The Fijian government has taken significant steps to address the ongoing passport shortage by allocating $6 million in the 2025–2026 National Budget for the procurement of 200,000 new passport books. This funding is part of a larger $17.8 million budget designated for the Ministry of Immigration, aimed at clearing a backlog of around 6,000 passport applications and meeting the anticipated demand in the coming months.
Minister for Immigration, Viliame Naupoto, stated that this intervention is crucial in normalizing the passport situation and restoring service delivery standards, which have been adversely affected by the current shortages. He announced that passport offices would extend their hours as soon as the new batch of passports arrives next week, facilitating access for those who need to visit after work hours.
In addition to addressing passport orders, the ministry has been actively working to tackle immigration permit processing, having cleared 31,000 entries in just the past month. With these measures, the Ministry of Immigration is optimistic that both passport and permit processing will soon return to regular operations.
Previous announcements indicated that approximately 100,000 passports were expected to arrive by May, with a subsequent batch due in June. As frustrations rose among citizens due to delays and restricted applications focused on urgent travel needs like emergencies and employment, the recent decision to increase passport stocks demonstrates the government’s commitment to enhancing the immigration service.
The move provides hope that Fijians will soon enjoy a more efficient passport application process, ultimately alleviating the burdens many have faced while waiting for their travel documents amidst rising global travel needs. The ongoing enhancements signal a proactive approach towards modernizing immigration services and better supporting the community’s travel aspirations.
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