Fijians increasingly view student visas as a strategic pathway for migration, seeking opportunities abroad, according to Westpac’s “Wave: Fiji Economic Update and Outlook” for October 2025. The report details a notable increase in the number of Fiji-born residents in Australia, which rose from 76,370 in 2021 to 92,550 by 2024—a 21 percent increase.
Shamal Chand, Senior Economist at Westpac Pacific, remarked, “Education pathways have become an increasingly strategic migration route.” Many Fijians leverage student visas as a stepping stone to long-term residency or employment opportunities. In 2024, 8,117 Fijian students were enrolled in Australian institutions; however, only 4,000 actually commenced studies, hinting that many utilize the visas for migration rather than solely for education. Despite stricter Australian policies limiting part-time work for students, by May 2025, 5,458 Fijians had enrolled.
While migrant inflows provide essential remittances and alleviate short-term unemployment in Fiji, they also contribute to skill shortages across crucial sectors, including healthcare and construction. “The challenge for Fiji is to balance the benefits of remittances with the long-term need to retain and develop skilled workers,” noted the report. To counteract this trend, Westpac recommends bolstering vocational training and creating incentives for skilled Fijians to return home, emphasizing the necessity for regional collaboration to ensure migration remains a “pathway to prosperity, not dependency.”
In related trends, data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics revealed a 28.1 percent decrease in Fijians migrating to Australia, signaling a shift in out-migration patterns post-COVID-19. This decline follows a significant exodus, with approximately 20,000 Fijians leaving for employment abroad in the year ending June 2023. The focus on student migration as part of this broader migratory trend further emphasizes the complexity of Fijian diaspora dynamics.
As stricter migration policies take hold in Australia and New Zealand—key destinations for Fijian migrants—economists predict long-term departures may stabilize. However, programs such as the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) are expected to sustain a level of employment migration. There’s hope that returning students and workers will enrich Fiji’s workforce, potentially contributing to an economic uplift starting in 2025.
These ongoing changes in migration patterns reflect both challenges and opportunities for Fiji. While immediate outflows present concerns regarding skill retention, the anticipated return of educated individuals and engagement in local economic development holds promise for a vibrant future for the Fijian economy. As the nation navigates these transitions, strategic investments in education could pave the way for sustained growth and resilience.
Leave a comment