New Zealand immigration is encouraging Tongan citizens who wish to immigrate to New Zealand, to register in a ballot next month so that they will be considered for a grant of residence.

Those registered in the ballot will undergo selection for a grant of residence in New Zealand.  New Zealand Immigration stated that a quota of 250 Tongan applicants will be considered for the grant and that ballot registration forms are available from the Immigration New Zealand office.

Registering for the ballot is open from April 1 – 30, only persons aged 18 – 45 are eligible to register. Successful applicants selected from the ballot process will have until March 2015 to lodge residence visa applications and must have an acceptable job offer from a New Zealand employer.