No travel without loan clearance, students warned

Students with Government loans must obtain approval before traveling overseas or risk being stranded at airports, says Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS) chief executive officer Udit Singh.

Mr Singh revealed that some students forget their loan contract conditions and purchase airline tickets without securing required clearances.

“The issue is that the students have not applied for their travel and got approval,” Mr Singh told the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence in Parliament today.

“Some of them do not remember that clause in their contract. And they happily buy a ticket and go to the airport.”

Mr Singh explained students under the Tertiary Scholarships and Loans Service (TSLS) cannot travel overseas until they receive approval because of bond conditions attached to their loans.

Committee vice chairperson Rinesh Sharma raised concerns about students missing flights and waiting days to travel due to confusion over which agency to approach for clearance.

“I believe that they’re not probably aware where to go - immigration, TSLS, or FRCS,” Mr Sharma said.

FRCS director Taxation Momina Beg acknowledged the confusion arose because multiple organisations previously administered the loan scheme, with TSLS managing scholarships while FRCS handled collections.

However, Ms Beg confirmed the entire process has now been transferred back to TSLS, creating a “one-stop shop” for students.

She revealed TSLS has established kiosks at airports where students can access the system and obtain immediate approval if they arrive without proper clearance.

The committee heard students who travel overseas and disappear can have their bond obligations transferred to new guarantors if the original guarantor faces medical issues or cannot travel.

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