Fiji Residence Permit on Assured Income
Application Fee
FJD 650.05 (≈ $288.87)
Processing Time
4-5 wks
Difficulty
Moderate
Duration
36 months
Path to Citizenship
3 years
Overview
The Residence Permit on Assured Income is Fiji’s long-stay route for people aged 45 and over who live on income or assets held outside Fiji and do not plan to work there. The Ministry of Immigration describes the target group as retirees receiving a regular pension or retirement income from overseas, and applicants show a pension or offshore savings instead of a job offer.
The permit runs for three years in total. Six months are issued first, and the remaining two and a half years follow once FJD 100,000 is remitted to Fiji or property worth at least that amount is bought. The base application fee is FJD 650.05 for the principal applicant.
The main catch is the work ban: holders cannot take employment or run a business. Fiji also taxes residents on worldwide income, and US citizens still file US returns.
Eligibility Requirements
Min Savings
FJD 100,000 (≈ $44,438.52)
Application Fee
FJD 650.05 (≈ $288.87)
Renewal Cost
FJD 650.05 (≈ $288.87)/yr
Min Age
45 yrs
Duration
36 months
Language
Documents not in English must be translated into English and notarized in the applicant’s country of residence.
Pension / Social Security · Savings
Requirements Checklist
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Extra requirements for this visa
- Medical examination required
How and where to apply
Online through the Immi Hub portal run by the Ministry of Immigration, Fiji. Documents are uploaded to the portal and the application is tracked there.
Tax Information
How Fiji taxes residents
Fiji treats an individual as a tax resident when they reside in Fiji or are present for 183 days or more in any 12-month period, and residents are taxed on income from Fiji and from elsewhere. Non-residents are taxed only on Fiji-sourced income, starting at 20% on the first dollar.
Since 1 January 2024 the resident rates are 0% on the first FJD 30,000, 18% on income from FJD 30,000 to FJD 50,000, and FJD 3,600 plus 20% on income from FJD 50,000 to FJD 270,000. Higher bands then rise from 33% above FJD 270,000 to 39% above FJD 1,000,000. The 2026 to 2027 national budget, passed on 16 July 2026, did not raise personal income tax rates.
Pensions and foreign income
The Fiji Revenue and Customs Service exempts pension income paid by the Fiji National Provident Fund, the Fiji Government and funds approved by its chief executive. Foreign pensions are not named in that exemption. A separate exemption for foreign-source income covers non-citizens who are in Fiji mainly for employment under a contract of up to three years, so it does not fit a retiree permit. Fiji grants a credit for foreign tax paid on foreign income, limited to the lesser of the Fiji tax payable or the foreign tax paid.
What the IRS still wants
Fiji has no income tax treaty with the United States, so no treaty tie-breaker or reduced rates apply. US citizens keep filing a US return on worldwide income. The foreign earned income exclusion is $132,900 for tax year 2026, but it covers earned income only, and this permit does not allow employment. Pensions and investment income fall outside it, so the foreign tax credit is the usual relief for Fiji tax paid.
An FBAR (FinCEN Form 114) is due when foreign accounts together exceed $10,000 at any point in the calendar year. Balances held in Fiji count toward that total.
Living in Fiji
COL Index vs NYC
32.0
Monthly Cost (excl. rent)
$576
1BR Rent (City Center)
$727
Safety Index
57.6
Healthcare Index
47.2
Quality of Life Index
118.6
Time Zone
UTC+12:00
Capital
Suva
Population
896.4K
Official Languages
English, Fijian, Fiji Hindi
Public Transit Quality
Fair
With a budget covering rent and living costs, you'd need roughly $1,303/mo for a comfortable single-person lifestyle in Fiji.See how far your money goes →
🏙️ Best Cities in Fiji for Passive Income Residents
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70Who qualifies
Applicants must be 45 or older. The ministry accepts retirees receiving a regular pension or retirement income from overseas, plus others with assets or a reliable source of income outside Fiji that covers their living costs. Applicants must intend to live in Fiji without working, must be medically fit to reside there and must have no adverse police record.
The ministry bars applicants under 45, people who cannot show enough offshore assets or income for themselves and any dependants, and people who plan to work or run a business under this permit. Prohibited immigrants are also excluded, including overstayers and people convicted in a foreign country.
Financial requirements
The permit rests on proof that the applicant will not become a charge on public funds. The checklist asks for the latest offshore bank statement, translated into English, and a retirement scheme statement as proof of pension.
The full three-year term depends on a second financial step. After the initial six months, the remaining two and a half years are issued on remittance of FJD 100,000, on the purchase of property worth at least that amount, or both. When funds later leave Fiji, the holder must obtain clearance from the Immigration Department before the Reserve Bank of Fiji considers the transfer.
Application route and documents
All applications are filed online through the Immi Hub portal, and progress is tracked there. The ministry tells travellers who need a visa or permit to lodge before buying a ticket to Fiji. The principal applicant’s checklist is:
- Request letter
- Certified copy of one passport photo taken within the last 3 months
- Certified copy of the passport biodata page
- Certified copy of the current immigration arrival stamp
- Latest offshore bank statement, translated into English
- Retirement scheme statement as proof of pension
- Certified police report from the country of residence, issued within 1 year of the application
- Medical report issued within 3 months of the application, with the doctor stating whether the applicant is medically fit to reside in Fiji
- Signed residence terms and conditions
Documents not in English must be translated and notarized in the applicant’s country of residence.
Costs
The principal applicant pays a base fee of FJD 650.05. Each dependent pays FJD 185.00, and the ministry’s fee schedule also lists a permit issue fee of FJD 185.00. Extending a residence permit costs FJD 650.05. Payment is online, with a service charge of 2% on Mpaisa and 2.5% on Visa or Mastercard.
Permit duration and renewal
The permit runs for three years in total. Six months are issued first, and the balance of two and a half years follows after the remittance or property purchase. The fee schedule lists a separate extension of residence permit, and the ministry offers an extension application alongside the new application. The standard processing period is 21 working days.
Breaching a permit condition makes the permit null and void. The terms then require the principal and dependents to leave for their country of citizenship within 21 working days, and failure to do so carries a fine of FJD 20,000.
Family members
Dependents are limited to a legal spouse and children under 18. De facto partners and children aged 18 or over cannot be included and must lodge their own application under the co-extensive residence permit category. Each dependent needs a certified passport biodata page, a recent photo and a medical report. A spouse also needs a police report and a certified marriage certificate, and every dependent child needs a certified birth certificate.
Work and other conditions
Holders may not engage in any profession or employment, whether or not paid, and may not take up a religious vocation or any research or study, without the written approval of the Permanent Secretary. The ministry’s eligibility text also excludes anyone who intends to operate a business under this permit.
Path to citizenship
The permit does not itself grant citizenship. Naturalisation under the Fijian Citizenship Act 2009 requires lawful presence or residence in Fiji on a valid permit for a total of 3 of the 5 years immediately before the application is lodged. Time spent as a visitor or on a student permit does not count, and an application for a Search of Immigration Status must be lodged first to establish the lawful years and days. The act allows dual citizenship.
Work Permissions
Application Steps
- 1
📋 Review the eligibility rules
- 2
📄 Obtain the police and medical reports
- 3
📄 Assemble financial proof and translations
- 4
📬 Lodge the application on Immi Hub
- 5
📬 Pay the fee online
- 6
⏳ Wait for the decision
Standard period of 21 working days
- 7
🏛️ Complete the second financial step
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At a Glance
Last verified: October 26, 2026