Residual Quota Places Category

At a glance

When the annual ballot for the Samoan Quota Scheme fails to fill all available places, INZ opens the Residual Quota Places Category. This allows Samoan citizens already in New Zealand to apply directly for residence, without going through the ballot. Applications are decided in order of receipt. If the quota fills before an application is processed, the application lapses.

Applicants must:

• be a Samoan citizen (born in Samoa or born overseas to a Samoan citizen born in Samoa)
• be in New Zealand at the time the applications are invited and lawfully present when applying
• be aged 18–45 inclusive
• have an acceptable offer of employment (or have a partner included in the application who does), matching the same standard as the Samoan Quota Scheme
• meet the minimum income requirement if dependants are included, again as under the Samoan Quota Scheme
• satisfy a minimum English language ability assessed by an immigration officer
• meet health and character requirements for themselves and any accompanying partner and dependent children [S1.11]

If the annual residual places are exhausted before a lodged application is decided, it is treated as lapsed.

How to apply

1. Wait for the call: INZ announces the opening of the Residual Quota Places Category only when unfilled places exist. No ballot or registration is required.
2. Prepare a resident visa application that includes:
   • evidence of Samoan citizenship and identity
   • evidence that the principal applicant is in New Zealand and lawfully present
   • an acceptable offer of employment documented as per the Samoan Quota Scheme criteria
   • proof of meeting the minimum income threshold if dependent children are included
   • evidence of English language ability (assessed at interview)
   • health and character certificates for all applicants [S1.11]
3. Lodge the application within the specified period announced by INZ.
4. Processing: Applications are processed strictly in the order they are received [S1.11]. If the remaining quota fills while an application is still being processed, that application lapses without a decision [S1.11].

Eligibility criteria

Principal applicant requirements

1. Citizenship: Must be a Samoan citizen as defined: born in Samoa, or born overseas to a Samoan citizen who was born in Samoa [S1.11].
2. Presence in New Zealand: Must be in New Zealand at the time INZ calls for applications, and must be lawfully in New Zealand when the resident visa application is lodged [S1.11].
3. Age: 18–45 inclusive [S1.11].
4. Acceptable offer of employment: The applicant, or their partner included in the application, must have an offer of employment that meets the standard defined for the Samoan Quota Scheme (see the Samoan Quota Scheme page for full details on acceptable offers, minimum hours, employer compliance, etc.) [S1.11].
5. Minimum income (if dependants): If dependent children are included, the applicant must meet the minimum income requirement as set out in the Samoan Quota Scheme instructions [S1.11].
6. English language ability: The principal applicant must demonstrate sufficient English to read, understand, respond to questions, and maintain a basic conversation, assessed by an immigration officer [S1.11].
7. Health and character: All persons included in the application must meet the health and character requirements for residence [S1.11].

Partner and dependent children

• Partners and dependent children included in the application must also meet health and character requirements [S1.11].
• There is no requirement for a prior registration, unlike the main ballot. The family composition is assessed at application stage.

Processing rules

• Lodged applications are processed in the order received [S1.11].
• If the number of available residual places is reached before a lodged application is decided, the application is automatically treated as lapsed (no refusal or appeal) [S1.11].

Interpretation & edge cases

When does the category open?
INZ has discretion to open the residual category when it appears the Samoan Quota Scheme ballot will not fill the annual quota. There is no fixed schedule; the category is only available when INZ explicitly calls for applications. Practitioners should monitor official channels.

Lapsing risk
Applications are decided in order of receipt, but the number of residual places is limited to the unfilled quota. If a large number of applications is received, some later applications will lapse without being processed. There is no appeal against lapsing. This makes timing of lodgement critical: earlier submission increases the chance of being processed.

No registration requirement
Because the residual category is triggered by a direct call for applications, there is no ballot, registration, or family pre‑listing requirement. The strict consequences under the Samoan Quota Scheme (e.g., permanent bar for omitted family members) do not apply. However, partners and dependent children must be included at the time of the residence application if they intend to migrate.

Interaction with the Samoan Quota Scheme
The residual category is a fall‑back under the same annual quota. A person who missed the ballot or was unsuccessful in the ballot can apply under this category if they meet the location and other criteria. There is no restriction on having previously registered for the ballot.

Health and character assessments
Health and character requirements are the same as for other residence applications, with reference to A4 and A5. The page on the Samoan Quota Scheme provides general guidance; however, the obligation stems directly from S1.11 which cites those standards.

Citations

• S1.11 — Residual Quota Places Category