Fiji student permit

Student permits are issued to foreigners to study at local secondary, tertiary or vocational institutions or universities. International students and students attending non-exempted institutions must apply while out of the country, and any first-time lodgement of a new student permit for an international student must be made from outside Fiji. The ministry does not accept student permit applications for primary school, Years 1 to 8.

A visitor permit does not allow study, even for visa-exempt nationals, so students need a student permit approved before they travel. At immigration clearance, students present a valid passport, the approval letter, a return ticket if the course lasts less than 12 months, the arrival card and a confirmed address in Fiji; for studies longer than 12 months a security bond is required.

Applicants must be non-Fiji citizens, medically fit and without an adverse police record. Overstayers, who are prohibited immigrants under section 13(2)(a) of the Immigration Act 2003, and people convicted in a foreign country under section 13(2)(e) cannot apply. Secondary students must provide a consent letter from their parents allowing them to live with a local guardian.

Every applicant submits two certified passport-size colour photos less than six months old, a certified copy of the passport bio page, police reports for the applicant and spouse from each country of citizenship or residence where they lived 12 months or more in the last ten years (less than one year old), medical reports less than three months old and certified English translations of non-English documents. New applicants add the acceptance letter for the current academic year and a request letter; applicants over 18 who have studied 12 months or more in Fiji add a local police report.

Sponsored students add the scholarship award, for example from the governments of Tuvalu, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Tokelau or Kiribati, or Australian or New Zealand aid sponsors. Self-sponsored students add a sponsor letter, a confirmed return air ticket, the sponsor's bank statement or pay slip and a support letter from a local guardian or sponsor.

The base fee is FJD 321.00 for international and secondary school students and for students at non-exempted institutions, and it is paid once the permit is approved. The fee table splits this into a FJ$136.00 student permit fee and a FJ$185.00 issue fee. Tuvalu secondary and tertiary students and regional students at exempted institutions do not pay application fees. Payment is made online by M-Paisa (2% service fee), Visa or Mastercard (2.5%).

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.

Students cannot work while holding a student permit and must comply with its conditions. Family may be able to accompany a student; a spouse and children are added through the co-extensive residence permit, which asks for the principal's scholarship award letter where relevant. Notify Immigration and confirm whether a variation is needed before changing course or institution, apply for any extension before the permit expires, and on completing your studies either leave Fiji or obtain another lawful status.