Arrival in Fiji

Fijian passport holders can enter Fiji without a visa. Visa-exempt passport holders do not need a visa for travel, but they still need the permit appropriate to their purpose. Other passport holders need the correct visa or permit before purchasing a ticket or boarding. A visa does not guarantee entry. Carry a current valid passport or travel document and, where relevant, the expired document linked to the visa or permit. The ordinary visitor route covers holidays, visits to family or friends, conferences and meetings, sport or recreation, transit and carrier crew. Immigration Clearance can issue a Visitors Permit for several days up to a maximum of four months. An extension of up to two months can be requested while the permit remains valid, but no further extension is available. Visitor status does not permit job-seeking or work. Transit of up to 72 hours requires a Transit Visa before arrival, an onward ticket and the visa or permit required for the next destination. Medical treatment, yacht arrivals and carrier crew require purpose-specific permission before arrival. Work and residence require their own permits; a visitor permit cannot replace them. A long-term work route requires a sponsor and employment contract. Assured-income residence is intended for applicants aged 45 or older with sufficient offshore assets. A holiday visa application generally includes the application form, a certified passport biodata page, two recent photographs, accommodation confirmation or a local sponsor, an itinerary or ticket, proof of funds and, where relevant, an onward-country visa or ticket. Travellers under 18 who travel alone or without the relevant consent may need consent letters. The Ministry of Immigration advises applying about three months before travel and states a processing time of 14 working days. A single-entry visa is valid for three months and one journey; a multiple-entry visa is valid for 12 months, with a maximum stay of four months per entry. The listed fees are FJ$93 for a single-entry visa and FJ$185 for a multiple-entry visa. Incomplete applications or cases requiring verification can take longer. Students need a pre-approved Student Permit, institutional acceptance, a passport, photographs, proof of funds or a sponsor, and a confirmed Fiji address. A confirmed return ticket is required when the study period is shorter than 12 months, and a security bond applies when it exceeds 12 months. The airline, shipping agent or crew normally provides the Fiji Passenger Arrival Card before landing. Complete both sides clearly. At the immigration checkpoint, present the card, passport, visa approval or other authority letter where applicable, and the relevant ticket or permit evidence. Visitor clearance also requires a return ticket, a confirmed Fiji address and sufficient funds. Keep the entry or permit stamp and all clearance documents. The Ministry of Immigration lists an arrival fee of FJ$96 on one page, while its current fee schedule and Visitors Permit page list FJ$93 for a visa or visitor-permit extension. Verify the amount in IMMIHUB or with the Ministry of Immigration before paying. A visitor extension should be filed before expiry and generally requires more than six months of passport validity, a copy of the arrival stamp, proof of funds, hotel remittance or a support letter and a confirmed return ticket. The stated processing time is three to five working days over the counter in Suva and can be longer online. Declare restricted or prohibited goods and currency or negotiable instruments of FJ$10,000 or more using the Border Currency Reporting Form. Personal effects are duty-free only when they were used before arrival, are for personal use and are carried as baggage. Other personal goods are duty-free up to FJ$2,000; the Gold Card holder limit is FJ$3,000. Goods above the applicable limit, as well as commercial, professional or technical goods, can attract Customs Duty based on CIF value, VAT, import excise where applicable and an Import Entry Transaction Fee. Pay these charges in Fijian dollars. Unpaid goods can be detained or disposed of if they are not claimed. Travellers aged 18 or older can bring up to 3 litres of spirits or 4.5 litres of wine or 4.5 litres of beer, and up to 200 cigarettes or 200 grams of cigars or tobacco, or a combination not exceeding 200 grams. FRCS lists an allowance of up to 200 ml/mg for e-cigarettes. Chewing tobacco is prohibited. Keep receipts for goods that may require valuation. Declare all food, animal or animal products, fish, birds, eggs, honey, plants, fruit, seeds, flowers, wood, soil, biological specimens and used camping or sporting equipment, shoes and tools. The Biosecurity Authority of Fiji may inspect or x-ray these items. Put uncertain goods in a Biosecurity Amnesty Bin or declare them for assessment. Treatment can be chargeable. Prohibited goods may be destroyed or re-exported at the traveller's expense. Failure to declare can result in a FJ$400 spot fine or prosecution carrying up to FJ$20,000, six months' imprisonment or both. Prescription or controlled medicines should travel with a doctor's prescription and be limited to medically necessary personal use. Fiji MRA's general import-permit rules exclude personal-use traveller medicines, but dangerous and illicit-drug controls still apply, so check the Fiji MRA requirements before travel. Sea arrivals follow a separate clearance flow. A merchant vessel's licensed agent submits the FRCS notice at least 48 hours before arrival at a designated port. A yacht or small craft submits Form C2C at least 48 hours before arrival. The vessel remains under the Q flag until Port Health clearance unless radio pratique applies and stays onboard until cleared. Clearances involve the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, FRCS, the Ministry of Immigration and the Biosecurity Authority of Fiji. Carry two copies of Form C2C, arrival cards, passports, the last-port clearance, the last ten ports of call and an outbound ticket when disembarking. After-hours FRCS charges are FJ$50 per hour on weekdays and FJ$60 per hour on weekends or public holidays, with a three-hour minimum. Declare firearms; Fiji Police detain them until departure. Reviewed official sources identify no general address-registration or mandatory newcomer-orientation procedure after arrival. Permit-specific follow-up can take place through the Ministry of Immigration or IMMIHUB. Vodafone Fiji offers a Tourist SIM at its Nadi Airport outlet, and physical passports are required for SIM registration. The Ministry of Health and Medical Services Health Facilities Map lists hospitals, health centres and nursing stations across Fiji. Call 911 for a medical emergency and 158 for health information. Current reviewed Ministry of Immigration, FRCS and biosecurity pages do not state a COVID-specific testing, vaccination or quarantine step, so check the current requirements immediately before travel.