Fiji’s border will soon be equipped with two major international data systems — the Advance Passenger Information (API) and Passenger Name Record (PNR) — to strengthen pre-arrival screening and risk-based processing of incoming travellers.
The systems aim to help immigration and government authorities “detect threats such as human trafficking, irregular migration and transnational crime”.
Immigration Minister Viliame Naupoto told Parliament the new systems, along with a document forensic laboratory, were made possible through a $0.97million allocation in the 2025–2026 National Budget.
“The ministry is allocated $0.97m for the provision of API and PNR. These are two separate but complementary data systems,” Mr Naupoto said.
“API refers to the collection of biographic data such as names, passport numbers and flight details transmitted by airlines before a traveller arrives. It allows our immigration and border agencies to prescreen incoming passengers, identify persons of interest and prepare for risk-based processing before they even disembark.
“PNR, on the other hand, provides a richer context. It includes the person’s travel history, contact details, payment methods and itinerary, so while API tells us who is coming, PNR tells us how and why they may be travelling together.”
He said a new document forensic laboratory within the Immigration Department would support officials in detecting fraudulent travel and identity documents.
“Thereby preventing illegal entry, transnational crime and identity related fraud.
“Equipped with advanced technology and skilled forensic analysts, the lab would support frontline immigration officers in verifying document authenticity more accurately and efficiently.”
Mr Naupoto said such systems were long overdue and had been consistently neglected by previous governments, contributing to current security vulnerabilities.
“The two data systems, API and PNR, and the document forensic lab are essential border management tools and for too long left on the wayside in previous government’s plans.
“Some of the security related immigration issues we are facing now are because of the absence of these very core essential tools.”
