The Land Transport Authority (LTA) will begin rolling out a new taxi permit application system in April, aiming to tighten controls around taxi licensing and implement a quota-based Base and Stand framework, the authority announced this week. LTA chief executive Irimaia Rokosawa said the move follows the gazetting of the new Taxi Permit Regulation and its supporting processes on March 13, 2026, and is designed to ensure permits are issued “in accordance with the Base and Stand system based on quota.”
Under the revamped process, prospective taxi operators must attend an official checklist session before lodging any application. The LTA said checklist acceptance will open from March 26, 2026, with fully completed applications accepted from April 8, 2026. Applicants can submit paperwork online via the LTA website or in person at LTA offices, but must first present required documents including a Base and Stand letter, proof of residency, a police clearance report and a birth certificate.
The implementation will be phased across the country. Phase one covers the Central and Eastern Divisions and parts of the North — specifically Serua/Namosi, Lami, Kadavu, Suva, Nausori, Rewa and Taveuni. Phase two will extend to parts of the Western Division and the North, including Nadi, Lautoka, Ba and Tavua. A final phase will bring the system to Bua and Rotuma. The authority urged applicants to prepare all documents in advance to avoid delays.
Rokosawa framed the rollout as part of an effort to deliver fair and transparent processing of permits. The change comes amid wider efforts by LTA to modernise its services — an initiative announced earlier this year that included staff training across new functions and a push to improve customer service and data systems. LTA says the new application pathway will better align permit allocation with stand and base capacities and the quotas established under the new regulations.
The overhaul also addresses long-standing industry concerns. In recent months taxi operators in some provinces raised complaints about illegal operators and alleged uneven enforcement, prompting calls for clearer regulation and accountability. By formalising checklist sessions and tightening documentary requirements, the LTA intends to reduce opportunities for informal or unregulated operations and to make enforcement more straightforward for regulators and police.
The authority did not publish quota numbers or a timetable for individual office openings beyond the phased area list. It reiterated that applications must follow the new checklist process and that failure to attend a checklist session or submit the full set of documents could result in applications being delayed or rejected. Further operational details and guidance for applicants are expected to be made available on the LTA website and at regional offices as the March and April processing dates approach.
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