Romantic relationship in Fiji

People in Fiji commonly use terms such as boyfriend or girlfriend, spouse and de facto relationship. A romantic relationship does not by itself create a marriage, property entitlement or maintenance claim. Marriage and a relationship also do not create blanket sexual consent; sexual offences and abuse protections apply within intimate relationships. The Constitution protects equality, including sexual orientation and gender identity or expression. The statutory wording for marriage is one man and one woman, and no direct same-sex marriage or civil-union pathway was identified in the available research. A formal marriage may be civil or religious. Both parties generally need to be at least 18 under section 12 of the Marriage Act. The Ministry of Justice and Registrar-General’s Office handle the formal process through a marriage officer. A Notice of Intention to Marry carries a listed fee of $15 VEP and normally remains open for 21 consecutive days. Typical documents include photographs, birth certificates, photo identification, witnesses and, where relevant, proof of divorce or a former spouse’s death. A special licence may waive the 21-day notice period. A court marriage has a listed fee of $50 VEP. Registration creates the legal marriage status. Fiji recorded 6,470 registered marriages in 2024, and about 81.4% of registered marriages from 2016 to 2024 were court marriages. A de facto relationship is a genuine domestic partnership assessed under Part 7 of the Family Law Act 2003. Courts may consider the relationship’s duration, shared home, sexual relationship, financial dependence or interdependence, mutual support, property, commitment to a shared life, children, household duties and public reputation. The Act treats a de facto partner as a party to a marriage for some Part 7 purposes, which can support applications concerning property or spousal maintenance. This recognition is not automatically identical to marriage, and succession or estate consequences depend on the circumstances. A written agreement and an up-to-date will can reduce uncertainty, while legal advice is useful where property, maintenance or inheritance is disputed. The Domestic Violence Act 2009 covers domestic relationships including boyfriend or girlfriend relationships, spouses and de facto partnerships. A Domestic Violence Restraining Order, or DVRO, can address physical or sexual abuse, threats, property damage, intimidation and harassment. A victim, representative, police officer, social welfare officer or another authorised person may apply in person or by telephone. The order may be interim or final and can impose non-molestation, no-contact or exclusion conditions. Police must apply for an order when a charge exists or when they suspect an imminent risk, subject to statutory exceptions. Fiji Police, the Department of Social Welfare, the Family Court and Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre provide different forms of protection or support; Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre offers free and confidential counselling. The Legal Aid Commission may provide family-law advice or representation when eligibility requirements are met. The Family Court has High Court and Magistrates Court divisions, with registries in Suva, Lautoka and Labasa, as well as counselling and conciliation facilities. A maintenance or contribution application is listed at $0, while a divorce application is listed at $112.50. Legal Aid Commission branches operate nationally, but means and other eligibility conditions affect access. Rural and island travel, privacy concerns and stigma can make formal help harder to use. Separation does not itself dissolve a marriage. A married couple generally needs to show irretrievable breakdown and at least 12 months of continuous separate living, then file Form 1 for divorce. Divorce alone does not settle property, maintenance or children’s matters; separate orders or agreements may be needed. A de facto breakup has no divorce procedure, but Part 7 applications for property or spousal maintenance may remain available when the evidence meets the legal test.