Pacific Access Category

The special relationship between New Zealand and the Pacific countries of Kiribati, Tuvalu, Tonga and Fiji is recognised through the Pacific Access Category (PAC).

The Pacific Access Category is run by ballot, and allows up to 75 citizens of Kiribati, 75 citizens of Tuvalu, 250 citizens of Tonga and 250 citizens of Fiji to be granted residence in New Zealand every year.  

Table 1. shows the total number of resident visa applications received under the Pacific Access Category for the past 2 years (as of 14 May 2026) broken down by year and country.

To qualify for residence under this category the applicant must be a citizen of one of the PAC countries and have been born there or overseas to a PAC country citizen.

The applicant must be between 18 and 45 years old, have had their registration number drawn from the PAC ballot and have been invited to apply for residence by Immigration New Zealand. The principal applicant or any partner included in the application must have an acceptable and sustainable full time and permanent job offer from a New Zealand employer. 

Pacific Access Category Resident Visa