FOR people wishing to relocate down under, the federal government has introduced a visa scheme where thousands of citizens from the Pacific Islands and Timor-Leste will have an opportunity to live and work in Australia each year.
The Pacific engagement visa allows nationals from certain countries to obtain permanent residence in Australia set to take effect in 2024.
People from the Pacific Islands like Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu are all eligible to apply and participate every year.
The annual visa selection process operates through a ballot system wherein shortlisted candidates will then have the opportunity to apply for permanent residence in Australia.
The visa scheme covers the partners and dependent children of the primary applicants.
Applicants must be between 18 and 45 years old and hold a valid passport from an eligible country to qualify
Up to 3,000 people from the region are eligible to apply for permanent residency in Australia.
Applicants should consider the fees and costs associated with obtaining a permanent resident visa as well as the airfares and the cost of moving into another country.
