Work opportunities, education and family are some of the reasons people choose to leave the Pacific Islands and start a new life in New Zealand, and many have found New Zealand a great place to live, work and raise families.

We welcome a number of citizens of Kiribati, Tuvalu and Tonga (including their partners and dependent children) to settle in New Zealand each year under the Pacific Access Category.

How to apply

The Pacific Access Category is run by ballot. You can only apply for residence under this category if your registration is drawn from the ballot.

Registration for the ballot

To be eligible to make an application for residence under the Pacific Access Category, you must lodge a registration during the official registration period each year. The 2011 registration period is from 4 April to 30 April 2011.

 

Find out the requirements for registration and how to make a registration.

Residence

Find out the requirements for residence and how to make a residence application in case your registration is drawn from the ballot and you are invited to apply for residence. 

 

See our frequently asked questions on applying for residence.

 

Find out more about residence class visas.

 

If you want to check whether you would qualify for a residence class visa, do a quick check of the criteria now.

Is this my only option?

You may also like to check out other ways you can move to New Zealand either permanently or temporarily. These include study, business and various work options. For example, you may be wondering:

• Can I use my skills to work in New Zealand?
• Could I work temporarily in New Zealand?
• Could I establish a business?