Registration for this year’s Pacific Quota ballot opens today and closes at the end of the month. Between now and then citizens of Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu and Kiribati can submit their registration applications for New Zealand residence under the 2011 Samoa Quota (SQ) and Pacific Access Category (PAC) ballots.

The two schemes allow up to 1100 Samoan citizens, up to 75 citizens of Kiribati, 75 citizens of Tuvalu and 250 citizens of Tonga to be granted residence in New Zealand every year. The principal applicant must have a job offer from a New Zealand employer.

The head of Immigration New Zealand, Nigel Bickle, says the schemes recognise the special relationship between New Zealand and Samoa and the Pacific Access Category countries.

“I would encourage everyone who is eligible to apply and keen to come to New Zealand to do so as soon as possible and ensure they have completed all the required forms and paid the appropriate registration fee,” Mr Bickle says.

“Applicants need to remember to declare all their immediate family members on their registration form to ensure that their forms can be processed.”

Mr Bickle is also reminding previously unsuccessful applicants that they need to register again.

See the Pacific Access Category and Samoan Quota Scheme pages for more information.