Residency ballot opens for Pacific Islanders

[Stacey King]

Published: 1:04PM Saturday May 01, 2010 Source: NZPA

Registrations to apply for New Zealand residency have opened for citizens of Samoa, Tonga, Kiribati and Tuvalu.

From today until May 31, citizens can register with Immigration New Zealand under the Samoa Quota and Pacific Access Category ballots, from which applicants will be chosen and invited to apply for residency.

The principal registrant must be a citizen of one of the four countries and have been born there, or have been born overseas to a citizen of one of the countries, and be aged between 18 and 45.

There is no charge to submit a registration under the Samoa Quota but a fee is involved for other registrants.

Only one registration form is needed per family but copies of birth certificates for each person are required.

The ballots will be drawn on July 9.