Pacific Australia Labour Mobility stream

• work in Australia for a temporary activities sponsor, that is approved by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) as a Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme employer
• work under the PALM scheme for up to:
  • 9 months if you are employed under a short-term work contract
  • 4 years if you are employed under a long-term work contract
• travel to and from Australia as many times as you need while holding a work contract under the PALM scheme and a valid visa.

This is a temporary visa.

The visa starts:

• on the day you first enter Australia, if you are outside Australia when we grant the visa or
• on the date we grant the visa, if you are in Australia when we grant the visa.

Your visa grant letter will tell you how long you can stay and any conditions of your stay.

The visa will be valid until a specified date. This may be up to 4 years. You must return home when your work contract ends, regardless of the length of your visa.

The visa has multiple entry.

You can travel outside Australia and return as many times as you need. You must be holding a work contract under the PALM scheme and your visa must be valid.

Short-term PALM scheme workers

You cannot spend more than 9 months in Australia if you have a short-term work contract under the PALM scheme.

While we may grant your visa for 9 months, you must return home when your work contract ends. This is regardless of the length of the visa. You then must spend at least 3 months outside Australia before you can return under another PALM scheme work contract.

Short-term workers who are granted a multi-year visa (up to 4 years) will have a condition on their visa which means they must return home after each short-term work contract.

Long-term PALM scheme workers

You cannot spend more than 4 years in Australia if you have a long-term work contract.

Your visa stay period will generally be the same as the length of your work contract with your PALM scheme employer.

After each long-term work contract you must spend at least 6 months outside Australia before you can return under another PALM scheme work contract.

For more information see the PALM scheme.

Under the PALM scheme Approved Employer Guidelines, you may be able to stay longer to keep working in the PALM scheme if you are a:

• short-term PALM scheme worker and have been offered a long-term PALM scheme work contract or
• long-term PALM scheme worker and have been offered a contract extension and your total time in Australia will be less than 4 years.

You can’t stay longer by extending your visa. You must apply for a new PALM stream visa.

To be eligible to apply for a PALM stream visa in Australia you must:

• hold a Subclass 403 visa in the PALM, Seasonal Worker Program (SWP), or Pacific Labour Scheme (PLS) streams or
• have held a Subclass 403 visa in the PALM, SWP, or PLS streams in the last 28 days and
• be sponsored by a temporary activities sponsor, that is approved by DEWR as a PALM scheme employer
• have a PALM scheme recruitment approval letter from your sponsor that includes the PALM endorsement number
• apply online.

After the grant of a PALM stream visa, you may only change employment if DEWR approves the change.

The PALM scheme family accompaniment pilot allows selected PALM scheme workers on long-term contracts of between one and four years to bring their family to Australia.

Learn more about the pilot, see Family accompaniment pilot - for workers | PALM scheme

Families selected to participate in the pilot must apply as subsequent entrants to the PALM scheme worker’s Temporary Work (International Relations) (subclass 403) PALM stream visa.

Family members applying for this visa must:

• give your family accompaniment selection notification letter
• give evidence that you are a member of the family unit of the primary subclass 403 PALM stream or PLS stream visa holder
• meet our health and character requirements
• pay the visa application charge

Selected PALM scheme workers will get more information with their family accompaniment selection notification letter about how their family can apply for the Temporary Work (International Relations) (subclass 403) visa.

Short-term PALM scheme workers cannot bring their family to Australia on this visa.

The visa costs:

• AUD365.00 for the main applicant
• AUD355.00 for each additional applicant over 18 years
• AUD85.00 for each additional applicant under 18 years.

You may also have to pay other costs for health checks and police certificates.

To work out what your visa will cost use the Visa Pricing Estimator. The estimator does not take into account the other costs.

You must be outside Australia when you apply and when we decide your visa application, unless you:

• hold a Subclass 403 visa in the PALM, SWP, or PLS streams or
• last held a Subclass 403 visa in the PALM, SWP, or PLS streams in the last 28 days.

If you are in Australia, you can only apply for this visa if you are a:

• SWP or PALM stream visa holder with a short-term work contract and you have been offered a long-term work contract under the PALM scheme
• PLS or PALM stream visa holder with a long-term work contract and you have been offered a contract extension, and your total time in Australia will be less than 4 years.

