Australia to open direct defence recruitment to Papua New Guineans from 16 November

Australia will open applications on 16 November for Papua New Guineans to join the Australian Defence Force (ADF) directly, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles announced at the 32nd Australia-Papua New Guinea Ministerial Forum in Port Moresby on 20 October 2026. Recruits will receive temporary visas at the start and are expected to gain Australian citizenship within a relatively short period while retaining their Papua New Guinean citizenship.

Key facts

• Applications open 16 November for Papua New Guineans to join the Australian Defence Force.
• The pilot involves two cohorts of roughly 50 people each, each completing a 16-week course in Papua New Guinea.
• The first course is planned for May next year, with a second cohort of 50 in 2028 — about 100 people over two years.
• Recruits get temporary visas first, then Australian citizenship, and keep PNG citizenship as dual nationals.
• Australia says it already provides Papua New Guinea with the largest share of Pacific Engagement Visas of any Pacific country.

What is changing?

Marles said the ADF is beginning the process of recruiting Papua New Guineans directly into its ranks, a step he described as a pilot to prove the concept before recruitment at scale. The long-term ambition, he said, is to recruit thousands of Papua New Guineans into the ADF in time.

Separately, Australia and Papua New Guinea discussed expanding opportunities through the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme and providing additional Pacific Engagement Visa places for PNG citizens travelling to Australia, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said.

Who can apply and how does it work?

The pilot will recruit initially from three institutions: the University of Papua New Guinea, Pacific Adventist University and the University of Technology Lae. Marles said efforts would be made to ensure recruits are drawn from across all PNG provinces.

Successful applicants complete a 16-week course in Papua New Guinea before entering the ADF. The first cohort is due to start in May next year, and Marles said Papua New Guineans could be wearing ADF uniform by around that time the following year. A similar cohort of about 50 is planned for 2028.

On the immigration side, Marles said recruits receive temporary visas at the outset and take up Australian citizenship in a relatively short period, while maintaining PNG citizenship. Separately, around 40 permanent PNG residents already in Australia have taken up an earlier pathway allowing permanent residents to join the ADF, and Marles said the first directly recruited Papua New Guineans could emerge from that group within months.

What visa arrangements already exist for Papua New Guineans?

Responding to a request from Prime Minister James Marape for visa arrangements similar to those Papua New Guinea has with New Zealand, Wong said Australia has put in place arrangements for PNG that no other country has. She named the NRL visa and the IMMI App, which she said makes it easier for Papua New Guineans to deal with the immigration process.

Wong said Papua New Guinea receives the largest cohort of Pacific Engagement Visas of any Pacific country, and that holders get access to Medicare and education from arrival. She said Australia is open to looking at further possibilities raised by PNG, while noting that broader immigration principles still apply.

What this means for travellers

Papua New Guineans interested in the ADF pathway should note the 16 November application opening and the initial recruitment focus on the three named universities. Those considering Pacific Engagement Visas should check whether additional places are made available, as the forum discussed expanding the PNG allocation without stating a number.

What happens next

Application details for the ADF intake open on 16 November, with the first 16-week course expected in May next year. On visas, Wong said discussions with Papua New Guinea are ongoing and Australia has agreed to consider further possibilities, but no new visa categories or start dates were announced.