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 from Samoa (including their partners and dependent children) to settle in New Zealand each year under the Samoan Quota Scheme.

Living in New Zealand

For general information on New Zealand, take a look at the New Zealand Now website.

How to apply

The Samoan Quota scheme is run by ballot. You can only apply for residence under this category if your registration is drawn from the ballot.

You then have to apply for a residence class visa.

Registration

To be eligible to make an application for residence under the Samoan Quota Scheme, you must lodge a registration during the official registration period each year. The 2012 registration period is from 2 April to 30 April 2012. 

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.

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?
• Or could I work temporarily in New Zealand?
• Or could I establish a business?