Cook Islands Immigration to launch new online visa and permit system

Cook Islands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration (MFAI) has announced the upcoming launch of its new online visa and permit application system, marking a significant milestone in the ongoing modernisation of

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Australian IMMI APP launched in Fiji

The Australian Government has launched a mobile app that focuses on streamlining visa application processes for Pacific

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Refugee numbers rising in Papua New Guinea

A silent refugee emergency has been gathering force with every human conflict, every natural disaster and even major project developments in the country. So much so that over the last four years 1,600,000 have been

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‘Wall of shame’ faces mounting protests in Guam

Guam’s attorney general is facing a wave of backlash over his billboard campaign to deport convicted aliens, which critics described as “dehumanising.” Douglas Moylan, however, defended his “Deport Air

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EU pushes for suspension of Vanuatu visa-waiver programme

An advisor to the Vanuatu government says the European Commission is pushing through with a suspension of its visa-waiver programme with the Pacific country despite concessions made by the government. The European

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Pacific visa-free travel backed

Visa-free travel for business has been part of most bilateral talks Samoa’s prime minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa has had with Australia and New Zealand. This is a concept that has received backing from the Pacific

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Opinion: The falling demand of seasonal workers

Evidence over nine months to the end of February 2024 shows a declining demand for Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme seasonal workers — those who used to be under the Seasonal Worker Programme (SWP),

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Samoa citizenship bill passes first NZ Parliament hurdle, helped by Act and NZ First

Act and New Zealand First have shocked Parliament last night by supporting a bill to select committee that would provide entitlement to New Zealand citizenship for a group of people born in the then Western Samoa whose

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Opinion: How to enter the Pacific Engagement Visa ballot

Australia is about to launch a new visa that will for the first time create a Pacific quota in Australia’s permanent migration regime. 3,000 visas will be issued every year for the Pacific Islands and Timor-Leste.

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Cook Islands migrant workers welcome High Court ruling on residency threshold

The Cook Islands High Court has found that the country’s immigration law that offers preferential treatment to New Zealand citizens over those from other nations is “invalid”. New Zealand passport holders only

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Solomon Islands Caretaker PM calls on Australia for a more serious dialogue on reciprocal visa waiver

Solomon Islands caretaker Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has re-emphasised Solomon Islands’ call to Australia for a serious and genuine dialogue on a visa reciprocal arrangement beyond the Pacific Engagement

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Australia’s deal with Tuvalu is not about climate justice, say experts

Australia’s offer to Tuvalu of 280 permanent residency visas every year as part of a new treaty between the two countries, is being criticised as an Australian strategic security initiative in the guise of climate

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New Australian Pacific visa scheme gets green light

Thousands of Pacific islanders will be offered a path to Australian life after a government effort to boost regional employment and address shortages was given the green light. Immigration Minister Andrew Giles secured

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Opinion: Pacific Engagement Visa legislation finally through

After months of uncertainty, yesterday the legislation required to implement the Pacific Engagement Visa (PEV) passed through the Australian Senate, with the Greens and other crossbenchers providing the numbers the

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Crown Prince launches Tongan passport printing in U.S.

Over 70,000 Tongans living in the United States will now have access to Tongan passport printing services in California. Crown Prince Tupuoto‘a ‘Ulukalala launched the new Tongan passport printing services at the

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Former Vanuatu Ambassador to EU calls for body to screen passport applicants

While wishing the Vanuatu Government the best 43rd Independence Anniversary, the first former Ambassador to Africa Caribbean Pacific (ACP) countries in the European Union (EU) from 2007-2018, Roy Mickey Joy is urging

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New Zealand pushes back on Pacific-wide free movement

New Zealand cabinet ministers have considered, but dismissed for now, a Pacific proposal for easier movement of people around the region. Pacific Islanders are subject to tougher entry conditions when they try to visit

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Researcher examines criminal deportations to the Cook Islands

Cook Islands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration (MFAI) last week hosted assisting researcher Henrietta McNeill, a PhD Candidate with the Department of Pacific Affairs at the Australian National University (ANU)

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South Auckland dawn raid criticised by Pacific community leader

Pacific community leader is “appalled” that a Pasifika overstayer was detained in a dawn raid in South Auckland last month. Police showed up at the Tongan national’s home at 5am on 19 April and took him into

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Suspended PNG Immigration Minister dismissed from office

Suspended Member for Madang and Papua New Guinea Immigration Minister, Bryan Kramer has been dismissed from office Monday by the Leadership Tribunal inquiring in to charges of misconduct in office against him. He has

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‘No entry’: Fiji government warns New Zealand criminal gangs

New Zealanders linked to criminal groups and trying to enter Fiji have been warned they will be turned away at the Fijian border. A Kiwi, with Fijian connections, was refused entry at Nadi Airport last week after border

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Vanuatu reviews immigration and labour policies

Vanuatu’s Ministry of Internal Affairs (MOIA) is undertaking a comprehensive review of immigration and labour policies and legislation to create a system that is attractive to investors and benefits the private

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Vanuatu Citizenship programme under investigation

New locks have been installed on doors at the Citizenship Office in Port Vila as the Vanuatu Government initiates an investigation into the lucrative Citizenship Programme. This was disclosed by Prime Minister Ishmael

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Visa on arrival in PNG for Melanesian countries

Solomon Islands nationals and nationals of other Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) countries can now get their visa on arrival when travelling to Papua New Guinea. This came after the PNG government formally declared the

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