New Zealand is opening its doors again. At 08:00 NZDT on 1 April 2025, online ballots for the Pacific Access Category (PAC) and Samoan Quota (SQ) began. If you hope to call Aotearoa home, the next 30 days matter. The NZ ETA portal has guided thousands; let us steer you through the dates, quotas, and precise details that decide whether your family lands in Auckland or waits another year.
For many island households, the ballots are more than policy; they are a promise of shared futures. Up to 1,650 Samoan citizens and a combined 650 citizens from Tonga, Fiji, Kiribati, and Tuvalu may secure residence this year. Each approval carries parents’ dreams, children’s schooling plans, and the possibility of sending much-needed remittances home.
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Key Moment |
Date & Time (NZ) |
|
Ballots open |
1 Apr 2025 08:00 NZDT |
|
Daylight-saving ends |
6 Apr 2025 |
|
Ballots close |
30 May 2025 17:00 NZST |
|
Document |
Max File Size |
|
Passport scan |
5 MB |
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Birth certificate |
5 MB |
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Photo |
500 KB |
“When my number was drawn, I felt the tide change.” — Sela L., Tonga
“INZ forms looked harder than algebra, but the online guide helped me finish in one afternoon.” — Fili T., Fiji
The Ministry for Pacific Peoples funds workshops on budgeting, tenancy, and schooling. Local churches and community centres offer practical help—from finding rental listings to explaining public transport cards.
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Resource |
Location |
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Samoan Quota guide (English) |
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|
Samoan Quota guide (Gagana SÄmoa) |
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|
Pacific Access Category guide |
The PAC and SQ ballots are annual tides carrying courage and hope across the Pacific. Prepare well, submit early, and keep a calm heart. Our NZ ETA specialists are ready to handle travel authorities, leaving you free to focus on the bigger journey—from ballot entry to reunion hugs at Auckland Airport.
Content Disclaimer: This content was refreshed in April 2025. Please confirm all travel details with the New Zealand embassies, agencies, and airlines for complete accuracy.
