Immigration New Zealand is continuing the Samoan Quota and Pacific Access Category visa programs. The program offers a pathway to permanent residency in New Zealand for individuals from Pacific nations and is facilitated through an annual ballot.
According to the same, this year, the program will welcome up to 1,650 residents from Samoa, 250 from Tonga, 250 from Fiji, and 75 from Kiribati and Tuvalu. Interested applicants can easily register for the annual online lottery to participate, VisaGuide.World reports.
Registrations will open for the 2024 Samoan Quota and the Pacific Access Category on Monday, 20 May 2024, at 08:00 New Zealand Standard Time (NZST).
2024 Application Period for Samoan Quota & PAC Ends on June 30, 2024
For those interested in the Samoan Quota and Pacific Access Category visa programs, informative guides and flyers are accessible in both English and Samoan. Additionally, resources are available in multiple Pacific languages for the Pacific Access Category.
The 2024 Samoan Quota and Pacific Access Category ballots application period will conclude on Sunday, 30 June 2024, at 17:00 (NZST).
The draw for the 2023 Samoan Quota and Pacific Access Category (PAC) took place on 6 October 2023. Through the PAC ballot, New Zealand said it would welcome up to 500 residents from Fiji, 500 from Tonga, 150 from Kiribati, and 150 from Tuvalu in 2023.
There is no registration fee for the Samoan Quota (SQ) program. However, for the PAC, the registration fees are as follows:
- NZD$85.00 for first-time registration
- NZD$35.00 for those who have registered previously
Moreover, Immigration New Zealand has announced an increase in the minimum income requirement for applicants under both PAC and SQ with dependent children. Effective 20 October 2023, the new minimum income will be $51,734.80.
This requirement aimed to ensure that parents can adequately support their children in New Zealand. Additionally, the income of a secondary applicant’s partner may be considered if both applicants have received an acceptable job offer in the country.
New Zealand Requires Online Applications for Pacific Residents
Starting February 2024, people from Pacific Island Forum countries can only apply for a Visitor Visa online. This change is because they can’t apply in person at New Zealand’s Pacific offices.
New Zealand Immigration also said those applying for COVID-19 border exceptions or the Pacific Access and Samoan Quota residences must also apply online.
The Pacific Island Forum includes 18 countries, including New Zealand and Australia, along with smaller Pacific islands such as the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.