For an indication of processing times for this visa, use the visa processing time guide tool. This will show the processing times for recently decided applications. It is a guide only and not specific to your application.

Your application can take longer to process if:

• you do not fill it in correctly
• you do not include all the documents we need
• we need more information from you
• it takes us time to verify your information.

We cannot process your application if you do not pay the visa application charge. We will notify you if this is the case.

While you hold a PALM stream visa you must:

• continue to be employed by your temporary activities sponsor or another employer supported under an arrangement with DEWR
• only work in the position and industry you were granted the visa for
• not work for yourself, or change employers, unless supported under an arrangement with DEWR
• comply with all visa conditions and Australian laws.

Learn more about conditions for this visa.

To view your visa details download the My VEVO app.

You can travel outside Australia and return as many times as you need. You must be holding a work contract under the PALM scheme and your visa must be valid.

The time you spend outside Australia does not extend the visa.

We will electronically link your visa to your passport. You will not get a label in your passport.

If you get a new passport while you hold this visa you must tell the Department using your ImmiAccount.

You must be a citizen and resident of a participating PALM scheme country.

• meet the eligibility requirements to participate in the PALM scheme which include:
  • minimum age requirements
  • adequate skills to perform the position
  • English language skills appropriate to the tasks to be performed
  • be of good character.

For more information see PALM scheme.

• have received an offer of employment for an approved PALM scheme work placement

• have received a PALM scheme recruitment approval letter from your sponsor that includes the PALM endorsement number that you will need to lodge your online application.

Your sponsor must be:

• an approved temporary activities sponsor and
• approved by DEWR as a PALM scheme employer.

Your sponsor will provide you with their temporary activities sponsor application ID that you will need to lodge your online application.

You must meet our health requirement.

You must meet our character requirement.

You are personally liable for all your healthcare costs while you are in Australia. Medical insurance helps limit your financial liability.

You must have adequate health cover for the whole of your stay to be granted this visa. Your cover should cover you for medically necessary treatment, including transport.

See more about health insurance for overseas visitors.

You must only intend to:

• have a genuine intention to stay temporarily in Australia
• do the work you specified in your visa application
• comply with the conditions of this visa if granted

If you owe the Australian Government money, you must have paid it back or have a formal arrangement to pay it back.

We will consider your immigration history when we decide on your application. This means you might not be eligible for this visa if you have had a visa cancelled or refused.

In some cases you may still apply for a permanent visa if you have had a visa cancelled or an application refused. See Limitations on applications in Australia.

If you are applying for a visa from outside Australia see Can I go to Australia.

If you want immigration help, see Who can help with your visa application.

Before you leave

Check your travel documents (all visas)

You must have a valid:

• visa to enter Australia
• passport or other travel document.

At the Border

Completing an Incoming Passenger Card (all visas)

All people arriving in Australia must complete the Incoming Passenger Card. You will get a card on board.

Leaving the airport faster (all visas)

We have an automated process that uses facial recognition technology and your ePassport. You may be able to leave the airport faster if you use SmartGate.

What you can do when you have this visa

• work in Australia for a temporary activities sponsor approved by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) as a Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme employer
• work under the PALM scheme for up to:
  • 9 months if you are employed under a short-term work contract
  • 4 years if you are employed under a long-term work contract
• travel to and from Australia as many times as you need while holding a work contract under the PALM scheme and a valid visa.

Your visa will come with conditions attached to it. To see your conditions use VEVO.

What you must do on this visa (your obligations)

You must meet all visa conditions and obey Australian laws.

See your conditions in your visa grant letter or VEVO.

Learn more about visa conditions.

If you have permission to work, Australian workplace law protects you. See your workplace rights and entitlements.

Employment Transfers

After the grant of a PALM stream visa, you may only change employment if DEWR approves the change.

Tell us if things change

Things you need to tell us about include:

• changes to your phone number, email, address or passport
• changes to your relationship status
• the birth of a child.

See what to do if your situation changes.

See how long you can stay

You can stay for the period specified on your visa.

To see when you must leave, use VEVO.

