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Important Information for Employers

Important Information For Employers

  • Employers, organizations, and institutions sponsoring non-citizens to work in Fiji are to ensure that all mandatory requirements (as per checklists on application forms) for permit applications are submitted.
  • Priority Work Permit Applications (see below) are exempt from some requirements.
  • Priority Work Permit Applications are those:
    • sponsored by employers on the Qualified Employers List. 
    •  work permits due for renewal in 2024 where the employer and the employee are unchanged.
  • Non-submission of any of the required documents can be grounds to decline or refuse permit applications.
  • An employment contract which includes all non-negotiable conditions is a mandatory requirement. A standard sample of employment contract in accordance with the Fiji labour laws is available on the Fiji Immigration website.
  • The employer is responsible for returning foreign workers to their home countries as required in the repatriation clauses of their employment contracts.
  • Employers must provide evidence that content of the employment contract is understood by the foreign worker and signed by both parties.
  • A change of employment while in country is not permitted unless approved by the Immigration Department.
  • Employers must ensure applicant’s passport is valid for the duration of permit. Applications with less than 6 months’ passport validity will not be accepted.
  • Secondment – Employers must ensure a secondment letter signed by the seconding employer is submitted with the application.
  • Voluntary arrangements – An organisation seeking to benefit from voluntary arrangements must provide a letter of engagement with the application.
DRIVERS POSITION
  • Driving License to be authenticated with Notary Public/ Justice of Peace or Commisioner of Oath
  • Mandatory Test with LTA when enter the country
Non-Government
Organization​

Work Permit are issued to a non-citizen to be employed by International or Regional Non-Governmental Organisations.

Maritime and
Fishing ​

Work Permit are issued to non-citizen to be employed as Maritime Crew, apply for a work permit as a crew on a fishing vessel.

Overseas Employers and Secondments​

Granted upon submission of a secondment letter signed by the parent company as part of the application process.

Other Work Permit Categories – Long Term (3 Years)​

Long-term work permits in Fiji, with a duration of three years, are typically issued to non-citizens.

Other Work Permit Categories – One Year or Less

Short-term work permits, valid for one year or less, are granted to non-citizens for temporary engagements.

Qualified Employers List

Pursuant to Ministerial Direction dated 1 May 2024:

  • The Director is to compile and publish on the Immigration Department website a Qualified Employers List. The current list is available here.

The Qualified Employer List will comprise employers who in the reasonable opinion of the Director:

  • are frequent or high-volume sponsors of work permit applications lodged with the Department
  • have a proven track record of capably completing the required documentation to apply for work permits and complying with the conditions of permits once issued
  • are capable of:
    • satisfactorily complying with the required documentation requirements for short term or long-term work permit applications
    • meeting the conditions on which any such permits are issued
  • hold current Tax Compliance Certificates (to meet the requirements of s.74A of the Tax Administration Act 2009)
  • have not employed persons who have breached the conditions of any permit or any law relating to immigration in Fiji or any other country.

An application sponsored by a Qualified Employer may be filed through an agent (professional services firm or other immigration specialist) as long as that agent is itself a Qualified Employer.

  • The Qualified Employers List will be updated at regular intervals. Employers may make a written request to the Director to be included on the Qualified Employer List. The decision on whether any particular employer is to be included is a matter for the Director taking into account the matters referred to in (a) above.

Note: A Priority Work Permit Application must meet all other criteria for acceptance. Priority processing is not a guarantee that an application will be successful.

Priority Work Permit Applications :

Qualified Employers and 2024 Work Permit Renewals

To comply with Directions from the Minister of Home Affairs and Immigration dated 1 May 2024, Priority Work Permit Applications are exempted from the following requirements:

Box 24: [Reasons why position cannot be filled by citizen of Fiji Islands]

Box 25: [Evidence of copies of advertisements for vacancy]

Box 26: [Reasons local applicants were not suitable]

Box 27: [What type of training organisation intends to do]

Box 28: [Names and positions of persons to be trained].

For Priority Work Permit Applications, these boxes may be completed simply by inserting: Priority Work Permit Application – Qualified Employer or Priority Work Permit Application – 2024 Work Permit Renewal as the case may be.

On the Work Permit Checklist the applicant should insert the word Priority in the following boxes:

Box 7 (Copies of position advertisement)

Box 8 (Summary of shortlisted local applicants)

Box 11 (Training Program)

Box 13 (Project Agreement).

Note: A Priority Work Permit Application must meet all other criteria for acceptance. Priority processing is not a guarantee that an application will be successful.

Non-Government
Organization​

Work Permit are issued to a non-citizen to be employed by International or Regional Non-Governmental Organisations.

Maritime and
Fishing ​

Work Permit are issued to non-citizen to be employed as Maritime Crew, apply for a work permit as a crew on a fishing vessel.

Overseas Employers and Secondments​

Granted upon submission of a secondment letter signed by the parent company as part of the application process.

Other Work Permit Categories – Long Term (3 Years)​

Long-term work permits in Fiji, with a duration of three years, are typically issued to non-citizens.

Other Work Permit Categories – One Year or Less

Short-term work permits, valid for one year or less, are granted to non-citizens for temporary engagements.

Fiji Immigration Department

We offer a range of visas to help those who can contribute to Fiji, visit, work, study, live or invest here.

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