Established Investor Visa

The Established Investor Visa (Class 7) is a long-term visa under the Solomon Islands Immigration Act 2012 that allows foreign nationals with a registered foreign investment to reside in the country and operate their approved business activities. It is the second stage of the investor immigration pathway, following the Provisional Investor Visa which permits entry for investment exploration only. The visa is administered by the Immigration Division of the Ministry of Commerce, Industries, Labour and Immigration.

• Valid Certificate of Registration of Foreign Investment from InvestSolomons under the Foreign Investment Act 2005
• Completed Form 7 (Application for an Established Investor Visa)
• Valid passport
• Business plan and supporting investment documentation
• Proof of funds
• Police clearance certificate may be required
• Application must be approved by the Director of Immigration before entering the Solomon Islands

Before applying for the visa, applicants must register their foreign investment through the Solomon Islands Business Registry (solomonbusinessregistry.gov.sb). The 10-step process includes providing general details and entity type, adding investor details with passport and resume, selecting business activities with a business plan, listing operating locations, providing employment figures, submitting confidential investment information, completing declarations, and making payment. The Registrar of Investment has 5 working days to make a decision.

There is no statutory minimum investment amount under the Foreign Investment Act 2005. Instead, the Act restricts foreign investors from engaging in reserved activities (sectors where local businesses are already well-established) and prohibited activities.

• Investment activities must match those specified in the Certificate of Registration
• Employment with a local employer requires a separate work permit
• Foreign investors cannot engage in reserved or prohibited activities under the Foreign Investment Act 2005
• Without a valid Certificate of Registration, investors cannot conduct investment activity, negotiate agreements, or commence compliance steps

The visa is granted for a maximum of 2 years and may be extended by applying to the Director of Immigration at least 2 months before expiry. Holders must maintain a valid Certificate of Registration and comply with all terms of their approved investment.

Permanent residency requires 5 years of continuous prior residence in the Solomon Islands. The 5-year permanent resident visa costs USD 1,500.

Spouses and children under 18 may apply for a Foreign National Dependant Visa using Form 9. The dependant visa duration matches the sponsor's visa. A separate application and fee apply for each dependant.

Foreign investors are subject to Solomon Islands taxation laws, including income tax on locally sourced income. Investors must comply with all applicable tax obligations, labour laws, immigration regulations, and any required licences for their specific business activities.

Applications are submitted in person at the Immigration Services Office in Honiara. Online payment is not yet operational. Fees must be paid in Solomon Islands dollars or by cheque payable to the Solomon Islands Government. The application must be approved before entering the country.

The Solomon Islands is developing a Citizenship by Investment programme, but the CBI Bill announced in September 2024 is still under review by the Attorney General's Chambers and has not been presented to Parliament. The Immigration Division launched a new website (immigration.gov.sb) in 2025, where Form 7 is available in the Division Resources section.