Fiji investor permit

The foreign investor must register the business or appear in the shareholding structure of a company registered with the Registrar of Companies, or be a sole trader owner, a partner under a partnership agreement, or a director or owner's representative of a foreign company; representatives and directors submit a written power of attorney confirming their appointment. Applicants must be over 18, medically fit and without an adverse police record, and the applicant or foreign company must prove sufficient funds of FJD 300,000 and their accessibility for each shareholder's contribution, or a waiver approval from the Ministry of Trade.

Visitors who declared investment on arrival may apply. Fiji citizens, people under 18, people not named in the shareholding structure, holders of study, internship, research or residence permits, visitors who declared a holiday or family visit on arrival and holders of a business visitors permit may not. Family members who are shareholders or office holders apply for their own investor permit.

A certified passport bio page with at least six months' validity, a certified photo taken within three months, an offshore bank statement or proof of investment, a company request letter justifying the investment in Fiji, a certified or notarised national police report, a medical report valid for three months, the investor terms and conditions, the Reserve Bank of Fiji letter on the issuance of shares, any partnership agreement, the company or business profile from the Registrar of Companies, the company TIN registration from the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service, the company registration certificate and endorsements from relevant authorities.

Dependants supply a photo, a police report for the spouse, a medical report, a passport copy, the residence terms and conditions and the marriage or birth certificate. Sources of funds must be legitimate and in accordance with Fijian law. Dependants on a permit are strictly limited to a legal spouse and children under 18. De facto partners and children over 18 who want to live with the principal applicant must apply separately for a co-extensive residence permit.

The base fee is FJD 650.05 for the primary applicant and FJD 185.00 per dependant, paid online. 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.

The permit is approved for three years in principle. One year is issued first, and the balance is issued after you lodge a balance-of-investor-permit application 30 days before the first issuance expires; an extension application is also available. An investor may run several ventures on one valid permit, but to consolidate all shareholding companies onto a single permit must lodge a new application listing every business entity with its documents.

Overstayers are prohibited immigrants under Part 4, section 13(2)(a) of the Immigration Act 2003, and people convicted in any foreign country fall under section 13(2)(e); neither group can obtain this permit. Providing false information can lead to imprisonment, a fine or both.

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.