Application for a work permit

All non-Solomon Island nationals, except civil servants, diplomatic personnel, Commonwealth civil servants and children under the age of 18, are required to apply for a Solomon Islands work permit.

Work permit requirements

A. Foreign investor

• Application form (filled and signed)
• Receipt for the payment of the application fee
• One passport size photo (black and white, or color)
• Copy of Foreign Investment Registration Certificate (FIRC)
• Company registration certificate
• A copy of the documentation confirming that the applicant is the legal representative of the investor (if the applicant's name is not listed in the FIRC)

B. Foreign worker

• Application form (filled and signed)
• Receipt for the payment of the application fee
• One passport size photo (black and white, or color)
• A copy of the employment contract
• Resume/biodata
• Copies of diplomas and certificates (if any)
• At least one letter of recommendation from a recent employer
• Copy of FIRC approval (if the employer is a foreign investor)
• Organizational chart of employment
• A copy of the localization curriculum
• A copy of the company registration certificate (if the employer is a 100% local company).

Application process

The employer or applicant must ensure that:

1.At the time of application, the prospective employee is outside the Solomon Islands or, if the application is for the extension of an existing permit, it may be submitted by a person who is in the Solomon Islands.

2.A separate application for an entry and residence permit must be submitted to the Director of Immigration.

3.All work permit applications must be submitted on a form along with the appropriate fees.

4.The form must be duly completed to prove and clearly demonstrate that there are no trained Solomon Islanders who can do the job or, if there are, none who are willing.

5.The proposed immigrant worker has the appropriate qualifications for the job and the necessary experience.

6.The form must be filled out carefully by the employer or employee. It must be accompanied by all supporting documents, qualifications, letters of recommendation, CV, organization chart, training programs, and evidence of the existence of the local position/vacancy, including evidence and reasons for rejecting local candidates.

7.Submit the form with all documents to the Labor Commissioner with a copy of the application fee receipt. It would be desirable to provide a cover letter with additional explanations for the application.

Required documents for Short-Term Employment Visa:

• Original letter of invitation from a company in the Solomon Islands
• Proof of residence (apartment rental agreement, hotel confirmation, etc.)
• The minimum period of stay for visa holders is 6 weeks, the maximum total period is 90 days.

Long-Term Employment Visa

Long-term work visas allow owners to enter and remain in the Solomon Islands for the purpose of employment.

The term of stay for visa owners is 2 years. Current visa owners wishing to extend their stay in the Solomon Islands must apply to the Director of Immigration two months before the expiry date of their existing visa with all requirements. The Permits Division of the Immigration Division is responsible for processing visas of this type on behalf of the Director of Immigration.

Required documents for Long-Term Employment Visa:

• Cover Letter
• Identity Details/Duration of Involvement are the same as in the Sponsorship Form
• Correct address of the company/organization: phone/email
• There must be a stamp of the organization/enterprise
• Sponsor letter
• Signed by senior personnel of the organization/company.
• Must be a registered organization/company in Solomon Islands
• Certificate of criminal record
• Medical report
• Marriage certificate (Divorce certificate)
• Work permit

If issued in another foreign language, the documents must be accompanied by an original English translation made by an authorized body.