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Pacific visa category schemes reopen in October

Pacific visa category schemes reopen in October

  • 27 Sep 2022
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(Picture caption: Registrations for the Samoan Quota and Pacific Access Category are reopening next month.) 

Next month, New Zealand will reach a major milestone as it reopens registrations for the Samoan Quota and Pacific Access Category. 

From October 3, registrations for the Samoan Quota will reopen, followed by registrations for the Pacific Access Category two days later.

Minister of Immigration Hon Michael Wood says both initiatives are longstanding visa categories which enable people from Pacific partner countries to become permanent residents of New Zealand, Minister of Immigration Hon Michael Wood says.

“It recognises the historical relationship between New Zealand and Pacific, and we are thrilled to see these categories opening again to our Pacific neighbours,” Minister Wood adds.

Registrations for the ballots will now be made online, which will see a quicker and more streamlined process for applicants.

It will also help to speed up the process as ballots are only open for one month.

“We also recognise the impact the move to online will have on some individuals, and work has been done to ensure there are resources available to applicants so they have all the information they need to apply online with ease.

“We look forward to welcoming more of our Pacific neighbours through these residence pathways,” Minister Wood says. 

The unused places from the 2020/2021 ballots will also be re-distributed, and the unused ballots under the Pacific Access Category will be re-allocated across the 2022 and 2023 years.

Samoan Quota ballots will be re-allocated over four years from 2022 to 2025.

The Samoan Quota registrations will be open from October 3 and close on November 2, while registrations for the Pacific Access Category will open on October 5 and close on November 4.

Visit the Immigration New Zealand website for more information.