12 Countries Affected as Australia Closes Applications for 2 Visa Routes

• Australia's Department of Home Affairs closed ballot applications for the Pacific Engagement visa (subclass 192), affecting 12 countries in the 2026-27 cycle
• The Pacific Engagement stream ballot opened on July 1, 2026 and closed on July 29, 2026, while the Treaty stream ballot for Tuvalu closed earlier on June 1, 2026
• The visa offered permanent residency rights to eligible nationals from Pacific island countries and Timor-Leste who wish to live and work in Australia

Australia's Department of Home Affairs closed ballot applications for two streams of the Pacific Engagement visa (subclass 192), with nationals from 12 countries affected by the 2026-27 cycle deadline.

The visa is a permanent residency pathway that allows eligible nationals from Pacific island countries and Timor-Leste to live and work in Australia.

From May 1, 2025, the visa was split into two distinct streams: the Pacific Engagement stream and the Treaty stream, meaning ballots from the 2025-26 financial year onwards are assessed separately under each category.

Australia Pacific Engagement visa: The 12 countries affected

The full list of countries whose nationals are covered under the 2026-27 ballot cycle is as follows:

1. Federated States of Micronesia

2. Fiji

3. Kiribati

4. Palau

5. Papua New Guinea

6. Republic of the Marshall Islands

7. Samoa

8. Solomon Islands

9. Timor-Leste

10. Tonga

11. Tuvalu

12. Vanuatu

Australia visa stream guidelines and ballot execution

The Pacific Engagement stream covers eligible Pacific island and Timor-Leste nationals. Its ballot opened on July 1, 2026 and closed on July 29, 2026.

The Treaty stream applies exclusively to Tuvaluan nationals and was created to fulfil Australia's obligations under the Australia-Tuvalu Falepili Union treaty.

The ballot for this stream closed on June 1, 2026, several weeks ahead of the Pacific Engagement stream deadline.

Tuvalu is the only country that features across both streams. Nationals from the remaining 11 countries on the list fall under the Pacific Engagement stream only.

The Department of Home Affairs confirmed the updated information on its official website.

Australia speaks about assessing Medicare

Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that Australia published a list of 11 countries it holds Reciprocal Health Care Agreements with, covering medically necessary treatment during visits.

Citizens from the listed countries can receive emergency care and treatment for illnesses that cannot wait until they return home.

Proofreading by Funmilayo Aremu, copy editor at Legit.ng.