Residence Visa/Permit for New Zealand

Family Quota

Under the Family Quota Category only a number of people (including partners and children) may be granted residency in New Zealand each year. This is announced by the Minister of Immigration every year.

There is a more relaxed lifestyle, and it is also known as a great country for families because it is safer, cleaner and less crowded then other parts of the world. You can take English classes to get used to the way New Zealanders talk. You can take a wide range of courses to study for improvement or just for enjoyment purposes! If you need to find work have a look through adverts in the newspapers, on employment websites, through employment agencies or through personal approaches to different companies and businesses.

If you want to live permanently in New Zealand you must be sponsored by an adult child, adult grandchild, adult sibling or parent who is a citizen or a resident themselves. The selection is done by a random ballot. There are no places available for 2007 so there will not be a registration period from the 1st July 2006 to 30 June 2007. If you are successful you will be able to apply for residence. There are requirements that you need to meet first to make sure your application will be a success:-

• the person that is sponsoring you must have lodged a registration during the correct registration period and it must have been drawn from the ballot
• you can not be eligible for residence under any other category of the Government's policy except for Refugee Family Quota
• you will have to be sponsored by a close family member and they must meet sponsor requirements as well
• the sponsor must give evidence of your identity
• applications must be handed in within 6 months of the registration being taken from the ballot
• you must have good character and be in good health
• you have to give evidence of the relationship between you and your sponsor and the registration reference number of the sponsor

Samoan Quota

Work, education and family opportunities are the reasons why people want to leave the Pacific Islands to create a new life in New Zealand. The government welcomes a certain number of Samoan citizens every year.

The Samoan Quota Scheme is run by ballot and you can only apply for residence if your registration is drawn from the ballot. You can then apply for a residence visa or permit. You must meet a number of requirements before you can register. Below is a check list of the requirements you need:-

• You must be a citizen of Samoa
• Registered for the ballot for the Samoan Quota Scheme within the correct registration period
• If you are currently in New Zealand, you must be there lawfully

To apply for residence you must:-

• have your registration drawn from the ballot
• be between the ages of 18 and 45 years
• be in good health and be of good character
• have a minimum level of English Language ability
• have an acceptable offer of employment in New Zealand
• meet a minimum level of income

Pacific Access Category

New Zealand welcomes a number of citizens from Kiribati, Tuvalu, Fiji and Tonga to settle into a new life every year under the Pacific Access Category.

A selection process is used to choose carefully the families that will be able to settle in to New Zealand and get on with New Zealand residents. The category is run by ballot nd can only apply for residence if your registration is drawn from the ballot. Then you apply for a residence visa or permit. You will have to pay a fee when you register and a fee when you apply for residence.

Zimbabwe Residence

The Special Zimbabwe Residence Policy is for nationals from Zimbabwe who have arrived in New Zealand on or before 23rd September 2004 and are not eligible for residence under existing policies.

You would only gain residency if:-

• arrived in New Zealand on or before 23rd September 2004 with a Zimbabwean passport
• have not spent more than 90 days outside of New Zealand since 1 April 2000
• are currently in New Zealand lawfully
• not a citizen of or not have the right to be a citizen of any other country than Zimbabwe
• are not a prohibited person (by means of being close to Robert Mugabe and the Zimbabwe Government) and can demonstrate good character
• do not meet requirements for approval under any other category of residence
• lodge the application under this policy on or before 28 February 2007

Other Opportunities