Provisional Investor Visa

The Provisional Investor Visa (Class 6) is a long-term visa under the Solomon Islands Immigration Act 2012 that allows foreign nationals to enter and reside in the country for the purpose of exploring investment opportunities. It serves as the first stage of the investor immigration pathway -- holders who proceed to register their investment with InvestSolomons may then apply for the Established Investor Visa (Class 7) for longer-term residency. The visa is administered by the Immigration Division of the Ministry of Commerce, Industries, Labour and Immigration.

• Completed Form 6 (Application for a Provisional Investor Visa)
• Valid passport
• Evidence of genuine intention to explore investment in the Solomon Islands
• Supporting financial documents
• Police clearance certificate may be required
• Application must be approved by the Director of Immigration before entering the Solomon Islands

• Holders are not authorized to work in the Solomon Islands
• The visa is limited to exploring and assessing investment opportunities only
• No business operations or investment activities may be conducted without first obtaining a Certificate of Registration from InvestSolomons
• Without a 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 who identify viable investment opportunities can register their foreign investment with InvestSolomons under the Foreign Investment Act 2005. Upon obtaining a Certificate of Registration, they may apply for the Established Investor Visa (Form 7) for continued residency to operate their investment. Permanent residency requires 5 years of continuous prior residence and costs USD 1,500 for a 5-year permit.

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.

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 Provisional Investor Visa does not confer the right to conduct investment activities or business operations. It only permits exploration and assessment of opportunities. 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.