The move is the latest by Australia to boost people-to-people ties in Timor-Leste and Pacific, and encourage more cultural, business, and education exchange, the Ministry notice said.

People applying for the first-of-its kind permanent visa will be chosen using a random ballot selection process, similar to the United States’ green card system, local media reported.

The new visas will be open to people aged between 18 and 45 and those holding an eligible passport from Timor-Leste, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

No detail has been provided about how the Australian government will determine how the 3,000 spots will be split fairly between the countries involved.