Majority of dual citizenship applicants are former Fiji citizens

Majority of the people who have applied for dual citizenship in Fiji are former Fiji citizens who left the country in 1987.

Minister for Defence Timoci Natuva says the total number of applicants issued dual citizenship from April 2009 to March this year is 6,051.

The statistics mentioned are mostly applicants who are former Fiji citizens and who have been residing in Australia and New Zealand.

About 836 applications have been received in a year since the Citizenship Decree came into effect.

Natuva says the figures are expected to rise in the years ahead.

He says this has also allowed the return of numerous Fijian professionals that migrated for greener pastures.

Dual citizenship was implemented from 2009 under the Citizenship Decree.

Dual citizenship holders are able to reside in Fiji for as long as they want without having to apply for a permit.

Natuva says they do not have to go through Investment Fiji should they wish to set up businesses in Fiji.

Details on the number of non-former Fiji citizens who have been given dual citizenship, will be revealed later.