The Department of Immigration administers the Immigration Act, and its officers will provide investors with any information they require on its legislative provisions. All applications for work permits should be made to the Department of Immigration, in accordance with the forms and procedures specified therein. In addition, the Department of Immigration has within it a special unit that specifically handles the processing of all investment related work permits.For more information and Application Forms, please visit website: www.immigration.gov.fj

Entitlement to Work Permits

All investors, local and foreign, may freely employ Fiji citizens in their business enterprises, in compliance with Fiji's labour laws.

All investors, local and foreign, may apply to the Department of Immigration for work permits to employ expatriate skilled technical personnel. In accordance with the provisions of the Immigration Act, work permits for up to a maximum of three years may be granted at any one time to expatriates, whose skills are unavailable in the domestic labour market. Investors are expected to develop and implement plans to train locals to understudy, these expatriate employees.

Foreign investors are required to have work permits, which will provide them with the legal authority to manage their enterprises in Fiji. The provisions of the Immigration Act also allow investors to apply for work permits for certain key positions which is, essential to safeguard the investors' interests.

 Extension of Work Permit (Key Post Work Permit)

The foreign investor(s) must apply to the Department of Immigration three (3) months prior to the expiry of the current key post work permit for an extension/renewal. A copy of the application letter and the following documents must also be submitted to the FTIB for the preparation of a progress report.

Documents to include;

• Brief overview on the progress of the company/business to date
• Completely filled FIS Form (also attach documents as requested in the form).      
• Evidence of latest tax/VAT return of the company/business lodged to Fiji Islands Revenue & Customs
• RBF letter indicating the amount of foreign funds that came from offshore.
• Latest Employer Payment History Form from FNPF
• 2006 or 2007 Financial Statements of the company/business from a registered accountant
  

Note: Only Resorts and Hotels are required to fill in FIS Form 2 rather than FIS Form 1.

PERMANENT RESIDENCE (PR) PERMIT

The PR Permit policy, effective 3rd January, 2008 specifically targets former Fiji nationals overseas for investment purposes only.

Who qualifies to apply for PR Permit?

The former Fiji citizens residing abroad (**Former citizens are to show proof of their former citizenship)

Features of the PR Permit

• Allows former Fiji citizens to also invest in areas reserved for Fiji citizens.
• Former Fiji citizens already in the country on any work permits may apply and be considered for PR status. The PR permit will supersede any valid work permit currently held by the applicant.
• Former Fiji citizens granted PR status are not required to comply with FTIB requirements when establishing businesses
•  Applicants to explain in writing why their presence in Fiji will be beneficial to the interest of the nation (all business ventures set up under PR status will be monitored by Immigration Department)
• Persons holding PR status are allowed to work without the necessity of obtaining a work permit if they wish to take up any work or contracted employment.
• A bond as security for each PR permit holder is to be paid before the permit is issued.(the sum payable as a bond is the equivalent of a one way economy class airfare to the Permit holder’s country of residence PLUS 10% of the total sum) 
• The Immigration Department will consider applications for extension of PR permit on merit and on case by case basis.

Validity of the PR Permit

• The validity of the PR permit is for 5yrs initially and may on application be extended for a further 5 years. (Note the PR Permit on application is renewable every  5yrs)
• A PR permit holder who wishes to obtain a Fiji passport, have to apply for the Fiji passport and renounce the other passport that he/she holds. (Dual citizenship is not permitted with the PR permit).
• The validity of all PR status MUST NOT exceed the validity of the passport.

Application Fee
 

• Application fee for former Fiji residents wishing to invest in Fiji would be FJD$465 and an issue fee of FJD$3000/person would also be charged. (The issue of PR Permit fee is based on the currency of the country of citizenship of the applicant OR if the currency rate is less than the Fiji currency, the Fiji currency shall be charged)
• Application to extend or vary a permit is FJD$465.

For further reference please refer to immigration website: www.immigration.gov.fj