- Laws of Fiji

Last Updated: 17 January 1997

[IMM 10,020] Permits to enter and reside or to reside4

(1) Permits to enter and reside or to reside or to work in Fiji for a period of 3 years or for such further period as the Permanent Secretary may deem appropriate may be granted to the following—

(a)subject to subparagraph (4), officers and ordained priests and ministers of the churches and religious bodies and groups specified in the Schedule;
(b)members of any Anglican or Roman Catholic religious order, being under religious vows who intend to undertake nursing, teaching or charitable or social work in Fiji, provided that a permit shall not be issued to any such person who—
- (i)intends to teach in Fiji unless recommended by the permanent secretary responsible for education;
- (ii)intends to nurse in Fiji unless recommended by the permanent secretary responsible for health;
(c)members of professions recognised as such by the Minister who have recognised professional qualifications and intend to practise their professions in Fiji during the period for which application is made;
(d)persons entering Fiji to undergo or who are under medical treatment upon the certificate of a medical practitioner being produced to the Permanent Secretary to the effect that such treatment is to be carried out in Fiji, provided that the duration of any such permit shall be limited to the period to be stated in such medical certificate during which such person is anticipated to be under medical treatment in Fiji;
(e)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, provided that no such person shall be granted any such permit except upon the instructions of the Permanent Secretary;
(f)persons who—
- (i)have established or intend to establish in Fiji a business, trade or undertaking approved by the Minister; or
- (ii)undertake to introduce and to maintain adequate capital or assets to the satisfaction of the Permanent Secretary into such a business, trade or undertaking; or
- (iii)have assets, realisable to the satisfaction of the Permanent Secretary, outside Fiji at their disposal of an amount sufficient to ensure that they will not become a charge upon public funds.

[subpara (1) am LN 40 of 1982 para 2, effective 7 May 1982; LN 25 of 1984 para 2, effective 16 March 1984]

(2) Without limiting the generality of subparagraph (1), permits to enter and reside or to reside or to work in Fiji for a period of 7 years may be granted to persons who undertake to introduce into, and maintain in, a business, trade or undertaking approved by the Minister capital or assets amounting to not less than $250,000.

[subpara (2) insrt LN 40 of 1982 para 2, effective 7 May 1982; am LN 9 of 1996 para 2, effective 17 January 1997]

(3) A permit granted in pursuance of subparagraph (2) may be extended, by instrument in writing under the hand of the Permanent Secretary, for such period as is approved by the Minister and specified in the instrument.

[subpara (3) insrt LN 40 of 1982 para 2, effective 7 May 1982]

(4) A permit shall not be granted pursuant to subparagraph (1)(a) to an officer or ordained priest or minister of a church or religious body or group specified in Part B of the Schedule unless the application for the permit is received from the Fiji Council of Churches.

[subpara (4) insrt LN 25 of 1984 para 2, effective 16 March 1984]