Access to immigration services will improve with the opening of two new immigration offices in Nakasi and Rakiraki as the Government continues to modernise Fiji's border management systems under the 2026/2027 National Budget.
The Ministry of Immigration's budget for the financial year has been reduced by $3 million from the previous financial year to $14.8 million.
Immigration Minister Viliame Naupoto says the two new Immigration offices will make services more accessible.
Insert: Naupoto on two new Immigration offices 26th June 26
Naupoto says while the Department's budget has been reduced by around $3 million compared to the previous financial year, the reduction will not affect immigration services as most of the major modernisation work was funded in the current budget.
He says the funding for the new financial year will focus on implementing key projects, including the introduction of the Advance Passenger Information and Passenger Name Record (API/PNR) system.
Naupoto says the new system will allow airlines to share passenger information with immigration authorities before flights arrive, helping strengthen border security, identify security risks and improve passenger processing.
He says, with support from Australia, the Ministry will also roll out the new MERIT border management system, which will replace the current Informatics system and pave the way for future e-gates at Fiji's international airports to fully utilise e-passports.
The Minister says funding has also been provided to purchase another 100,000 passport books to ensure passport shortages remain a thing of the past.
Naupoto says the Ministry will also continue strengthening measures to combat human trafficking and maintain Fiji's Tier 2 ranking in the United States Trafficking in Persons Report.
Naupoto says despite the reduced allocation, passport, permit and visa processing, along with other day-to-day immigration services, will continue without disruption.
He also confirmed investigations are continuing into concerns surrounding the integrity of the border management system, stressing that no immigration officer has been found to have deliberately allowed unauthorised people to leave the country and that anyone under investigation is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
