Immigration
Immigration Act 2012 permits with work permit from Labour
The Immigration Act 2012 governs entry and residence, with employment requiring both a work permit from the Labour Division and a residence permit from Immigration.
Key rules
- Deadline — Work permits are typically issued for up to two years and are renewable
- Deadline — Naturalisation generally requires seven years of lawful residence
Governing law
- Immigration Act 2012 (s. 20)
- Labour Act 1996work permits
- Citizenship Act 2018
In practice
As in PNG, two agencies must be satisfied and the work permit comes first in practice — a residence permit for employment will not be granted without it. The Citizenship Act 2018 replaced the 1978 legislation and clarified the position on dual citizenship, which is now permitted in defined circumstances after previously being prohibited. Because non-citizens cannot hold perpetual estates in land, immigration status and property rights are linked: a long-term resident still acquires only a fixed-term estate.