The 2026 Pacific Access Category and Samoan Quota ballots open on 1 April 2026

Registrations will open for the 2026 Samoan Quota and the Pacific Access Category on 1 April 2026 at 08:00 New Zealand Daylight Time (NZDT).

The Samoan Quota and Pacific Access Category are 2 longstanding visa categories that allow people from the Pacific to become permanent residents in New Zealand. Both schemes operate through an annual ballot.

This year, up to 1,100 Samoan citizens, 250 Tongan citizens, 250 Fijian citizens, 75 Kiribati citizens and 75 Tuvaluan citizens may be invited to apply for residence. You can register for the annual ballot online.

Online guides are available to help you register for the ballot.

Samoan Quota Resident Visa

Pacific Access Category Resident Visa

Guides and flyers are available in English and Samoan for the Samoan Quota, and in several Pacific languages for Pacific Access Category, on the 'Resident visas for Samoa, Kiribati, Tuvalu, Tonga and Fiji nationals' page.

Resident visas for Samoa, Kiribati, Tuvalu, Tonga and Fiji nationals

The 2026 Samoan Quota and Pacific Access Category ballots will close on 30 April 2026 at 17:00 New Zealand Standard Time (NZST).