating Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste.
To ensure equal access to this program, applicants are required to first participate in a pre-application ballot process. The ballot system provides a fair and transparent method of selecting visa applicants regardless of:
- Skill level;
- Occupation;
- Gender; or
- Other socioeconomic factors.
The Australian Government allocates up to 3,000 visa places each year, including places for partners and dependent children.
Being selected in the ballot does not automatically grant a visa. Rather, successful participants receive an invitation to submit a visa application.
Important Dates for the 2026–27 Ballot
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Ballot Opening Date | 1 July 2026 |
| Ballot Closing Date | 29 July 2026 |
| Ballot Selection Process | After the ballot closes |
| Visa Application Period | Upon receiving a Notification of Selection Letter |
Ballot Registration Fee
Applicants are required to pay a ballot registration fee of AUD 25.
Step-by-Step Pacific Engagement Visa Process
1. Ballot Opens
Each participating country has its own separate ballot.
The Department of Home Affairs publishes information regarding the opening and status of each country’s ballot on the Pacific Engagement Visa Country Ballot Status page.
2. Register in the Ballot
When the ballot is open, eligible citizens may submit their registration through ImmiAccount.
Registrations:
- Can only be lodged during the open registration period;
- Cannot be submitted before or after the ballot period;
- Must be lodged only once in each ballot process.
3. Random Ballot Selection
Once registrations close, the Department conducts a random selection process for each participating country.
The opening and closing dates of the selection process are published on the Pacific Engagement Visa Country Ballot Status page.
Applicants selected through the ballot will receive a Notification of Selection Letter from the Department.
4. Apply for the Visa
Selected participants may use the link provided in the Notification of Selection Letter to lodge their visa application.
The visa application must be lodged before the invitation expiry date specified in the letter.
Who Can Register in the Pacific Engagement Visa Ballot?
To be eligible for ballot registration, applicants must satisfy all of the following requirements.
Age Requirement
Applicants must be:
- Between 18 and 45 years of age (inclusive) at the commencement of the ballot registration period for their country.
Passport Requirement
Applicants must hold a valid passport issued by one of the following participating countries:
- Federated States of Micronesia
- Fiji
- Kiribati
- Palau
- Papua New Guinea
- Republic of Marshall Islands
- Samoa
- Solomon Islands
- Timor-Leste
- Tonga
- Tuvalu
Birth or Parentage Requirement
Applicants must either:
- Have been born in one of the countries listed below; or
- Have at least one parent who was born in one of the countries listed below.
Eligible countries include:
- Australia*
- Federated States of Micronesia
- Fiji
- Kiribati
- Nauru
- Palau
- Papua New Guinea
- New Zealand*
- Republic of Marshall Islands
- Samoa
- Solomon Islands
- Timor-Leste
- Tonga
- Tuvalu
- Vanuatu
Why are Australia and New Zealand Included?
Some eligible citizens were born in Australia or New Zealand because their parents temporarily accessed medical services there. The inclusion of Australia and New Zealand recognises these circumstances.
New Zealand Citizens Are Not Eligible
Applicants must:
- Not be citizens of New Zealand.
Multiple Registrations Not Permitted
Applicants:
- Must not already be registered in the same Pacific Engagement Visa ballot.
Only one registration is allowed in each ballot process.
Payment of Ballot Fee
Applicants must pay the prescribed ballot registration fee of AUD 25.
Can You Register While Outside Australia?
Yes.
Eligible individuals may register while:
- Inside Australia; or
- Outside Australia.
Location does not affect eligibility.
Ballot Registration Period
To register in the ballot, applicants must possess a valid passport.
The nationality shown on the passport determines which country ballot the applicant enters.
Applicants can register:
- Only while their country’s registration period remains open; and
- Only once in each ballot process.
After the ballot closes, no further registrations can be submitted.
The Department conducts annual ballots for participating countries. Applicants who miss the registration period may be able to register in a future year provided they continue to satisfy the eligibility requirements.
Including Family Members
Eligible family members may also participate in the process.
Examples include:
- Spouses; and
- Children aged 18 years or older.
Such family members may register separately.
A ballot registration may include:
- The principal applicant; and
- The number of eligible members of the family unit who intend to apply for the Subclass 192 visa with the principal applicant.
If selected in the ballot, the person whose registration was selected becomes the main applicant and may include members of the family unit in the visa application.
Adoption Cases and Non-Biological Children
Where an applicant includes a non-biological child as a member of the family unit through adoption, additional evidence must be provided.
Formal Adoption
Under a formal adoption:
- The adopted child becomes the legal child of the adoptive parents; and
- The child becomes a legal member of the adoptive family.
Formal adoptions may be recognised for Australian migration purposes provided they satisfy relevant legal requirements.
Customary Adoption
Customary adoptions are generally not recognised in Australia.
Australia recognises adoptions that formally establish parental rights and responsibilities and comply with specific legal requirements under Australian migration law.
Applicants relying on adoption should ensure adequate supporting documentation is available.
Who Is Not Considered a Member of the Family Unit?
For visa purposes, the following relatives are not regarded as members of the family unit:
- Parents;
- Parents of a partner;
- Aunts;
- Uncles; and
- Cousins.
These relatives cannot be included in a Pacific Engagement Visa (Subclass 192) application.
Need Professional Assistance?
7 Stars Global Migration
Mian M. Z. Rafi
Registered Migration Agent (MARN: 2519146)
📧 Email: consult@7starsgm.com.au
🌐 Website: www.7starsgm.com.au
📱 Mobile: +61 449 090 009