PAC & Samoan Quota Resident Visa Ballot Draw – May 2026
by | May 22, 2026 | News
These residence pathways recognise New Zealand’s special relationship with Samoa and the Pacific nations of Tonga, Tuvalu, Kiribati, and Fiji.
For the 2026 ballot, invitations to apply for New Zealand residence may be issued to up to:
- 1,100 Samoan citizens
- 250 Tongan citizens
- 250 Fijian citizens
- 75 Kiribati citizens
- 75 Tuvaluan citizens
Registrations are selected through a ballot system, and each registration may include multiple family members.
Successful registrant reference numbers will be published on the Immigration New Zealand website by 29 May 2026. Applicants selected from the ballot will also receive an official invitation letter with instructions on how to apply for residence.
Selected applicants must submit their residence application within 8 months of receiving their invitation.
New Income Threshold for Families
From 30 April 2026, applicants applying under the PAC or SQ categories with dependent children must meet a minimum annual income requirement of NZD $55,404.96.
This requirement helps ensure families can support their dependent children while living in New Zealand. Income from a partner may also be included if both applicants hold acceptable employment offers in New Zealand.
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PAC & Samoan Quota Resident Visa Ballot Draw Completed
The ballot draws for the Pacific Access Category (PAC) Resident Visa and Samoan Quota (SQ) Resident Visa were completed on 20 May 2026, with successful ballot results expected to be published by 29 May 2026.
These residence pathways recognise New Zealand’s special relationship with Samoa and the Pacific nations of Tonga, Tuvalu, Kiribati, and Fiji.
For the 2026 ballot, invitations to apply for New Zealand residence may be issued to up to:
- 1,100 Samoan citizens
- 250 Tongan citizens
- 250 Fijian citizens
- 75 Kiribati citizens
- 75 Tuvaluan citizens
Registrations are selected through a ballot system, and each registration may include multiple family members.
Successful registrant reference numbers will be published on the Immigration New Zealand website by 29 May 2026. Applicants selected from the ballot will also receive an official invitation letter with instructions on how to apply for residence.
Selected applicants must submit their residence application within 8 months of receiving their invitation.
New Income Threshold for Families
From 30 April 2026, applicants applying under the PAC or SQ categories with dependent children must meet a minimum annual income requirement of NZD $55,404.96.
This requirement helps ensure families can support their dependent children while living in New Zealand. Income from a partner may also be included if both applicants hold acceptable employment offers in New Zealand.