Fiji - Apply for a long term Work Permit

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Procedure

The Fijian Department of Immigration grants
work permits for Fiji on a case by case basis. Work permits are generally granted to applicants who want to start a business in Fiji and invest in the local economy, and expats taking up a position that cannot be adequately filled by a Fijian citizen.

Expats who arrive in Fiji on a tourist visa cannot apply for a work permit and will have to apply for their permit before they arrive. Below are the steps to acquire a long term work permit.

Step 1:Make the application

• The application for a long term work permit is made jointly by the employer and the proposed employee to the Director of Immigration, Government Buildings, Suva, Fiji.
  
• The company initiates the process by applying to the Director of Fiji’s Immigration Department for a long term work visa approval,
  
• The application form, costs $5.00 each, is available at the Immigration Office in Suva, Nadir and LaToya.
  
• The application is to be made prior to entering Fiji and this can be granted for up to a term of up to three years before it must be renewed.

Applications for the work permit must be accompanied by the following documents:

1. where applicable, a clipping of the advertisement in the local newspapers;
   
2. the name (s) of the local understudy/counterpart and details of a training programme for the training of a citizen(s) of the Fiji Islands in the work for which the application for a work permit is made;
   
3. police reports in respect of the applicant and his/her spouse from their countries of citizenship and/or residence where they have lived for twelve (12) months or more in the last ten (10) years;
   
4. medical reports which are less than 3 months old in respect of the applicant, his/her spouse and children; The medical report application can be downloaded from this link :File
   
5. a certificate from a competent authority or documentary evidence acceptable to the Director of Immigration that the applicant has adequate knowledge of the English language;
   

Step 2:Approval of application

• The Fuji Immigration Work Department will review the application and upon satisfaction will approve the application.
  
• After approval the department of immigration will sends a copy of the application to the Ministry of Labour in Fiji
  
• Fiji immigration department prepares the actual "work visa approval" and faxes a copy to the Fiji embassy in the applicant's country of origin.
  

Step 3:Collection of the work permit

• The applicant will be notified visits the Fijian embassy in his country of origin to secure he visa stamp.
  
• He is to pay the appropriate fees, and secures the visa stamp in his or her passport.

First time applications must be submitted while the applicant is out of the country and the processing time-frame of 21 days applies

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Required Documents

• Completed and signed APPLICATION FOR A PERMIT TO WORK formForm
  
• Certified copy of applicant’s bio-data page of passport
  
• Two [2] certified photographs
  
• Request letter from the employer
  

1. Company profile/ background
   
2. Position Description
   
3. Roles of the position
   
4. Special requirements for the position
   
5. Detailed justification for the need of the position/ extension
   

• Police Report for principal applicant from country of citizenship
  
• Police Report for spouse from country of citizenship
  
• Police Report for child if over 18 years from country of citizenship
  
• Medical Report for principal applicantApplicant
  
• Medical Report for spouse
  
• Medical Report for child
  
• Curriculum Vitae [CV] - Detail
  

1. Certified copies of academic qualifications
2. Certified copies of references for proof of work experience
   

• Advertisement: ALL positions must be advertised except:
  

1. Family Business [Certified proof of Relationship]
   
2. Government Contract [Certified copy of Contract Agreement]
   
3. Seconded from Parent Company [Certified Secondment Letter]
   

• Analysis of local applications received

1. Complete list of locals shortlisted for the job in tabulated form
   
2. Academic Qualifications
   
3. Work Experience
   
4. Reasons as to why not suitable for the position
   

• Is this a new position? Yes / No
  

1. If YES, please justify the need of the post
   
2. If NO, please provide the person’s name previously doing the job and state whether resigned/migrated, etc. If expatriate please provide copy of the passport bio date page and permit stamp.
   

