Australia has announced a significant improvement in its visa processing facilities for Papua New Guinea citizens, reducing the waiting time from three months to just seven days. This development was revealed during the 30th Australia-PNG Ministerial Forum in Port Moresby. The new facility, now relocated from Fiji to PNG’s capital, aims to ease the visa application process for Papua New Guinea citizens, with 75 per cent of completed applications processed within 14 days. Additionally, Australia has introduced the Pacific Engagement Visa, offering increased labour market opportunities for Papua New Guinea citizens in Australia.
The establishment of the new visa processing office in Port Moresby is part of a broader strategy to strengthen bilateral relations between Australia and Papua New Guinea. This initiative is complemented by the introduction of the Work and Holiday Visa (subclass 462), allowing Papua New Guinea citizens aged 18 to 30 who meet certain educational requirements to work and stay in Australia for up to 12 months. This visa aims to provide Australian employers with a broader pool of potential employees while offering PNG citizens valuable work and holiday experiences in Australia.
Australia has also allocated 650 seasonal worker visas to Papua New Guinea under the Pacific Labour Scheme, which facilitates employment opportunities in the Australian agricultural sector. This scheme is designed to support both the demand for seasonal labour in Australia and provide Papua New Guinea workers with job opportunities.
The enhancement of visa facilities and the introduction of new visa categories underscore the deep and multifaceted partnership between Australia and PNG. This relationship is further strengthened by various bilateral agreements, including the Comprehensive Strategic and Economic Partnership (CSEP) and the bilateral security agreement, which focus on enhancing cooperation in security, economic development, and people-to-people links.
