Student visas are increasingly being used as a pathway for migration by Fijians seeking better opportunities abroad, according to Westpac’s Wave: Fiji Economic Update and Outlook for October 2025.
The report highlights that between 2021 and 2024, the number of Fiji-born residents in Australia rose sharply from 76,370 to 92,550 — a 21 percent increase.
“Education pathways have become an increasingly strategic migration route,” said Westpac Pacific’s Senior Economist Shamal Chand.
“Many Fijians begin with student visas and later transition into long-term residency or employment.”
“In 2024, 8,117 Fijian students were enrolled in Australian institutions, yet only 4,000 actually commenced studies — suggesting that student visas are often being used for migration rather than purely academic purposes.”
“Despite tighter Australian policies restricting part-time work hours, 5,458 Fijians had enrolled by May 2025.”
Westpac noted that while migration brings vital remittance inflows and reduces short-term unemployment pressures, it also fuels skill shortages in Fiji’s key industries such as construction, healthcare, and hospitality.
“The challenge for Fiji is to balance the benefits of remittances with the long-term need to retain and develop skilled workers.”
The report recommends strengthening vocational training and creating incentives for skilled Fijians to return home.
It also calls for closer regional cooperation to ensure migration remains “a pathway to prosperity, not dependency.”
