Fijians back in ballot for residency

Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Fijian nationals will be eligible to register for a residency ballot under the Pacific Access Category for the first time since the military coup in 2006.

Citizens of Samoa, Tonga, Kiribati, Tuvalu and Fiji will be able to register for this year's ballot under the PAC rules and the Samoan Quota from tomorrow until April 30.

Up to 1100 Samoan citizens, 75 citizens from Tuvalu and Kiribati, and 250 Tongans are selected by ballot each year for the grant of New Zealand residency.

"Following the restoration of democracy in Fiji, 250 citizens of Fiji will also now be eligible for residence each year under the PAC starting this year," Immigration New Zealand said.

To be eligible, applicants must be between 18 and 45, but some are calling for a waiver on the age restrictions for Fijian citizens.

"There are more than a hundred Fijians living here who have nothing to do with the coup, and banning them since 2006 is just penalising the innocent," said immigration adviser Tika Ram.

Many would have qualified for residency and he is asking Immigration New Zealand to "do the right thing" and accept Fijian applications without ballot.

However, Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse said there were no plans to change specific criteria for Fijian nationals.

"The criteria are generic to all registrants under PAC across all four countries."

Applicants must have an acceptable job offer from a local employer.