Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has announced that the ballots for the Pacific Access Category (PAC) Resident Visa and the Samoan Quota (SQ) Resident Visa will be drawn on 20 May 2026. These ballots decide who is invited to apply for residence in New Zealand, and INZ says the results will be published by 29 May 2026.
According to INZ, the PAC and SQ residence pathways reflect the special relationship between New Zealand and Samoa, along with the Pacific Access Category countries of Tonga, Tuvalu, Kiribati and Fiji.
Quotas for this year
INZ says that up to 1,100 Samoan, 250 Tongan, 250 Fijian, 75 Kiribati and 75 Tuvaluan citizens may be invited to apply for residence under each category. Registrations are drawn from the ballot to meet these quotas, and a single registration can cover more than one person, for example where a family is included under the same registration.
The reference numbers of successful registrants will be published on the Immigration New Zealand website by 29 May 2026. INZ says that anyone whose ballot is selected will then receive a letter inviting them to apply, with information on how to apply for a resident visa.
Those who are invited must apply for New Zealand residence within 8 months of receiving their invitation to apply.
New income threshold
INZ has also set a new minimum income requirement for people applying for residence under PAC and SQ who have dependent children. From 30 April 2026, this minimum income requirement will be NZD $55,404.96 a year.
INZ says the new threshold will apply to those invited to apply for residence following this ballot draw. The requirement is intended to ensure that parents can support their dependent children in New Zealand. The income of a secondary applicant partner may also be counted, provided both applicants have an acceptable offer of employment in New Zealand.
