Film Fiji introduces first screen visa in a bid to attract more global productions

US Survivor and Love Island US currently use Fiji as a filming location

Film Fiji, the screen development agency of the Pacific island, has issued a new specific screen visa to facilitate and streamline the entry of international film crews.

The initiative has been secured via a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Immigration and Film Fiji and improves coordination on visas, permits and information sharing.

Over the past two years, international productions have brought in over US$112 million into the economy and created 1,268 jobs. International format including US Survivor and Love Island US currently use Fiji as their chosen locations but face stiff competition in the global location incentive stakes.

Film Fiji chief executive officer Jone Robertson said the MoU marks a major change for the industry.

“This MoU sets a tone and a structure of how Film Fiji and immigration will work together to attract international productions to Fiji. It’s going to be specific for the film industry, which is a great achievement because this has never happened before,” he said.

Film Fiji said that the new visa was created to reflect the needs of international film crew that have sporadic travel requirement including staying for brief periods and travelling in and out of the country repeatedly during one project.

Under prior visa regulations, the permits were designed for long-term workers, which often contributed to delays in schedules for film crews. The new visa provides a clear process tailored to the film industry which also improves on data collection as crews will declare filming as their purpose of entry and allows the island nation to be more nimble and competitive.