Moving to Fiji from Australia. Help needed!

Hello,

I am currently living in Australia as a Permanent Resident but am originally from the UK.

I would like to move to Fiji for 6-12 months to work but having trouble trying to work out how I get a work visa.

Does anyone know the process or whether or not it is difficult to obtain one?

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

Holly Evans

having trouble trying to work out how I get a work visa

Can you be more precise about is the problem you are having?

I googled Fijian embassy in Australia, went to the appropriate Fiji High Commission website, clicked on 'Visas/Permits/Waivers' item in the menu at left, then clicked on the topic heading 'Travel to Fiji for purposes other than a holiday?' which gave info about permit application procedures plus another link to the all important Dept of Immigration website in Fiji. This website spelled out the requirements for each of several types of permits.

Have you done all this, and still have a question?

We spent 2 years in Fiji volunteering. Work visas are a requirement to volunteer too.
We went with Australian Volunteers International and they arranged the visas for us.
I reckon you will have great difficulty getting work visas without sponsorship from a local employer.
In any case, unless you have some special skills, the pay rates in Fiji are very low. Unskilled work pays around AUD$1.50 per hour, if you can get it. Unemployment is very high.

You could go as tourists for 3 months, fly to somewhere close just before the 3 months expires and fly straight back again.
Just don't get caught working on a tourist visa.

Cheers,
Peter

you will have great difficulty getting work visas without sponsorship from a local employer

Correct. As a matter of fact, this is one of the first items mentioned in required documentation for getting a work permit: basically, you need to have the job offer first, with the invitation/sponsoring letter from the employer. And, this is for skilled labour. They'll only want you if they need you.

Perhaps I can add that this is more or less normal procedure for most countries. They don't give out work permits easily.

Hi,

Thank you for responding.

Yes I have done this. From what I can see unless I have a job offer prior to applying for a work permit, my chances are very unlikely.

There is a lot of information on the Internet and I was finding it a little confusing. I haven't started the application process, however I just wanted to see if anyone had further information for me.

Cheers

Even if you do have a job offer, the wheels of government departments can move very slowly.

Cheers,
Peter

I was finding it a little confusing

I've been through this situation a few times (not in Fiji, though) which makes it easier to recognize what's being said on some of these websites.

From what I can see unless I have a job offer prior to applying for a work permit, my chances are very unlikely.

In my own experience (but not in Fiji) about the only way to get a work permit without having a job first is to be eligible for a residence permit -- for example, via marriage.

Funny (or sad) thing is, that when I was in Fiji for 2 months, starting a RtW trip, I was chatting with a guy about something and he offered me a job. Great. The last thing I needed when starting a 1 year trip...

But I also met a few people doing precisely that, investing in a long holiday in Fiji and checking out work possibilities. Sometimes you need to meet people and make yourself known to them.

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