The Department of Immigration received 5795 citizenship applications between 2019 and 2023, processing more than 90 per cent of them while declining just 23.
The figures were provided to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence and tabled in Parliament last Friday.
According to the report, the department processed 5385 citizenship applications during the five-year period, closely matching the number of applications received.
The highest number of applications was recorded in 2022, when 1586 applications were lodged, followed by 1248 in 2019, 1161 in 2020, 751 in 2021 and 1049 in 2023.
Applications involving minors also remained consistently high across all five years, while former citizenship applications accounted for another significant share of the department’s workload.
The report notes that spouse and naturalisation applications fluctuated over the reporting period, with noticeably fewer applications during 2021 and 2022, while late registration applications remained comparatively low and stable.
Only 23 citizenship applications were declined over the five years, with no applications rejected in 2019, six declined in 2020, seven in 2021, eight in 2022 and two in 2023.
Immigration targets work permit breaches
Breaches of work permit conditions and the exploitation of foreign workers through overseas recruitment agencies remain among the most common immigration offences in Fiji, according to the Department of Immigration.
The information was provided to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence and tabled in Parliament last Friday.
The department said many offences occur when permit holders fail to comply with the terms and conditions attached to their permits, which are designed to protect the local labour market and ensure fair employment practices.
According to the report, a common breach involves foreign workers taking up employment with a different employer or performing duties outside those approved under their work permits without proper authorisation.
The department said work permits are issued for a specific employer and role, and any unauthorised change in employment or job responsibilities constitutes an immigration offence.
It also highlighted cases where permit holders work in sectors where qualified local workers are available, saying such practices undermine employment opportunities for Fijians.
“Compliance with these conditions is essential to maintain the integrity of the immigration system and to ensure that opportunities for local workers are safeguarded,” the report states.
The department also identified a growing trend involving the use of overseas recruitment agencies by local employers to source foreign workers.
According to the report, some workers are required to sign multiple employment contracts — one in their home country and another after arriving in Fiji.
The department said workers were often initially offered attractive salaries and employment conditions overseas, only to be presented with a second contract in Fiji that contains significantly lower pay and less favourable conditions.
The report identifies the practice as an emerging concern for immigration authorities, highlighting the need for stronger oversight of overseas recruitment arrangements and compliance with work permit conditions.
