Government has allocated $5million for the procurement of 100,000 blank passport books.
Minister for Immigration Viliame Naupoto said this was part of efforts to ensure Fijians had continued access to passport services while the Immigration Department expanded its services closer to communities.
He announced the allocation while contributing to the 2026-2027 National Budget debate in Parliament last week, saying digital border systems would have little value if citizens could not obtain passports.
He said the latest allocation followed the procurement of another 100,000 passport books in the current financial year and would ensure sufficient supply into the 2027-2028 budget year.
Immigration Department technicians are also working on a system upgrade that will allow more passport application services to be completed online, reducing the need for people to visit immigration offices in person.
Mr Naupoto said the budget would also support the decentralisation of immigration services, with new offices to be opened in Nakasi and Rakiraki.
“The establishment of our new immigration office in Nakasi represents a significant step in improving access to the rapidly growing and dense populations of the Suva-Nausori corridor.”
He said the Nakasi office would reduce travel time, ease congestion at the Suva office, and improve customer service.
The move would also support increased international flights through Nausori Airport, with funding allocated to renovate the airport immigration office in preparation for greater passenger movement and the use of Advanced Passenger Information and Passenger Name Record services.
Mr Naupoto said the opening of an immigration office in Rakiraki would improve access for communities in Ra and surrounding areas.
