Fiji citizenship is acquired in one of four ways under the Citizenship of Fiji Act 2009 and Section 5 of the 2013 Constitution: by birth, by descent, by registration, or by naturalization.1Constitute Project. Fiji 2013 Constitution Which route applies to you depends on where you were born, whether a parent is Fijian, and how long you have lived in the country. Fiji also permits dual nationality, so taking another country’s citizenship does not, by itself, cost you your Fijian status.
Citizenship by Birth in Fiji
A child born in Fiji on or after April 10, 2009, is a Fijian citizen at birth if at least one parent was a Fijian citizen at the time.2Laws of Fiji. Citizenship of Fiji Act 2009 Being born on Fijian soil is not enough on its own. If neither parent is a citizen, the child does not qualify automatically, and children of foreign diplomats or international-organization representatives are excluded.
An infant found abandoned in Fiji is presumed to have been born there, which protects foundlings from statelessness when their parents cannot be identified.3Ministry of Immigration – Fiji. Citizenship By Birth
Citizenship by Descent for Those Born Abroad
If you were born outside Fiji and at least one of your parents was a Fijian citizen at the time of your birth, you are entitled to citizenship by descent.2Laws of Fiji. Citizenship of Fiji Act 2009 The status is recognized automatically, without a formal application. To use it in practice, though, you will need a citizenship certificate or passport to prove it when traveling or claiming rights.
Citizenship by Registration
Registration under Section 8 of the Act is for people who have a qualifying tie to a Fijian citizen but did not acquire citizenship at birth. Three main categories apply.
Spouses of Fijian Citizens
A spouse of a Fijian citizen can apply for citizenship by registration after having been lawfully present in Fiji for at least three of the five years immediately before the application.4Fiji High Commission London. Consular Services – Citizenship The marriage must be genuine, and the Department of Immigration examines the relationship as part of vetting. There is no language requirement for spouses.5UNHCR. Citizenship Laws and Statelessness Fact Sheet – Fiji
Children and Adopted Minors
A child under 18 can be registered as a citizen if either parent is a Fijian citizen, and the same rule applies to adopted children when the adoption papers are submitted with the application.6Ministry of Immigration – Fiji. Apply for Fijian Citizenship A responsible parent must consent to and sign the application for a child under 11.
Former Citizens
Anyone who lost Fijian citizenship before the 2009 Act took effect, typically because older laws did not permit dual nationality, can apply to the Minister to have it restored.2Laws of Fiji. Citizenship of Fiji Act 2009
Citizenship by Naturalization
Naturalization is the route for applicants with no family tie to Fiji. Under Section 11 of the Act, you must have been lawfully present in Fiji for at least five of the ten years immediately before applying.2Laws of Fiji. Citizenship of Fiji Act 2009 Time spent on a visitor or student permit does not count, so a work permit or permanent residence history is normally needed to cover the period.
You must also show good character, an adequate knowledge of English or a vernacular language of Fiji, and an intention to keep living in Fiji after naturalization.2Laws of Fiji. Citizenship of Fiji Act 2009 The good-character check involves a police clearance from your country of citizenship or recent residence. The Act does not publish a specific list of disqualifying offenses, and the Minister has broad discretion; serious criminal convictions will effectively rule you out.
A 2022 amendment sought to raise the residency requirement to 15 out of the preceding 20 years and to require a permanent residence permit before applying.7Parliament of the Republic of Fiji. Citizenship of Fiji Revised Budget Amendment Act 2022 The Department of Immigration is currently accepting applications under the original five-out-of-ten standard, taking the position that the earlier requirement remains in force. Confirm the current standard with the Department before applying, because this could shift.
How to Apply, What It Costs, and How Long It Takes
All applications go to the Department of Immigration. The Department uses a single citizenship application form with lettered sections, and you complete the sections that match your route rather than filing separate forms. Standard supporting documents include your original birth certificate, a valid passport, and a police clearance from your country of citizenship or recent residence.6Ministry of Immigration – Fiji. Apply for Fijian Citizenship Any document not in English must be translated by a registered translator.
Fees for 2025, in Fiji dollars, cover the application, the oath (where applicable), and the certificate:
- Registration of a minor: FJ$379.15
- Spouse registration: FJ$514.15
- Former citizen registration: FJ$1,500
- Naturalization: FJ$5,625
The naturalization fee comes to roughly US$2,500 at typical exchange rates.8Ministry of Immigration – Fiji. New Immigration Services Fees
After you file, the Department runs background checks and reviews your documents. You may be called in for a formal interview to verify your information and assess your integration into Fijian society. Minimum processing runs four to six months, and incomplete files or document requests stretch that out.9Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Fiji Citizenship
If your application is approved, you take an Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance, signed before a solicitor or barrister. That step officially confers citizenship. Knowingly providing false information at any stage is a criminal offense punishable by a fine of up to FJ$10,000, up to five years’ imprisonment, or both.2Laws of Fiji. Citizenship of Fiji Act 2009
Dual Nationality
Fiji fully permits dual nationality. The 2013 Constitution states that a person who accepts foreign citizenship remains a Fijian citizen unless they voluntarily renounce that status.1Constitute Project. Fiji 2013 Constitution Former citizens who lost their nationality under older law can regain it while keeping a foreign passport, and a foreign national naturalizing in Fiji can keep their existing citizenship if their home country allows it.
Holding another nationality does not restrict any right or duty of Fijian citizenship.2Laws of Fiji. Citizenship of Fiji Act 2009 Dual citizens can own property, vote, and hold public office in Fiji on the same terms as any other citizen.
Entering Fiji on a Foreign Passport
A dual citizen who wants to enter Fiji on a foreign passport should apply for Exemption Status with the Department of Immigration. It formally authorizes a Fijian citizen holding a valid foreign passport to enter, reside, study, and work in the country.10Ministry of Immigration – Fiji. Exemption Status for a Dual Citizen Application You submit a certified copy of the foreign passport, your Fiji citizenship certificate, and evidence explaining any name discrepancy between the two. The approved status is usually stamped into the foreign passport. Handle this before you travel rather than at the border.
Losing or Giving Up Citizenship
You can renounce Fijian citizenship voluntarily through a formal declaration under the process set out in the Act, and the 2013 Constitution confirms that citizenship continues until you renounce it.1Constitute Project. Fiji 2013 Constitution Because dual nationality is now allowed, taking another country’s citizenship no longer triggers automatic loss.
The government can deprive a person of citizenship in limited circumstances, typically where it was obtained through fraud or misrepresentation.2Laws of Fiji. Citizenship of Fiji Act 2009 Revocation on those grounds can be combined with criminal prosecution for the false statements that led to the grant.