PAC is a NZ residence ballot for citizens of Fiji, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Kiribati, run alongside the parallel Samoan Quota. Annual ballot, ages 18-45, English, health, character, and a job offer.
Written by the ProVisas Editorial Team. ProVisas is a licensed New Zealand immigration advisory firm (IAA Licence 201301110).
The Pacific Access Category (PAC) is a unique New Zealand residence pathway available to citizens of Fiji, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Kiribati. Each year, a ballot is held and a set number of places are allocated to citizens of these countries.
A set number of places are allocated by ballot each year. For the 2026 ballot the places are 250 for Fiji, 250 for Tonga, 75 for Kiribati, and 75 for Tuvalu (650 in total). The quota is set per ballot year, so confirm the current numbers on immigration.govt.nz. Being selected is only the first step; selected registrations are invited to apply, and must then complete the full residence application, which can later open the way to a Permanent Resident Visa.
The PAC ballot is highly competitive, with far more registrations than available places each year. It is one of several ballot-based New Zealand residence pathways; the Parent Resident Visa is another route that selects applicants by ballot.
If selected in the ballot, you have a set period to put your application together. The key requirements are:
The job-offer step is the most common stumbling point, as places are limited and cannot be deferred.
Eligible citizens should register for the annual ballot, as registration is the gateway and the timeframes are strict. If you’re selected, having documentation ready (qualifications, English language evidence, police certificates) before you start the job hunt buys you crucial weeks within the post-selection window. If you have been selected and want help assembling a residence application within the post-selection window, you can book a consultation with a licensed adviser.
The Pacific Access Category sits alongside a parallel scheme, the Samoan Quota, which is open to citizens of Samoa. Immigration New Zealand runs the two as separate annual ballots with similar mechanics: you register in the set period, places are allocated by ballot, and selected registrants then have a fixed window to lodge a residence application backed by an acceptable New Zealand job offer.
The main differences are size and country. The Samoan Quota offers up to 1,100 places a year for Samoan citizens, the largest Pacific cohort, while the Pacific Access Category covers Fiji, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Kiribati (650 places for the 2026 ballot). The post-selection job-offer and income requirements are broadly the same across both, including the minimum income where dependent children are included. Quotas and dates are set each year, so confirm the current figures and ballot timing for your country on immigration.govt.nz.
PAC is open to citizens of Fiji, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Kiribati. The principal registrant must be aged 18 to 45 when registration closes, and meet English, health, and character requirements. To apply for residence after being selected, you or your partner also need an acceptable New Zealand job offer.
Places are set per ballot year. For the 2026 ballot there are 250 for Fiji, 250 for Tonga, 75 for Kiribati, and 75 for Tuvalu, 650 in total. Confirm the current numbers on immigration.govt.nz.
Yes. After being selected in the ballot, you or your partner need an acceptable offer of ongoing employment in New Zealand, for 12 months or more, to apply for residence. The job-offer step is the most common stumbling point because the post-selection window cannot be deferred.
If you include dependent children, you need a minimum income (NZD $55,404.96 a year for the 2026 ballot). If no children are included, you must be paid at least the New Zealand minimum wage. Confirm the current figure on immigration.govt.nz.
No. The Pacific Access Category is a New Zealand residence pathway run by Immigration New Zealand. Australia’s Pacific Engagement Visa is a separate Australian programme with different rules.
They are two separate New Zealand residence ballots run by Immigration New Zealand. The Pacific Access Category is for citizens of Fiji, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Kiribati (650 places for the 2026 ballot), while the Samoan Quota is for citizens of Samoa (up to 1,100 places a year). Both select registrants by ballot and require an acceptable New Zealand job offer to apply for residence after selection. Confirm the current quotas and dates on immigration.govt.nz.
Last reviewed . Information may have changed since this article was reviewed. For your specific case, talk to a licensed immigration adviser.
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