Fiji’s government issued an urgent warning in August 2025 after detecting a surge in fake visa websites preying on travellers, singling out a clone site, e-visaimmigov.com, that poses as the country’s official e-visa portal. Registered on June 24, 2025, the site has no link to Fiji’s Ministry of Immigration and is designed to trick people into sharing passport data and making unauthorized payments, officials said.
Permanent Secretary for Immigration, Aliki Salusalu, called the imposter platform a “serious threat to public safety and national security,” citing risks to data privacy, financial security, and identity protection. The Ministry has opened a live investigation with law enforcement, cyber intelligence partners, and external cybersecurity teams to disrupt the operation and reduce the harm to travellers and residents.
Authorities stressed a simple rule: use only official websites ending in “.gov.fj.” The correct addresses are immigration.gov.fj for general information and evisa.immigration.gov.fj for online applications. Anything else is not an official Fiji government page.
How the scam targets applicants
Officials say the operators behind e-visaimmigov.com copy the look and tone of real government pages, then push users through “express” forms that gather full names, dates of birth, passport numbers, photos, and travel plans.
The site also requests card details or bank transfers to “process” an application. Once paid, applicants either receive no response or get a fake confirmation. Worse, the stolen identity data can be sold or used for other crimes.
Several red flags have been reported:
– The domain does not end with .gov.fj.
– The site appears as a paid search result labeled “Ad.”
– Contact details are vague or missing; there is no official government email or phone line.
– Prices and “rush fees” don’t match public fee schedules.
– The site asks for full payment before account creation on a secure government portal.
Cyber experts warn that rushed searches increase risk. People often click sponsored links at the top of results, and those paid listings can include imitation pages. Officials advise slowing down long enough to read the full web address before entering any personal or payment information.
Immediate steps if you used the site
The Ministry urges anyone who interacted with the fraudulent page to act quickly:
- Stop all contact with the site and do not send further information or money.
- Report the incident to the Fiji Immigration Intelligence and Compliance Unit at [email protected] or +679 9906458 / 9905207.
- If you shared ID or passport details, contact the Fiji Police Cybercrime Unit and your nearest immigration office.
- Alert your bank and ask for fraud monitoring or a replacement card.
- Change passwords on email and travel accounts; enable multi-factor authentication.
Officials say these steps help limit harm and protect accounts.
Government response and wider trend
The Ministry is working with domestic and international partners to take down e-visaimmigov.com and similar fake visa websites. Investigators are tracing hosting providers, payment channels, and affiliate networks that might be involved in wider cyber-enabled fraud.
Officials say this case reflects a global pattern tied to the rapid growth of electronic visas and travel authorizations. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, countries like the United Kingdom, United States 🇺🇸, Canada 🇨🇦, Australia, and New Zealand have seen repeated attempts by third-party operators to mimic official portals, buy search ads, and harvest sensitive data.
While some third-party firms lawfully offer form-filling help, scammers cross the line when they:
– Pose as a government,
– Demand inflated fees, or
– Prevent applicants from reaching the real portal.
Fiji’s warning also highlights a simple search tip: legitimate government websites do not appear with an “Ad” label in search results. If you see “Ad” next to a visa link, scroll to the organic result and confirm the address ends with .gov.fj. On a phone, press and hold a link to preview the URL before opening it.
For travellers planning trips to Fiji, officials recommend building your application plan early to reduce pressure and the chance of a mistake. Keep a checklist with the correct portal, required documents, and payment method. If you use a travel agent, ask them to show you the exact webpage address before any payment, and make sure it’s evisa.immigration.gov.fj.
The Ministry says it will keep improving its online tools. Future updates may include new verification badges, clearer warning banners, and stronger digital certificates to help people spot imposters. Public awareness campaigns are also being refreshed to reach first-time travellers and those who rely on mobile-only access.
Practical verification tips
- Type the address yourself: evisa.immigration.gov.fj. Avoid clicking sponsored links.
- Check the padlock icon and the certificate details in your browser.
- Compare fees with the official schedule before paying.
- Keep copies of receipts and confirmation emails from the real portal.
- If in doubt, call before you pay: +679 9906458 / 9905207.
Role of airlines, employers and schools
Fiji’s shift to digital processing has made visas faster for many users, but it has also given criminals new ways to trick the public. Aliki Salusalu said the Ministry’s focus is twofold: closing security gaps in the system and supporting victims who came forward in good faith.
Officials thanked community groups and airlines for sharing alerts at counters and boarding gates. Carriers have been asked to remind passengers at check-in that Fiji’s visa sites end with .gov.fj.
Employers who sponsor workers should verify links before sending onboarding packs that include immigration steps. Schools that enroll overseas students can add the correct portal to acceptance letters to reduce the risk of misdirection.
Where to start a genuine application
People who think they still need to apply should start at the Fiji Ministry of Immigration official website: https://www.immigration.gov.fj. From there:
– Follow the link to the e-visa portal.
– Confirm the address bar shows evisa.immigration.gov.fj.
– Create an account using a personal email address you can access on your phone.
– Set a strong password and turn on extra login security.
Officials reiterated the Ministry has no connection to e-visaimmigov.com, which was registered on June 24, 2025. The warning forms part of an effort to protect travellers and keep trust in Fiji’s digital visa system as cyber threats grow.
Key takeaway: Always confirm the URL ends with .gov.fj and avoid paid search links labeled “Ad” when applying for visas.
Frequently Asked Questions
This Article in a Nutshell
Fiji’s August 2025 alert exposes e-visaimmigov.com as a fake e-visa portal stealing passport data and payments; use only .gov.fj sites, report fraud to [email protected] or +679 9906458, and enable bank fraud monitoring, password changes, and multi-factor authentication to limit damage and protect identities.
