Fiji co-extensive residence permit for families

The co-extensive residence permit allows the spouse and dependent children of a principal permit holder, for example a work, investor or student permit holder, to reside legally in Fiji. Unmarried children aged 18 or older who are single, have never been married and are fully dependent on a parent holding a valid permit may also qualify. On work, investor and assured-income permits, dependants listed with the principal are strictly limited to a legal spouse and children under 18, so de facto partners and children over 18 who want to live with the principal must lodge this separate application.

The category is not available to dependants of permit holders living on yachts, to people who want to work, conduct business or undertake any activity that needs a separate immigration permit or approval, to married children aged 18 or above, or to anyone who does not meet the co-extensive requirements and the immigration laws. Applicants must be medically fit to reside in Fiji, and providing false information can lead to imprisonment, a fine or both.

Submit a request or support letter from the principal applicant confirming the relationship and financial support, a certified passport photo taken within three months, certified copies of the applicant's passport bio page, birth certificate and current immigration arrival stamp, the principal's birth, marriage or kinship certificate, the principal's bank statement and permit letter, the scholarship award letter if the principal holds a student permit, a certified or apostilled national police report valid one year from each country lived in for 12 months or more, a medical report from within three months and the residence terms and conditions form. Proof of relationship can be a certified marriage certificate, birth certificate or legal guardianship order.

The permit page lists a base fee of FJD 650.05 for an international primary applicant and FJD 185.00 for a regional primary applicant, plus FJD 185.00 per dependant. The permit is issued for a period not exceeding the duration of the principal permit holder's permit, so it should be renewed together with the principal's permit. All permit applications are lodged online through the IMMI HUB portal and paid online by M-PAiSA, Visa or Mastercard, with service fees of 2% (M-PAiSA) or 2.5% (Mastercard) charged by the providers. Documents that need an English translation must be translated and notarised in the applicant's country of residence; certification is by a notary public, commissioner of oaths or lawyer, or attestation by the foreign ministry of the issuing country. Progress is tracked in the portal, and the ministry answers enquiries only after 30 working days for permits and 21 working days for visas.

A co-extensive permit is a residence permit. Residence permit holders may not work unless specifically authorised, and anyone who wants to work or run a business must obtain the relevant permit; in a family joining a worker in Fiji, each working adult therefore needs their own work permit. A security bond may be required before a permit is granted. The state forfeits it if the holder breaches permit conditions or stays without lawful authority after the permit expires. A cash bond is refunded only when the holder has left Fiji, changed permits, been granted exemption status or acquired Fiji citizenship; the refund application has a standard processing period of 21 working days.

A foreigner or company whose permit application is refused by the Permanent Secretary may appeal in writing to the Minister responsible for immigration under Part 8, section 58 of the Immigration Act 2003, within 21 days of the decision. The appeal letter, addressed to the Director of Immigration, sets out the grounds and contact details and attaches the passport copy and refusal letter; the fee table lists an appeal fee of FJ$929.00.