Pacific Access Category Resident Visa (Ballot)
Annual residence ballot for citizens of Tonga, Fiji, Kiribati and Tuvalu.
Official New Zealand pageWho this route is for
Citizens of Tonga, Fiji, Kiribati and Tuvalu who register in the annual ballot and meet age, health, character, English and job/income requirements.
Eligibility requirements
- Be a citizen of Tonga, Fiji, Kiribati or Tuvalu and register in the annual ballot (1-30 April for the 2026 round)
- Be the principal applicant aged 18-45 at registration
- Secure an acceptable offer of ongoing employment in New Zealand after selection
- Meet the minimum income requirement (NZD $55,404.96/year if including dependent children, from 30 April 2026), plus health, character and English standards; apply within 8 months of an Invitation to Apply
Requirements reviewed July 2026. They change frequently — confirm the current rules on the official page before relying on them.
Recent changes & caveats
Registration is free and can include a whole family. The Samoan Quota is run as a separate ballot for Samoan citizens. Selected registrants must secure a qualifying job and meet the indexed income threshold before residence is granted.
Other New Zealand routes
Refugee Quota Programme
PermanentResettlement of 1,500 UNHCR-referred refugees each year, granted permanent residence on arrival.
Samoan Quota Resident Visa (Ballot)
PermanentAnnual residence ballot granting permanent residence to citizens of Samoa.
Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa
PermanentPoints-based residence for skilled workers, scored against the NZ median wage.
Straight to Residence Visa (Green List Tier 1)
PermanentImmediate residence for people with a Tier 1 Green List job offer.