Increased regulatory requirements for mobile wallets including MPAiSA

With mobile wallet users now having to comply with additional regulatory requirements to continue using the service, Vodafone Fiji has announced that all current users of M-PAiSA and those who may register in future must provide additional personal information which must be verified against supporting ID documents.

M-PAiSA users who do not meet this requirement by 15th September, 2025 will have their M-PAiSA account balance limit reduced from $10,000 to $5,000.

Vodafone Fiji says whilst you will still be able to operate your account at a reduced balance limit, further restrictions maybe imposed such as limits on the number, type and amount of transactions you may be able to perform going forward.

These regulatory requirements are in addition to the Tax Identification Number (TIN) requirement announced in the 2025/2026 National Budget.

The deadline for TIN compliance is 31st December, 2025.

Under the revised laws, an individual will now be allowed to register and operate no more than two M-PAiSA accounts in their name.

Any user who currently has more than two M-PAiSA accounts under their name will need to reduce this to two or less by 15th September, 2025. Anyone still having more than two accounts after the deadline will be restricted to operate only two most recently active accounts. Funds held in other accounts can still be withdrawn or transferred to other accounts but no funds will be allowed into the restricted accounts.

Whilst, some of this information required may have been captured as part of the SIM and M-PAiSA registration earlier, additional information is now required to comply with new regulatory requirements for continued use of M-PAiSA.

Under Part 2 of the Financial Intelligence Unit Guideline 4 issued under the Financial Transaction Act and Regulations, financial service providers including mobile wallets must do enhanced Customer Identification and Verification for opening and continuing to operate a financial account.

All current users of M-PAiSA and those who may register in future must provide a birth certificate or citizenship certificate and a valid passport for non-residents to verify the name of customer, date of birth and citizenship; voter card, valid driver’s licence or reference letter for verification of customer’s permanent residential address in Fiji; a recent payslip (within 1 month), letter from employer, student ID, or reference letter for verification of occupation; if customers do not have recent payslip they can submit a reference letter on their source of funds; a signature verified by staff during face-to-face account registration or to be loaded on the M PAiSA app for existing customers; and FNPF/FRCS Joint Card or TIN Letter for taxation details.

Vodafone Fiji says to make it easy for customers, smart phone users can input the required information directly from the M-PAiSA App by updating the M-PAiSA App to version V2.6.2 or later if they have an android device and version V2.1.40 if they are iPhone users.

Login to the M-PAISA App, tap the menu bar in the top right-hand corner and select “personal information” to update the required information and documents.

Non-smart phone users will need to visit a Vodafone outlet with their ID documents to update their information.

The mobile company says it is important that the information provided and ID documents uploaded are clear, accurate and readable to avoid delays in verification resulting in restrictions on your account.

Once the information is verified and updated, a confirmation SMS will be sent to the customer.

Customers in the informal sector such farmers, fishermen and labourers who may not have all necessary ID documents can also provide a reference letter – a blank reference template is available on M-PAiSA page on the Vodafone website.

M-PAiSA users are advised to update their information as early as possible to ensure they can continue to operate their accounts without any changes or restrictions.