Refurbished Immigration Counter Boosts Visa Processing and Revenue

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The newly refurbished immigration counter in Honiara, officially opened yesterday (Tuesday 12th August), marks a major step in the ongoing transformation of Solomon Islands’ border services.

Visa issuance has surged under the country’s new Merit System—from an annual average of 12,000 to more than 3,000 each month. The upgraded system not only speeds up processing but has also significantly increased government revenue from visa fees.

Director of Immigration Christopher Akosawa said last month alone more than $100,000 was collected from business visas. “Since shifting to the Merit System, we’ve recorded more arrivals based on issued visas, which means more money coming into the country,” he said.

Previously, immigration staff used a manual spreadsheet-based process to record visas—a method Akosawa admitted was “not very accurate.” The Merit System, already used in Australia and Papua New Guinea, now allows applicants to submit visa requests and pay fees online, while enabling immigration officers to track every arrival in real time.

The system also flags visa expiry dates automatically, improving monitoring of visitors and enabling checks even before travellers board their flights.

Australia, through its border management partnership with Solomon Islands, supported the shift to the new platform, helping to deliver more accurate data and boost national revenue.