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Important Information for Employers in fiji

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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 and application forms) for permit applications are submitted. (Long Term Work Permit Checklist , Short Term Work Permit Checklist, Application Form)
  • 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. 
  • Foreigners in Fiji on visitor permit (holiday/visiting friends or relatives) are not allowed to apply for work permit while in the country. He/she will need to depart Fiji before an application for work permit is lodged.
  • Any change of employment to apply from outside of the country.
  • No work permit application will be accepted from visitors permit holders in country.  All will have to apply from outside 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:

(a) 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 of employers who in the reasonable opinion of the Director:

I. are frequent or high-volume sponsors of work permit applications lodged with the Department

II. 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

III. 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

IV. hold current Tax Compliance Certificates (to meet the requirements of s.74A of the Tax Administration Act 2009)

V. have not employed persons who have breached the conditions of any permit or law 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 agent is a Qualified Employer.

(b) The Qualified Employers List will be updated at regular intervals. Employers may make a written request to the Director and 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 (refer to Part II “To Be Completed by the Employer” on the Application form) 

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.

Secondments​ Work Permit

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.

Overseas Employees/Employer (1 Year or Less)

Work Permit issued to non-citizen employed by a foreign company with income and work location outside of Fiji. Applicant for this category is an employee of a foreign company which has an agreement or contract with a local company for specific projects.

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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