Plan ahead for a Pacific Access Category Resident Visa
Use this guide to help you decide if you want to move to New Zealand on a Pacific Access Category Resident Visa. If we invite you to apply, you must have started organising your application. It also means saving enough money to pay for any application costs, and for moving to and settling in New Zealand.
Explore what New Zealand life is like
Aotearoa New Zealand offers both opportunities and challenges.
Check the 'Deciding if New Zealand is right for you' section on the 'Moving from the Pacific Islands' page. It gives a brief list of ways life is different from in the Pacific Islands.
Moving from the Pacific Islands
If you have family and friends in New Zealand, ask them about what life is like.
Migrants' stories of moving to live and work in New Zealand
You can watch and hear about the experiences of people from the Pacific Islands who have come to live and work in New Zealand. Check the videos that feature interviews with migrants who have moved from Kiribati, Samoa, Tonga and Tuvalu.
Check the section on life in New Zealand. It gives an overview of New Zealand life, including information on lifestyle, finding work, housing options, education, and health care.
Organising money
It is important to plan for how much money you could have to pay for organising documents and visa fees if you move to New Zealand. Examples include:
- documents and photos for visa and passport applications
- documents translated into English, if required
- moving to and settling in New Zealand.
Plan for ballot and visa costs
Check the ballot and visa requirements and make a note of any possible costs, such as for:
- birth certificates
- applying for or renewing a passport
- translations of documents
- photos for a visa and a passport
- medical certificates.
Plan for moving and livings cost
You can watch videos that feature interviews with migrants who have moved from Kiribati, Samoa, Tonga and Tuvalu, including videos about managing money.
For an overview about planning your move to and settling into New Zealand, sorting your finances and improving your English, check the 'Planning your move to New Zealand' page.
Organising a job offer
Allow enough time to find a job and get a job offer from an employer.
There is useful information in the Work section of our website, including information on how to find work and worker rights.
When looking for a job it is important to check for signs of a scam. This can include being asked to pay for your job offer, which is against the law.
Our 'Protecting yourself from immigration scams' page is available in Fijian, Samoan and Tongan.