192 Pacific Engagement visa (subclass 192) – Treaty stream (Tuvalu)

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	Pacific Engagement visa (subclass 192)
Stream	Treaty stream (Tuvalu)
Visa type	Permanent residence
Stay	Indefinitely
Cost	From AUD205 main applicant
Family cost	From AUD50 each
Eligibility timing	Apply within selection-letter deadline
Ballot requirement	Random Treaty stream selection
Age	At least 18
Citizenship	Tuvalu citizen with valid passport
Work rights	Work anywhere in Australia
Study	Study anywhere in Australia
Medicare	Access available
Travel facility	Travel indefinitely from grant
Citizenship pathway	May apply if eligible
Family sponsorship	Sponsor eligible relatives
Visa record	Electronically linked to passport
Processing time	Not yet available
Apply from	Inside or outside Australia

---

Purpose

The Treaty stream of the Pacific Engagement visa allows eligible Tuvaluans to live and work in Australia permanently.

You can apply only after being randomly selected in the Pacific Engagement visa Treaty stream (Tuvalu) ballot.

Eligibility

You must:

• Be randomly selected in the Treaty stream ballot and receive a Notification of Selection letter.
• Apply online on or before the date in that letter. Applicants generally have 60 days to apply; late applications are not accepted.
• Be a citizen of Tuvalu and hold a valid Tuvalu passport.
• Not have obtained Tuvalu citizenship through an investment.
• Have been born in Tuvalu, or have a parent or grandparent born in Tuvalu.
• Not be a New Zealand citizen.
• Be at least 18 when the Tuvalu ballot registration period opens.
• Be outside immigration clearance when applying and when the decision is made.
• If applying in Australia, hold a substantive visa or Bridging visa A, B or C.
• Have substantially complied with previous Australian visa conditions, unless compassionate and compelling circumstances prevented this.
• Meet health and character requirements.
• Repay, or arrange repayment of, any Australian Government debt held by you or relevant family members.
• Sign an Australian Values Statement if aged 18 or over, after reading or having explained the Life in Australia booklet.

The Department considers your and included family members’ immigration history. A previous visa cancellation or refusal may affect eligibility.

A visa will not be granted to an applicant under 18 if this is not in their best interests.

Stay and rights

This is a permanent visa. It allows you to:

• Live, work and study anywhere in Australia indefinitely.
• Travel to and from Australia indefinitely from visa grant.
• Access Medicare.
• Sponsor eligible relatives to come to Australia.
• Apply for Australian citizenship if eligible.

For citizenship purposes, permanent residence starts:

• On visa grant, if you are in Australia; or
• On your entry to Australia using this visa, if outside Australia at grant.

Newly arrived residents may need to wait before accessing some Australian Government payments and benefits.

Family provisions

Include all members of your family unit who want to migrate with you when you submit the application. You cannot add them after submission.

Included family members must generally meet health and character requirements and have complied with previous visa conditions. Family members not migrating may also need to meet health and character requirements.

For visa purposes, family members do not include:

• Parents
• Partner’s parents
• Aunts or uncles
• Cousins

For adopted non-biological children, provide further evidence. Customary adoptions are generally not recognised; Australia recognises adoptions that formally establish parental rights and responsibilities and meet migration-law requirements.

For a child under 18 migrating without a person who has parental responsibility, provide either:

• Form 1229 or a statutory declaration giving consent;
• An Australian court order allowing migration; or
• Evidence that home-country law allows migration.

Cost

• Main applicant: from AUD205.
• Each family member applying with you: from AUD50.

The application is invalid if the correct visa application charge is not paid. Other costs can include health examinations, police certificates and biometrics.

The application charge is not refunded if the visa is refused.

Documents

Prepare documents before applying. The Treaty stream document checklist may assist.

Identity and Tuvalu connection

Provide:

• Current passport pages showing photo, personal details, issue and expiry dates.
• Birth certificate.
• Name-change evidence, if relevant.
• Evidence that you, a parent or grandparent was born in Tuvalu, such as relevant passport personal-details pages or birth certificates.

Character

Provide:

• An Australian Federal Police complete disclosure National Police Certificate if you spent 12 months or more in Australia during the past 10 years since turning 16.
• Overseas police certificates for every country where you spent 12 months or more during the past 10 years since turning 16.
• Military service records or discharge papers, if applicable.
• Form 80 personal particulars for assessment, including character assessment.

Australian police certificates are generally valid for 12 months.

Partner and dependent children

Provide identity, relationship and character evidence for included partners and dependent children.

For a de facto partner, provide either:

• Evidence that the relationship is registered in an Australian state or territory; or
• Evidence of at least 12 months’ de facto relationship before applying.

For married or de facto relationships, provide evidence the relationship is genuine and continuing, such as joint financial, household or residential documents.

For dependent children aged over 18, provide Form 47A and required identity, relationship and character documents.

Document format

• Translate all non-English documents into English.
• Submit both originals and translations.
• Scan or photograph documents clearly and in colour.
• Certification is not required.
• Save multipage documents as one file.
• Attach each document only once.

How to apply

1. Register for the Treaty stream ballot.
2. If selected, use the application link in your Notification of Selection letter or ImmiAccount.
3. Gather documents and complete the online application.
4. Include all family members who wish to migrate with you.
5. Attach supporting documents.
6. Pay the visa application charge.
7. Record your transaction reference number.

Only registered migration agents, legal practitioners or exempt persons may provide immigration assistance. Use Form 956 to appoint or withdraw an immigration assistance provider, or Form 956A to appoint or withdraw an authorised recipient.

After applying

The Department may request further information. You generally have 28 days to respond. If more time is needed, request an extension through ImmiAccount and provide evidence of steps taken to obtain the information.

The Department may request:

• Health examinations
• Biometrics
• Additional documents or information

Do not arrange health examinations until you have been selected and invited to apply. Health examination results are generally valid for 12 months.

If applying in Australia, remain lawful by holding a valid visa. You may receive a bridging visa if your current visa expires while the application is being processed.

Important warnings

• Do not miss the application deadline in your Notification of Selection letter.
• Do not ask for your current visa to be cancelled while an onshore application is pending. Cancellation can make you unlawful and cause your bridging visa to cease.
• Tell the Department promptly about mistakes using Form 1023.
• Notify the Department of changes to contact details, passport, relationship status or an intention to withdraw.
• Removing an application from ImmiAccount does not withdraw it.
• If you leave Australia while the application is processing, ensure you hold a valid visa to return.

Visa decision and travel

You may be inside or outside Australia when the decision is made. The Department will notify you in writing.

If granted, the notification will state the visa grant number, start date and any visa conditions. Keep a copy.

Your first entry must be on or before the date in the grant notification, generally 12 months after grant. If you do not enter by that date, the visa ceases.

Before travel, hold a valid passport or travel document. If you renew your passport, update your details in ImmiAccount before travelling.

The visa is electronically linked to your passport; no visa label is issued. Use VEVO to check visa details, conditions and travel facility.

Obligations in Australia

You and your family members must obey Australian laws.

Visa holders are protected by Australian workplace law and can access settlement support, including the Adult Migrant English Program and Settlement Engagement and Transition Support program.