Former Fiji citizens who are granted dual Fiji citizenship and foreigners who are naturalized as Fiji citizens under the Citizenship of Fiji Decree 2009 will be allowed to vote in the general elections.
Under the decree which came into effect in July, former Fiji citizens who live abroad and have acquired the citizenship of their adopted countries may regain their Fiji citizenship.
Director Immigration Nemani Vuniwaqa said the decree also allows foreign nationals who have been living in Fiji to apply for naturalization and hold dual citizenship. He said these people need to have been lawfully present in Fiji for a total of 5 years.
Vuniwaqa said the former citizens and naturalized foreigners will be treated as any other citizen of Fiji.
Vuniwaqa confirms on average about 20 to 30 applications per month are being received from foreign nationals living in Fiji seeking to become Fiji citizens.
He said the foreign nationals stand to gain alot being naturalized as Fiji citizens as they will no longer need to acquire work permits.
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Those granted dual Fiji citizenship allowed to vote
