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PAC — Pacific Access Category Resident Visa
VisasNew ZealandPAC — Pacific Access Category Resident Visa
New ZealandNew Zealand•Oceania
Open

PAC — Pacific Access Category Resident Visa

Work PR PathwayThis visa can lead to permanent residency, the right to live and work here indefinitely without renewing your visa. Dependents Allowed

At a Glance

Processing Time

Varies

Application Fee

1,389 NZD

Stay Duration

Indefinite

Renewable

Yes

Job Offer

Not Required

Dependents

Allowed

PR Pathway

Available

Remote Work

Not Required

Official Information

Overview

Ballot-based residency for citizens of Fiji, Kiribati, Tonga, and Tuvalu aged 18-45 with a 12-month New Zealand job offer; leads to PR after 2 years.

The Pacific Access Category (PAC) Resident Visa is a ballot-based residency pathway run by Immigration New Zealand for citizens of Fiji, Kiribati, Tonga, and Tuvalu. It allocates a fixed annual quota — 250 places each for Fiji and Tonga and 75 each for Kiribati and Tuvalu in 2026 — by random draw rather than skills points.

Applicants must be 18-45 at registration close, hold a 12-month NZ job offer (or have a partner who does), and meet English, health, and character standards. Households with dependent children need NZD 55,404.96 in annual income. The fee is NZD 1,389, partners can work freely, dependents up to age 24 may be included, and holders may apply for the Permanent Resident Visa after two years.

This visa is ideal for working-age Fijian, Kiribati, Tongan, or Tuvaluan citizens with a confirmed NZ job offer seeking a low-cost ballot route to permanent residency.

Annual Cap & Quota

650

Eligible Nationalities (4)

FijiFijiKiribatiKiribatiTongaTongaTuvaluTuvalu

Requirements

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Must be a citizen of Fiji, Kiribati, Tonga, or Tuvalu.

Must be aged 18 to 45 years old at the time of registration.

Must have been born in the country of citizenship or have a parent born there.

Must be selected in the annual Pacific Access Category (PAC) ballot.

Must have a full-time job offer in New Zealand or a partner with a job offer.

Must earn enough to support yourself and any family members included in the application.

Must meet English language requirements (read, write, and speak).

Must meet health and character requirements.

Must include all family members (partner and dependent children aged 24 or younger) in the initial ballot registration.

KEY CRITERIA

Education

none or higher

Min. Income

55,405 EUR/yr

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Valid passport from country of citizenship.

Birth certificate for the principal applicant and all included family members.

Evidence of relationship for partner and dependent children.

Signed employment agreement(s) as proof of job offer.

Evidence of meeting English language requirements.

Medical and police certificates as requested by Immigration New Zealand.

Advantages & Considerations

Key Benefits

  • Direct path to permanent residency: apply for the Permanent Resident Visa after just 2 years
  • Random ballot - no skills points, qualifications, or age-weighted score required
  • Low application fee of NZD 1,389 compared with most NZ residence visa categories
  • Partner can live, work, and study in New Zealand without restriction
  • Dependent children up to age 24 can be included in the application
  • Open to applicants without tertiary qualifications - only English, health, and character checks
  • Live, work, and study indefinitely in New Zealand once granted

Worth Knowing

  • Ballot only: 650 places in 2026 across all four countries, so most registrations are not drawn
  • Acceptable 12-month, 30+ hour/week NZ job offer required after being invited
  • Households with dependent children must earn at least NZD 55,404.96/year combined
  • Only 8 months from invitation to lodge the full residence application
  • Country quotas: 250 places each for Fiji and Tonga, 75 each for Kiribati and Tuvalu
  • Open only to citizens of Fiji, Kiribati, Tonga, or Tuvalu born in (or with a parent born in) that country
  • Must be aged 18-45 at the registration closing date
  • Cannot proceed without being drawn in the annual ballot

Application Process

1

Check eligibility: Citizen of Fiji, Kiribati, Tonga or Tuvalu, aged 18-45 at ballot close

2

Register for the ballot online during the registration window (1-30 April 2026 for the 2026 draw)

3

Await the random electronic draw (held 20 May 2026 for the 2026 ballot)

4

If selected, secure or confirm an acceptable 12-month New Zealand job offer of 30+ hours/week

5

Lodge the full Pacific Access Category Resident Visa application within 8 months of the invitation

6

Provide medical and chest x-ray certificates

7

Provide police/character certificate

8

Pay the NZD 1,389 application fee

9

Await INZ decision

Application Forms

Pacific Access Category Registration—

Verified Claims (7)

Last verified May 31, 2026
Annual Allocation650immigration.govt.nz
Application StepsCheck eligibility: Citizen of Fiji, Kiribati, Tonga or Tuvalu, aged 18-45 at ballot close; Register …immigration.govt.nz
Fee BreakdownApplication fee: 1389 NZDimmigration.govt.nz
FeesFrom NZD 1,389immigration.govt.nz
Min Income55405immigration.govt.nz
Min Savingsnullimmigration.govt.nz
Spouse Can Workyesimmigration.govt.nz

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