3,815 foreign nationals granted Fiji Citizenship from October 2014 to February 2018

3,815 foreign nationals were granted with Fiji Citizenship from October 2014 to February 2018.

This was highlighted in a statement by Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama, who was responding to a written question National Federation Party MP, Parmod Chand on the number of foreign nationals by country of origin, that have obtained Fiji Passports or have become Fiji Nationals since October 2014.

Bainimarama stated that the top five nationalities were from Australia with 1,140 nationals, New Zealand with 591, Stateless nationals were 585, USA with 334 nationals and China with 242 nationals.

He states that out of the 1,140 Australian nationals, 763 were former citizens, while of the 591 New Zealand 342 were former citizens.

Bainimarama adds that of the 334 US nationals, 180 were former citizens and out of the 172 Canadian nationals, 117 were former citizens.

He stated the category of nationals that highlights the ‘Stateless' shows the children of Fiji Citizen who were born abroad.

Bainimarama stated that 741 foreign nationals have also been issued with Fiji Passports from October 2014 to March 2018.

He says that the top five countries nationals who were issued with Fiji Passports includes 271 New Zealand nationals, 126 Australians, 84 from China, 47 from USA and 33 nationals from Great Britain.

Bainimarama states that the foreign nationals have gone through the Registration and Naturalization process to be granted Fiji Citizenship which qualifies them to apply and be issued with the Passports.

The Prime Minister stated that some of those who have been granted Fiji citizenship have not applied for Fiji Passport.

He states that the passport figures do not include children of Fiji Citizens who were born abroad as they are classified as "Stateless " since they do not qualify for Passport from their country of birth.

He also stated that former citizens are also not included as they were previously issued with Fiji passports before acquiring citizenship of other countries.