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The 2025 Pacific Access Category and Samoan Quota ballots open on 1 April 2025
Registrations will open for the 2025 Samoan Quota and the Pacific Access Category on 1 April 2025 at 08:00 New Zealand Daylight Saving 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 1,650 Samoan citizens, 250 Tongan and 250 Fijian citizens and 75 Kiribati and 75 Tuvaluan citizens may be granted residence.
How to register
When the ballots open, you can register online.
Pacific Access Category Resident Visa
Guides in English and Samoan
Online guides are available on our website to help you register for their ballot.
Guides and flyers are available in English and Samoan for the Samoan Quota, and in several Pacific languages for Pacific Access Category in our resource library.
Immigration New Zealand resource library
Ballot closing date
The 2025 Samoan Quota and Pacific Access Category ballots will close on 30 April 2025 at 17:00 New Zealand Standard Time (NZST).