If you are a Samoan citizen, you can register for this ballot to come to New Zealand. If your registration is drawn from the ballot we may invite you to apply for residence.
Indefinitely
18 – 45
See below
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Check if you are eligible to apply for this visa and what supporting documents and information you need to provide.
You must register for the Samoan Quota Scheme ballot by the closing date
You must complete a Samoan Quota Scheme Registration form online and include:
You must be at least 18 but no older than 45 when the registration for the ballot closes
We’ll use the birth certificate you send with your ballot registration to confirm your age.
You must be invited to apply for residence
If invited to apply for residence, you must apply within 8 months of being invited to apply.
If you’re invited to apply, we’ll send you a letter detailing:
You must provide proof of your identity
If you apply online, you must upload a copy of your passport when you apply. We will let you know if you need to send your passport after you have applied.
Providing your passport for online applications
If you submit a paper application, provide your original passport or a certified copy. We can usually process your application faster if you provide your original passport.
You don’t need to provide proof of your identity until you’re invited to apply for residence.
You must be of good character
If you are 17 or older, you must provide a police certificate from:
Police certificates must be less than 6 months old at the time you apply.
You don’t need to provide any Police Certificates until you’re invited to apply for residence.
You must be in good health
You must have a chest x-ray and a medical examination as proof of your good health.
You don’t need to have an x-ray or medical examination until you’re invited to apply for residence.
You must be a citizen of Samoa
If you’re invited to apply for residence, you’ll need to provide a valid passport from your country of citizenship.
You must have been born in Samoa or have a parent who was
If you were born in Samoa, you must provide your birth certificate.
If you were born outside of Samoa, you must provide the following documents for your parent:
You don’t need to provide any evidence until you’re invited to apply for residence.
You must apply for residence while in Samoa or while in New Zealand on a valid temporary visa
Any documents that prove where you’re living. Examples include:
You must speak and understand English
If invited to apply for residence, we’ll test your English by talking to you about yourself, your family and your background.
You’ll need to be able to read and answer questions in English to pass the test.
You must have a job offer
If you’re invited to apply for residence, you must provide evidence of a current offer of full-time work that is for 12 months or more.
Evidence must include certified copies of your:
We can’t grant a visa if your employer is included on the list of non-compliant employers maintained by the Labour Inspectorate.
The job offer can be for you or for your partner.
If you include your partner and children in your application, you must have a genuine relationship with them
If invited to apply for residence, you must provide evidence:
You must earn enough money to support your children
If you are invited to apply for residence, you need to provide evidence, such as employment agreements, that you and your partner will earn NZD $49,159 or more between you each year.
We review minimum incomes each year.
The information below will help you understand the process, timeframes and costs involved in applying for this visa, so you can plan ahead and have the best chance of submitting a complete application.
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Enter country detailsThese are the conditions that you must meet once you have your visa.
You must apply for entry permission when you arrive in New Zealand. You can do this by completing a paper arrival card or a digital traveller declaration. If you are completing a paper arrival card you will be given this on the way to New Zealand.
New Zealand Customs and Biosecurity also check that you meet their entry requirements.
You can be refused entry permission if:
When we grant your visa, you’ll have 3 months to come to New Zealand.
Your partner and dependent children will have 12 months to come to New Zealand.
If you and your family are unable to come to New Zealand by these times, your visa will expire and you’ll have to apply for a new visa.
Your family must have been included in your resident visa application for them to come to New Zealand.
If you want to travel, your visa must be in a valid passport.
If your passport expires, you must apply to transfer your visa to a new passport before you can travel.
To transfer your visa, you must:
Application for transfer or confirmation of a visa
Application for Transfer or Confirmation of a Visa (INZ 1023) PDF 381KB
You can travel in and out of New Zealand as often as you like until your travel conditions expire — normally 2 years from the date you first arrive in New Zealand as a resident.
If you are outside New Zealand when your travel conditions expire, your visa will expire as well.
To travel in and out of New Zealand after your travel conditions expire, you need to apply for: