From today, Papua New Guineans can register for the second annual ballot under Australia’s Pacific Engagement Visa (PEV) — a new permanent migration initiative that signals a significant shift in Australia’s regional strategy. In 2025, up to 1,350 PNG citizens will have the opportunity to live, work, and study in Australia, with long-term implications for both individuals and the bilateral relationship.
The PEV is more than just a migration pathway. It represents a strategic reimagining of Australia’s Pacific presence—one that prioritises people-to-people links, diaspora engagement, and shared prosperity over transactional aid or infrastructure alone.
Papua New Guinea, by far the largest Pacific Island nation, has traditionally been underrepresented in Australia’s migration programs. Despite proximity and historical ties, PNG’s presence in Australia’s labour and skilled migration schemes has remained limited. The PEV directly addresses this gap, creating a mechanism for greater economic mobility, remittance flows, and skills development across borders.
However, this opportunity does not come without challenges. PNG will need to strengthen administrative capacity to support applicants through the ballot and settlement process. There are also legitimate concerns about brain drain, especially from the health and education sectors. But if managed carefully, the PEV could offer a catalyst for workforce development, with returning migrants bringing home both capital and capability.
For Australia, the PEV aligns with broader goals of regional stability and influence, offering a values-based alternative to geopolitical competition in the Pacific. For PNG, it presents a concrete path toward economic inclusion in the Indo-Pacific arc, enabling families and communities to benefit directly from regional integration.
Ballot registration is now open. Full details, including eligibility and application procedures, are available at www.pev.gov.au.