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.
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 (Resident — Long-Term) requires at least 5 consecutive years of prior lawful residence and carries a USD 1,500 immigration service fee (plus a USD 50 online processing fee), valid for 5 years and renewable.
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 may be submitted in person at the Immigration Services Office in Honiara or through the Immigration Division's Online Visa Application Portal (eVisa), which now supports online application and payment. Under the Immigration (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2025, fees are denominated in US dollars: a standard USD 50 administration fee applies, and the published conversion fee to a Provisional Investor Visa is USD 1,208 (from a Visitor visa) or USD 604 (from a Business visa). 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 (CBI) programme, but the CBI Bill remains a first draft under review by the Attorney General's Chambers and has not been tabled in Parliament or enacted; officials have stated the frameworks are "still a long way to go" and that reports of an operational programme are "false and fraudulent."