Pitcairn Islander Resident Visa

At a glance

Pitcairn Islanders may be granted a resident visa under a special category, recognising the limited employment opportunities on Pitcairn Island. [S1.1] Applicants must have a skilled job offer from a compliant New Zealand employer and meet health and character requirements.

How to apply

Applicants must lodge an application in the prescribed manner, following the general instructions for residence applications in R2.35 and R2.45. [R2.35][R2.45] The application should include evidence of the job offer, health certificates, and police clearances.

Eligibility criteria

To be approved for a resident visa, Pitcairn Islanders must:

• lodge an application in the prescribed manner [R2.35][R2.45];
• meet health requirements [A4];
• meet character requirements [A5];
• hold an offer of employment in New Zealand that meets the skilled employment requirements of SM6.30 [SM6.30]; and
• the employer must meet the employment and immigration law compliance requirements set out at R5.110 [R5.110].

Approval is mandatory if all criteria are met. [S1.1]

Interpretation & edge cases

• The reference to SM6.30 in S1.1 refers to the skilled employment requirements as they stood up to 26 July 2024. Applicants should verify whether SM6.30 has been updated or replaced; however, the instruction in S1.1 continues to require an offer that meets SM6.30's criteria. [SM6.30]
• Health and character assessments follow the standard instructions in A4 and A5, and are not waived for Pitcairn Islanders. [A4][A5]
• Employer compliance under R5.110 must be satisfied at the time of application; an employer with a history of immigration or employment law breaches may disqualify the application. [R5.110]
• There is no skill level or points threshold; the critical factor is the existence of a genuine, skilled job offer. [S1.1]
• The prescribed manner of application includes form, fee, and lodgement requirements; any deviation may result in the application being returned. [R2.35][R2.45]

Citations

• S1.1 — Pitcairn Islanders
• A4 — Health Requirements
• A5 — Character Requirements
• SM6.30 — Additional requirements for skilled employment (to 26/07/2024)
• R5.110 — Compliance with employment and immigration law
• R2.35 — How an application must be lodged
• R2.45 — Additional requirements