Staying longer

Under the PALM scheme Approved Employer Guidelines, you may be able to stay longer to keep working in the PALM scheme if you are a:

• short-term PALM scheme worker and have been offered a long-term PALM scheme work contract; or
• long-term PALM scheme worker and have been offered a contract extension and your total time in Australia will be less than 4 years.

You can’t stay in Australia longer by extending this visa. You must apply for a new PALM stream visa.

To be eligible to apply for a PALM stream visa in Australia you must:

• hold a Subclass 403 visa in the PALM, Seasonal Worker Program (SWP), or Pacific Labour Scheme (PLS) streams or
• last held a Subclass 403 visa in the PALM, SWP, or PLS streams in the last 28 days and
• be sponsored by a temporary activities sponsor, that is approved by DEWR as a PALM scheme employer
• have a PALM scheme recruitment approval letter from your sponsor that includes the PALM endorsement number
• apply online.

Travelling on your visa

You can travel outside Australia and return as many times as you need. You must be holding a work contract under the PALM scheme and your visa must be valid.

Time spent outside Australia does not extend your length of stay in Australia.

Proving you have a visa

To prove you have a visa and show your conditions to someone, use VEVO.

To get proof of your travel in and out of Australia request your international movement records .

Need Assistance

If you hold a PALM stream visa and have concerns about your employment you can contact the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) to discuss your options.

For information about minimum pay and conditions, and your employer’s obligations visit Fair Work Ombudsman.

If you know someone who might be involved in visa fraud, illegal work or exploitation you can:

• call 1800 009 623
• report them through Border Watch or
• call Fair Work Ombudsman info line 13 13 94, or
• make an online anonymous report to Fair Work Ombudsman.

Before you leave

Check your travel documents (all visas)

You must have a valid passport or other travel document to leave Australia.

Ensure your visa is still valid (all visas)

See what to do if your visa has expired or is about to expire.

At the Border

Leaving the airport faster

We have an automated process that uses facial recognition technology and your ePassport. You may leave the airport faster if you use SmartGate.

After you leave

Getting your superannuation

You may have some money in a superannuation fund if you worked in Australia and you earnt AUD450 or more monthly before tax.

See how to access your super

You can sponsor applicants from a participating PALM scheme country.

It costs AUD420 to apply to become an approved temporary activities sponsor.

There is no cost to sponsor someone for the visa after you we approve you.

There is no cost to support a visa applicant.

Your obligations as a temporary activities sponsor last for 5 years from the date we grant approval.

You are responsible for meeting these obligations even if you appoint someone to act for you.

You must meet your obligations as a temporary activities sponsor.

You are responsible for meeting these obligations even if you appoint someone to act for you.

You must be an approved temporary activities sponsor to sponsor an applicant for this visa.

We must not know anything adverse about:

• you
• a person associated with you or
• an organisation associated with you.

This is unless we can reasonably disregard it.

The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) must approve you as a PALM Scheme employer.

DEWR must approve you before you can recruit the applicant to work in the PALM scheme. For more information see PALM scheme.

Your approval as a temporary activities sponsor lasts for 5 years from the date we grant it. You can apply to extend your sponsorship in ImmiAccount before it expires.

You must meet your obligations as a temporary activities sponsor. See more about temporary activities sponsor obligations.

You are responsible for meeting these obligations even if you appoint someone to act for you. This includes a migration agent.

You must tell us through ImmiAccount if:

• the visa holder you sponsor stops working with you or
• you want to withdraw your sponsorship for this person before the end of their contract.

You must tell us through ImmiAccount if any of the following happens:

• your address or contact details change
• the person you sponsored does not start in the position, program or activity we granted the visa for
• the person you sponsored unexpectedly ends their position, program or activity we granted the visa for
• there are changes to the formal arrangement or agreement with the person you sponsor
• you change the date of when the person you sponsored will end their position, program or activity
• you have paid the return travel cost of the person you sponsored to meet other migration regulations
• your legal entity ceases to exist.

Your obligation to inform us if things change starts on the day the sponsorship is approved. It lasts for 2 years after your sponsorship ends or 2 years after you finished sponsoring the last visa holder.