• Contract of Employment
  
• Training Program
  
• Local understudy:

1. Name and position in the company
2. Contractual Agreement between understudy and company
3. Detailed justification for not appointing the previous understudy
   

• Company Registration

1. Certified copy of Foreign Investment Certificate [FIC]
2. Certified copy of Investment Fiji approval
   
3. Certified copy of Business Registration
   

• Endorsement from relevant Authorities

1. Reserve Bank
   
2. Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji [MSAF]

Investment Fiji

1. Legal Practitioners Unit
   
2. Ministry of Education
   
3. Fiji Hotel & Tourism Association
   
4. Fiji Medical & Dental Association
   
5. Ministry of Lands & Mineral Resources
   
6. Fiji Commerce & Employers Federation
   

• Application fees( proof of payment)

Office Locations & Contacts

The Director
Immigration Department
Civic Towers
Victoria Parade
P O Box 2224
Government Buildings
Suva
Fiji Islands
Phone: (679)3312622
Fax: (679)3301
Email: [email protected]

Suva

P O Box 2224, Government Building, Suva, Fiji Phone No: 3312622
Fax No: [679] 3313093

Nadi
P O Box 9022, Nadi Airport, Fiji
Phone No: 6722263
Fax No:[679] 6721720

Lautoka
P O Box 1079, Lautoka, Fiji
Phone No: 6661706
Fax No: [679] 6668120

Savusavu
P O Box 566, Savusavu, Fiji
Phone No: 8850800
Fax No: [679] 8853492

Levuka
P O Box 176, Levuka
Phone No: 3440860
Fax No: [679] 3440860

Eligibility

• Non-citizens of Fiji wishing to work in Fiji.
  
• You will need to get a security clearance from the State Security Service in Fiji.
  
• You will also need to provide proof of a clean bill of health. This includes undergoing an HIV test.

Fees

Application form F$ 5.00 Work Permit Application F$ 452.00 Issue fee is F$ 185.00 Total F$ 655.00

Extension of Work Permit F$. 452.00

Validity

The long term work permit (LTWP) can be granted for up to a term of up to three years before it must be renewed.

Documents to Use

• Application for a permit to work form : Form
  
• Medical Report Form- Registration of Skilled Professional Act :File

Sample Documents

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

Processing Time

The processing time-frame is 21 days

Related Videos

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications. 
Attach videos using the following tag <&video type='website'>video ID|width|height<&/video&> from external websites. 	
Please remove the '&' inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver, 
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is displayed.
e.g In the following url 'http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M' Video ID is 'Y0US7oR_t3M'.

Instructions

Important notes to consider before completing the application for a permit to work form:

• The form must be completed fully. Your application will be considered on the basis of the information submitted at the time of lodgement.
  
• One form should be completed by each applicant. However, where a family is applying for permits at the same time as the principal applicant, the other spouse and their children under 21years of age may be included on the same form. The only occasion where children under 21 years complete a separate form is when they enter the Fiji Islands separately from the family and their permits were not applied for at the same time.
  
• Where proof of qualifications and financial status are required, attested copies may be submitted but the Department reserves the right to call for original documents.
  
• Appropriate fees, which are not refundable, must be submitted with the application.
  
• Permits are normally issued for a period not greater than 3 years in the first instance.
  
• Dates should be shown in the form: Day/Month/Year, e.g. 28/09/2001.
  
• Copies of marriage certificate (if appropriate) should be attached with all children’s’ birth certificates if permits are required for them.
  
• Police Reports in respect of the applicant and his/her spouse from their countries of citizenship or residency must be submitted if they have lived there for 12 months or more in the last 10 years. Police report(s) is also required in respect of any child intending to enter a tertiary institution in the Fiji Islands.
  
• Medical reports, which are less than 3 months old, must be submitted by the applicant and members of his/her family who are applying for permits. The Department’s medical report form must be used for this purpose.

