CRIME syndicates and organisations have for years taken advantage of Fiji’s “porous borders”.
Speaking before Parliament passed the Immigration (Amendment) Bill 2026, Acting Attorney-General Siromi Turaga said the new legislation would strengthen Fiji’s ability to detect people linked to transnational crime before they entered the country.
The Bill introduces advance passenger information, biometric data requirements and regional watch lists to allow authorities to screen travellers before arrival.
Mr Turaga also said immigration law was an area that changed quickly, noting that some countries had reviewed their laws in response to concerns about people giving birth for the purpose of obtaining citizenship.
He said Fiji needed to consider such issues.
“With this Bill, and the use of advance passenger information, we should be able to identify people linked to criminal syndicates,” Mr Turaga said.
“This is not only about drugs. There are also people who come here for one purpose, trafficking and molesting children. These are the issues police are working on with our counterparts overseas.”
Mr Turaga said once such information was shared with Fiji’s authorities, immigration officers should be alerted and be able to refuse entry at the border.
He said the new law also clarified the responsibilities of the minister, the permanent secretary and immigration officers. Previously, key decisions rested with the director.
“There is now a clear delineation of duties, the powers of the minister, the powers of the PS, and the powers of immigration officers.”
Mr Turaga added that the Immigration Bill was connected to other legislation before Parliament, including amendments relating to passports which were also passed last night (Passports Amendment Bill and Citizenship of Fiji Amendment Bill).
