Cabinet will soon discuss a proposal to have digital arrival cards for anyone entering Fiji.
This will be part of the Fiji Immigration Department and the country’s five-year National Border Security Priorities 2023-2028.
The Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration is working with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Pacific Office in Fiji to align immigration processes to the Government’s overall digital transformation strategy.
“Incoming passenger information collected from the arrival card is used to assist in identifying transnational organised crime, and more recently aid in the mitigation of health risks such as COVID-19,” said senior adviser with the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration, Joji Washington.
“Through digitising this process, data collection will be more thorough, safe and secure, and the physical process of crossing our borders will be expedited.
The digital arrival card is an electronic version of the physical arrival card containing personal information, trip and health declaration details.
It is an online document that can be accessed through mobile devices and computers allowing passengers to fill and submit information prior to arrival, and is used in countries such as Australia, NZ and Singapore.
A one-day national consultation was held recently with representatives from the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration, Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Fiji Airports, Fiji Ports, and the Biosecurity Authority of Fiji in attendance.
