What is the Falepili Mobility Pathway?
The Falepili Mobility Pathway is a special visa that allows Tuvaluans the choice to travel to Australia - temporarily or permanently - to live, work, and study as permanent residents.
Each year, up to 280 Tuvaluans (including any dependents) are randomly selected in a ballot and invited to apply for a visa.
The Falepili Mobility Pathway is also known as the Pacific Engagement (subclass 192) - Treaty stream (Tuvalu).
The Falepili Mobility Pathway is a 2-step process:
- Eligible Tuvaluan citizens can register in the annual Falepili Mobility Pathway ballot.
- Registered participants are then randomly selected and are invited to apply for a visa.
Before being granted a visa, applicants must meet the requirements of the visa. More information about the visa can be found on the Department of Home Affairs website.
Registering for the Falepili Mobility Pathway (Treaty stream) ballot
Before you can apply for the visa, you need to register in the ballot and be randomly selected.
The cost to enter the ballot is AU$25.
The ballot gives everyone an equal chance of being able to apply for a Falepili Mobility Pathway visa. A ballot is a fair and transparent process and ensures access for people of any skill level, occupation and gender.
The 2026-27 Falepili Mobility Pathway ballot opened on 1 May 2026 and closed on 1 June 2026.
You will need an ImmiAccount to register for the Falepili Mobility Pathway ballot and, if randomly selected in the ballot, to apply for the visa.
Create an ImmiAccount by following step-by-step instructions on the Department of Home Affairs website
Eligibility
You can register for the ballot if you:
- hold a valid Tuvaluan passport
- are aged 18 years or older at the time the ballot period opens
- were born in Tuvalu or have a parent or grandparent born in Tuvalu
- are a citizen of Tuvalu, and that citizenship was not acquired due to an investment
- are not an New Zealand citizen
- complete the online registration form and pay the registration fee of $25.
You can include any immediate family members such as your husband, wife, or de facto partner, and any dependent children. This can include stepchildren, adopted children and dependent children up to 23 years of age.
You can also include any children aged up to 23 years or older who are dependent on the main applicant or the main applicant's spouse or de facto partner due to a partial or total physical or mental disability.
The wider family unit cannot be included, such as your parents, your spouse’s parents, aunts, uncles, or cousins.
If you are considering bringing immediate family members, you must include how many in your ballot registration.
If selected in the ballot, you will need to provide details of all family members in your visa application, including identity documentation such as birth certificates, adoption certificates, and marriage certificates.
Further information can be found on the Department of Home Affairs website: Pacific Engagement Treaty Stream/About section
People with disabilities, special needs, or chronic health conditions (except tuberculosis) are welcome to register for the ballot.
In Australia, visa holders can access tailored support through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
The NDIS helps people with disability to gain greater independence, access to new skills, jobs, or volunteering, an improved quality of life, and connections to services in their community.
Yes. You can register for the ballot from anywhere in the world, including if you are already in Australia on a different visa. This includes the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, the Pacific Engagement Visa (PEV), and student visas.
You can register for the ballot from anywhere in the world, including if you are already in Australia on a student visa.
However, if you are on an Australia Awards scholarship, you will need to abide by the terms of that contract first. Failure to do so may result in you needing to pay back the scholarship funding.
Tuvaluans who are also permanent residents of another country, including New Zealand, can enter the Treaty stream ballot and if selected may apply for the Treaty stream visa.
However, Tuvaluans who have dual citizenship with another country are not eligible to apply.
Costs involved with a Falepili Mobility Pathway visa
The cost to register in the annual Falepili Mobility Pathway ballot is AU$25.
The current Visa Application Charge (VAC) for the Falepili Mobility Pathway (Treaty Stream) visa is AU$205 for the primary applicant and AU$50 for each dependent.
Please note that ballot and Visa Application Charges are not refundable.
You must pay through your ImmiAccount using any of the following methods:
- Credit Card
- PayPal
- UnionPay
- BPAY
For detailed information visit the Department of Home Affairs website How to Pay
Before entering the ballot, you need to know that as a visa holder you will be responsible for all costs of moving to and settling in Australia. These costs will include things like passports, flights, visas, police and health checks, and accommodation in Australia.
Once you arrive in Australia, there are further costs that you will need to cover. These can include rent and rental bond, household furniture, school supplies and uniforms, food and so on.
How is the Falepili Mobility Pathway different from other visas?
Falepili Mobility Pathway
The Falepili Mobility Pathway is a special visa arrangement for citizens of Tuvalu under the Australia-Tuvalu Falepili Union Treaty.
The visa offers Tuvaluan citizens the choice to live (temporarily or permanently), work, and study in Australia, and travel to and from Australia without restriction.
Unlike the PEV, applicants in the Falepili Mobility Pathway do not need to secure employment at the time of applying, may be aged over 45, and do not need to demonstrate English language proficiency. Those with disabilities and/or chronic health conditions (except Tuberculosis) are welcome to apply.
Pacific Engagement Visa (PEV)
The Pacific Engagement Stream Visa (PEV) is available to citizens of participating countries across the Pacific and Timor-Leste.
PEV offers up to 3,000 visas each program year, inclusive of partners and dependent children. The number of visas for each country is negotiated between Australia and the governments of participating countries.
More information is available at www.pev.gov.au
Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme
The Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme is a temporary migration program that helps meet workforce shortages in rural and regional Australia, support the economic development of Pacific countries, and build skills for when workers return home.
Eligible Tuvaluan PALM scheme workers in Australia on valid temporary visas can register for the Falepili Mobility Pathway ballot when it is open.
More information is available at www.palmscheme.gov.au