Required Information

1. Personal details of the Applicant
   

   • Name as shown on the passport
     
   • Date of Birth
   • Nationality
   • Permanent Residential & Address Postal Address
     
   • Marital status
     
   • Details of spouse/partner and all children under the age of 21 years who are applying for permits
     
   • If applicant is are already in the Fiji Island Date of Entry, Port of Entry, Type of Permit , Permit Expiry Date)
     
   • Any TIME previously spent in Fiji
     
   • Residential addresses of the applicant and spouse where they lived for 12 months or more in the last 10 years in
   • Any criminal record
     
   • Intended residential and postal addresses in the Fiji
     
   • Medical records
     
     

2. Employer details

   • Name of Employer
   • Address of Employer
   • Nature of Business
   • Position of Employee
   • Duties of this position
   • Number of persons employed/to be employed and their positions in the organisation
   • Qualifications and experience are required for the position
     
   • Qualifications of the applicant
     
   • Reasons why this position cannot be filled by a citizen of the Fiji Islands
     
   • Details of advertisements in the Fiji Islands for the vacancy
     
     

3. Investor details

   • Name of business
     
   • Name of the shareholders in the business
     
   • The date on which Fiji Islands Trade and Investment Bureau (FTIB) granted the Foreign Investment Certificate (FIC)
     
   • Date of commencement of business

Need for the Document

A work permit allows a foreign investor to work in Fiji except for former Fiji citizens holding PR status and those holding dual citizenship. Without this approval, no foreigner will be allowed to establish business and work in Fiji.

Information which might help

• Those who require a Long Term Work Permit (LTWP) are to apply for the work permit prior to entering Fiji and this can be granted for up to a term of up to three years before it must be renewed.
  
• First time applications must be submitted while the applicant is out of the country and the processing time-frame of 21 days applies.
  
• Upon the expiry of the term, it may be possible for the applicant to apply for an extension and the applicant may not be required to leave Fiji before making this extension application.
  
• Further extensions are only up to a maximum 3 years while the applicant is still in the country but must be submitted 30 days before the expiry of their current work permit.
  
• The only exception for an extension of the long term work permit is that you will not be required to re-submit a medical report. However, you will need to submit a FRCS Tax Compliance Certificate with the further extension application.
  
• Please ensure documents are securely clipped together to avoid loose papers getting lost and we recommend a copy of all documents is retained by you.
  
• Applications are NOT submitted for the approval process, if documents are still pending. If you add a required document later, the application time frame starts from THAT new date.

Other uses of the Document/Certificate

• The document is required when applying for residency in Fiji.
  
• The document is required when applying for an extension of the work permit period.

External Links

• Application for a permit to work :Form
  
• Work permit checklist :Check list
  
• Fiji Immigration Policy Change Regarding Work Permits :Form

Others

• Permits to enter and reside or to enter reside and work in Fiji may be issued on application made to the Director of Immigration, Government Buildings, Suva, Fiji. The application form, which costs $5.00 each, is available at the Immigration Office in Suva, Nadir and LaToya.Such Permits are issued to:
• Ordained Priests and Ministers of Religion or recognized religious bodies only;
  
• Teachers, Lecturers, Professors with written contract of employment with local institutions upon the recommendation of the Permanent Secretary for Education;
  
• Nurses and Doctors, the need for whom is determined by the Permanent Secretary for Health;
• Persons under written contracts of employment with local employers and for whose services there is a reasonable demand, which cannot be met satisfactorily within Fiji. All these positions are first advertised in Fiji and work permits are only considered in the absence of local expertise. Usually, these permits carry a training condition whereby a local counterpart is required to be trained within the specified time.

Conditions

1. Permit to enter and reside or to enter, reside and work in Fiji for a period of three years at a time;
   
2. Applications for work permit shall be made jointly by the employer and the proposed employee to the Director of Immigration;
   
3. A security deposit to cover the return airfare of the employee shall be given by the employer;
   
4. The employee shall work only for the employer except as authorized by the Director of Immigration
   
5. Fourteen (14) days’ notice of expiration of contract shall be given by the employer to the Director of Immigration and in case of premature determination, immediate notice in writing shall be given;
   
6. Where the Director of Immigration considers appropriate, the employer shall train a citizen of Fiji to replace the expatriate employee;
   
7. The work permit shall become void immediately upon any conditions being breached.

• The employee concerned must file applications with reasons given. This should be accompanied by a certificate from the Ministry of Employment and Industrial Relations that the skill is not available in Fiji including the name of the local understudy or counterpart.
  
• A police clearance certificate from the applicant’s country of origin is also required