Minister for Immigration, Viliame Naupoto, confirms that the Ministry continues to be efficient but are making sure that security is not compromised in the process.
This after Assistant Minister for Home Affairs, Ratu Rakuita Vakalalabure asked about any specific improvements in visa and work permit processing times.
Naupoto explains that a visa grants a person the right to travel to Fiji, while permits authorise individuals to live in the country and engage in specific activities such as working, studying, or investing.
He says there are 80 countries in the world that require pre-entry visas to Fiji out of the 195 countries.
The Minister says the standard processing time for visas is 14 days from the date of payment, and improvements have been made since the introduction of the Document Management System (DMS) in 2020.
Naupoto says visa processing has now fully migrated to this system, resulting in faster turnarounds.
The Minister says if all required documents are submitted correctly, visas can even be processed within a day.
The Minister says for permits, the Ministry has set a standard processing time of 21 days.
Naupoto says they aim to meet this timeframe, though delays can occur when documents are incomplete, requiring back-and-forth communication with applicants.
He also compared Fiji’s processing times with those of other countries, noting that in Australia the shortest visa processing period is between one to three months, while skilled work visas can take up to 18 months.
Naupoto adds that this comparison highlights the Ministry’s effort to be efficient and responsive, acknowledging how important timely processing is for local companies wanting to recruit foreign workers.
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