Samoan Quota Resident Visa

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	Samoan Quota Resident Visa
Purpose	Residence through annual ballot
Stay	Indefinitely
Cost	From NZD $820
Ballot registration fee	No fee
2026 ballot	Closed; 1,100 places
Age	18–45 at ballot closing
Citizenship	Samoa citizen required
Eligibility timing	Apply within eight months
Work rights	Any job, any employer
Study	Any provider, any duration
Medicare	Not stated in the source
Travel facility	Multiple entry for two years
Permanent residence	Eligible after two years
Citizenship	Usually eligible after five years
Family sponsorship	Include partner and dependent children
Visa record	eVisa
Processing time	Not stated in the source

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Purpose

This resident visa allows selected Samoan citizens to live, work and study in New Zealand indefinitely.

You must first register for the Samoan Quota ballot. If your registration is selected and accepted, Immigration New Zealand will invite you to apply.

The 2026 ballot had 1,100 places and is closed.

Eligibility

Ballot registration

To register, you must:

• Be a citizen of Samoa.
• Be aged 18 to 45, younger than 46, when registration closes.
• Have been born in Samoa, or have a parent born in Samoa.
• Be overseas or legally in New Zealand when registering online.
• Include your partner and dependent children in the registration if they will apply with you.

Visa application

After receiving an invitation, you must:

• Apply while in Samoa, or in New Zealand on a valid temporary visa.
• Have an acceptable full-time job offer for at least 12 months, or have a partner with one.
• Meet income requirements.
• Be in good health and of good character.
• Speak, read and understand English.
• Have a genuine relationship with any included partner and dependent children.

Job and Income Requirements

You or your partner must have a current offer of full-time work for at least 12 months.

The employer must not appear on either the Labour Inspectorate stand-down list or Immigration New Zealand's stand-down list.

If dependent children are included, you and your partner must earn at least NZD $55,404.96 per year combined. If both have job offers, income may be combined; only one job needs to be full-time.

If no children are included, you must be paid at least the New Zealand minimum wage.

Minimum income requirements are reviewed each year.

Health, Character and English

Health

You must provide a medical examination and chest X-ray.

Children under 11 and pregnant women do not need a chest X-ray unless a special report is required. Health evidence must be less than three months old when received.

Character

Applicants aged 17 or older must provide police certificates less than six months old.

Certificates are required from:

• Countries of citizenship; and
• Countries where you spent 12 months or more during the last 10 years, including non-continuous stays.

Certificates must show criminal records at any time, not only during the last 10 years. A conviction or security risk may result in refusal.

English

You must speak, read and understand English. Immigration New Zealand may assess this by speaking with you about yourself, your family and your background, and requiring you to read and answer questions in English.

Family Members

You may include your partner and dependent children aged 24 or younger, but they must have been included in your ballot registration.

You must provide evidence of:

• Your genuine relationship with your partner and children.
• Each family member's identity.
• Their health and character requirements.

Required Documents

For ballot registration

Provide:

• Your full birth certificate.
• Birth certificates for an included partner and dependent children.

If born outside Samoa, Immigration New Zealand may request your parent's full birth certificate and their passport or certificate of identity.

For the visa application

If invited, provide:

• Passport or certificate of identity.
• One acceptable photo.
• Chest X-ray and medical examination evidence.
• Required police certificates.
• Evidence you are in Samoa or New Zealand.
• Certified copies of job offer, job description and employment agreement.
• Required occupational registration evidence.
• Evidence of required income.
• Family relationship and identity evidence, if applicable.
• Certified English translations and copies of originals for non-English documents.

Immigration New Zealand may later request original passports, further English evidence, or parental birth evidence.

How to Apply

1. Register online for the ballot using the Pacific Access Category and Samoan Quota registration form. You need an email address or mobile number.
2. Wait for ballot results. You will receive a ballot number by email or text.
3. Receive an invitation to apply if selected and eligible.
4. Gather evidence, including medical, police, job, income, identity and family documents.
5. Submit the visa application and pay the fee within eight months of the invitation.
6. Wait for a decision. Immigration New Zealand may request further information and will email its decision.

If not selected, or if you do not apply within eight months, you may register again in the next year's ballot if still eligible.

Important Application Requirements

• Identity details must exactly match your passport or certificate of identity.
• Incorrect identity details may delay, decline the application, or lead to refusal of entry.
• Police certificates must be less than six months old when submitted.
• Medical and chest X-ray evidence must be less than three months old when received.
• If you are in New Zealand, maintain a valid visa while the application is processed. Consider applying for another temporary visa or leaving before your current visa expires.

After Visa Approval

If approved, you receive an eVisa by email.

You must enter New Zealand within three months of visa grant if outside New Zealand. Your partner and children must enter within 12 months.

The visa begins:

• On first entry to New Zealand, if approved while outside New Zealand; or
• On the grant date, if already in New Zealand.

Rights and Travel

Living, working and studying

You may:

• Live in New Zealand indefinitely.
• Work in any job for any employer.
• Study anywhere for any length of time.

Travel conditions

You may travel in and out of New Zealand as often as you like until travel conditions expire.

Travel conditions expire two years after:

• Your first arrival as a resident; or
• Visa grant, if you were already in New Zealand.

After that, you need a Permanent Resident Visa or an extension of travel conditions to return to New Zealand.

Warning: If you are outside New Zealand when travel conditions expire, your resident visa also expires.

If your passport expires, transfer the visa to a new passport before travelling.

Permanent Residence and Citizenship

After holding this visa for two consecutive years, you may apply for a Permanent Resident Visa.

Most people may apply for New Zealand citizenship after five years living in New Zealand as a resident, if they meet the requirements. A Permanent Resident Visa is not required first. Different citizenship requirements may apply to Samoan citizens and children.

Arrival Requirements

Before arrival, complete the New Zealand Traveller Declaration:

• By air: from 24 hours before your journey starts.
• By sea: from 24 hours before departure from the last overseas port.

You may be refused entry permission if you no longer meet character requirements, your circumstances have changed, or you refuse a photo, fingerprint or iris scan.