THE FIRST HOME OWNERSHIP INITIATIVE
The First Home Ownership Initiative was launched in 2014 to provide affordable and quality housing for all Fijians and increasing home ownership across the country, for low and middle-income earners.
Since its inception in 2014, the First Home Ownership Initiative has assisted close to 3760 Fijian households to a tune of $36 million. First Home Purchase Program and First Land Purchase programs are the two main assistance programs under this initiative.
In 2018, applicants under the Fiji National Provident Fund Mataqali Housing Scheme were included to benefit from this initiative. Ministry also provides assistance in rebuilding houses destroyed from accidental fire as a supplement to this initiative.
Households Benefitted
Investment
First Home / Land Assistance Beneficiaries by Income Category
FIRST HOME PURCHASE PROGRAMME
This program was introduced in 2014 and operates under two categories. The grant eligibility for financial year 2021 - 2022 is as below:
Who can apply?
Anyone with a total household income of $100,000 or less may apply for this, provided:
- You are a Fiji Citizen
- Above the age of 18
- Have never previously purchased or owned a home in Fiji
How do I apply for this?
You may apply through your bank and Housing Authority using the following application form.
You will be required to provide the following documents with your application to your financial institution:
- Declaration of income and salary slip
- Birth certificate
- Certified copy of photo identification
- Marriage certificate (if applicable)
- Title/Deed Search Note from Registrar of Titles
- Taxpayer identification number letter
- FNPF number
- Certified Registered Lease or Certificate of Title (Those holding land documents such as Tenancy at Will, Agreement for Lease and Vakavanua Land Arrangements will not qualify)
FIRST LAND PURCHASE PROGRAMME
Introduced in 2018 / 2019 financial year, Fijians with an annual household income of $50,000 or less qualify for this assistance to purchase their first land. The maximum grant assistance is $10,000 per household.
Who can apply?
Anyone with a total household income of less than $50,000 may apply for this provided:
- You are a Fiji Citizen
- Above age of 18
- Have not previously held a residential lease or owned residential land in Fiji
How do I apply for this?
You may apply through your bank, the Housing Authority, the I-Taukei Land Trust Board or Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources using the following application form.
You will be required to provide the following documents with your application to your financial institution:
- Declaration of income and salary slip.
- Birth certificate.
- Certified copy of photo identification.
- Marriage certificate (if applicable).
- Title Search Note from Registrar of Titles.
- Taxpayer identification number letter.
- FNPF number
- Lease document or certificate of title.
Whom can I contact for further assistance?
Please email
Or call 330 9918 during working hours:
Monday – Thursday 8.00am – 4.30pm
Friday 8.00am – 4.00pm
OTHER GRANTS
Housing Assistance to Fire Victims
Introduced in 2015, under our Fire Victims Assistance programme to assist low/middle income earners to rebuild their homes destroyed by fire, households with a total income of $50,000 or below. To date 203 Fijians have been assisted with a total payout of $990,000.
Who can apply?
Anyone with a total household income of less than $50,000 may apply for this provided:
- You are a Fiji Citizen
- Above the age of 18
- Hold a valid lease or title to prove the ownership for the property OR lives within a registered village boundary
- Letters from Provincial Administrator and Ministry of iTaukei Affairs confirming home ownership within a registered village boundary
- National Fire Authority can confirm that the Fire was accidental
- The house is not insured
How do I apply for this?
You may send your application directly to the Ministry or through your municipal council or the National Fire Authority (NFA) using the following application form.
You will be required to provide the following documents with your application:
- Declaration of income and salary slip.
- Birth certificate.
- Certified copy of photo identification.
- Marriage certificate (if applicable).
- Land, title or lease documents.
- Letter from National Fire Authority confirming the cause of the Fire
- Police Report
- Taxpayer identification number letter.
- FNPF number
- Photos of the burnt house
- Quotations of the building materials
- Copy of Bank Statement
Please email
Or call 330 9918 during working hours:
Monday – Thursday 8.00am – 4.30pm
Friday 8.00am – 4.00pm
Housing Assistance for Persons Living with Special Needs Grant Programme
Housing Assistance for Persons with Special Needs is gaged towards increasing housing accessibility for people with disabilities. This retrofit program helps low and middle income Fijians with various disabilities in upgrading their house/ facilities to make them more accessible to their special needs.
With about 126,000 Fijians living with disabilities in the country according to the 2017 National Census, this assistance program is a timely boost and will allow many Fijians living with Special Needs to live normal lives. Program will be a helping hand to these Fijians allowing them smooth access in and around their home environment and also giving them a greater level of independence.
Under this assistance program, applicants can seek financial and labour assistance for upgrades such as:
- Installation of ramps
- Installation of hand rails
- Accessible sanitation - toilets / bathrooms with grab bars etc.
- Accessible walkways
How Much Grant can I apply?
- Maximum grant of up to F$5,000.00 per applicant
Who can apply?
- Fijian Citizen
- Registered member with the Department of Social Welfare
- Member of Fiji National Council for Persons with Disability (optional)
- Annual Household Income is below $30,000
- Own the house to be retrofitted (in the event of a minor – parent/ legal guardian to be the owner of the house)
You will be required to provide the following documents with your application:
- Completed Grant Application Form;
- Birth Certificate;
- FRCS/FNPF Identification Card
- Quotation from the reliable local hardware companies;
- Support Letter from Department of Social Welfare; and
- Proof of ownership of the house
- Statutory Declaration:
1. No other means of income and support are available;
2. Not been assisted previously through any other housing programme.
- Copy of Bank Statement
How do I apply for this?
Application Forms will be available at the following locations:
- Ministry of Housing Headquarters, 33 Gorrie Street, Suva.
- Offices of the Divisional Commissioners, Central, Eastern, Western & Northern
- Provisional Administrators Office, Central, Eastern, Western & Northern
- Fiji National Council for Persons with Disability, 3 Brown St, Toorak, Suva.
Applications for Housing Assistance for Persons with Special Needs are now CLOSED for 2021-2022 financial year.
You may also download the application form below:
Whom can I contact for further assistance?
Please email
Or call 330 9918 during working hours:
Monday – Thursday 8.00am – 4.30pm
