Asia and Oceania

No restrictions in this travel advice

Avoid all but essential travel to part(s) of country

Avoid all but essential travel to whole country

Avoid all travel to part(s) of country

Avoid all travel to whole country

• Travel Summary
• Safety and security
• Local laws and customs
• Entry requirements

• Health
• Natural disasters
• General
 

• The tropical cyclone season in Fiji normally runs from November to April.  Throughout this period there is a high risk of strong winds and heavy rains with associated flooding, landslides and road closures. Travellers are strongly advised to monitor the latest weather bulletins on the Fiji Meteorological Service website, in local newspapers and on Radio Fiji 2 on 105 FM. See Natural Disasters.
   
• Almost 25,000 British nationals visit Fiji every year. Most visits to Fiji are trouble-free. See General - Consular Assistance - Statistics. Travellers should take extra care when visiting isolated locations, especially when travelling alone.
  
  

• Women travelling alone should exercise caution to ensure their personal security.  There have been serious cases of sexual assaults against foreign nationals in Fiji.  See our Victims of Crime and Women Travellers pages.
  

• Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency.
  
  
• A military coup took place in Fiji in December 2006. Travellers should exercise caution and are advised to monitor the local situation for developments. You should avoid all political rallies and avoid openly discussing political issues. See Safety and Security - Political Situation.
  
  
• The penalty for possession of any amount of marijuana is a mandatory prison sentence.
  
  
• There is a low threat from terrorism in Fiji. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
  
  
• You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling.  See General - Insurance.

Safety and Security - Terrorism
There is a low threat from terrorism in Fiji.  But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. See our Terrorism Abroad page.

Safety and Security - Crime

The level of serious crime is generally low, but incidents of petty theft are fairly common. Like any other part of the world, be particularly careful with personal possessions and travel documents in cities and other popular tourist destinations. Keep your valuables and passport in a safe place and use hotel safes where possible. Avoid carrying everything in one bag. Do not leave your belongings unattended, including in Fiji’s main International Airports of Nadi and Nausori where tourists have been targeted with the opportunistic theft of passports and  luggage.   Be alert when you are withdrawing cash from cash machines.

Before you travel, make a copy of your passport personal details page. Take one copy with you, store it separately from the original, and leave one copy with friends or family at home (or upload it onto a secure online data storage site); this will help a speedier turnaround if your passport is lost or stolen.

Take particular care when walking at night in cities and towns and when visiting isolated locations.  Women travelling on their own should exercise caution to ensure their personal security.  There have been cases of serious sexual assaults against foreign nationals in Fiji, including against British women.

See our Victims of Crime and Women Travellers pages. 

Safety and Security - Local Travel

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Air Travel

Airport Departure Tax is included in ticket prices.

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Sea/River Travel

There are dangerous rip tides along many of the reefs and river estuaries. Check before entering the water. Wear the appropriate safety equipment before going out to the reefs or engaging in water sports and take local advice on safety at all times when engaging in adventure sports. See our River and Sea Safety page.

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Road Travel

Drivers and pedestrians should be aware that vehicle safety regulations are rarely enforced and traffic violations can occur. When taking a taxi you should use a licensed taxi, denoted by a yellow registration plate.

You should be aware not all minibuses currently operating in Fiji are licensed by the Land Transport Authority (LTA). As with taxis, those with yellow number plates have been approved by the LTA. Unlicensed minibuses will probably not be insured.

See our Driving Abroad page.

Safety and Security - Political Situation
Fiji Country Profile

A military coup took place in Fiji in December 2006. In April 2009, the then President abrogated the Constitution and installed an Interim Government.  As a result, Fiji has been suspended from the Pacific Island Forum and the Commonwealth. Travellers should exercise caution and monitor the local situation for developments. Avoid all political rallies and avoid openly discussing political issues. Further information is available in the Fiji country profile.   

Possession of any amount of marijuana carries a mandatory three-month prison sentence.

You may be invited to participate in the local ceremony of drinking kava. Be aware of the Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency advice on the effects this can have on the consumer's health.

Fijians are by nature modest people. Topless bathing and nudity in public is forbidden.

Homosexuality in Fiji has been decriminalised by the Crime Decree which came into effect in February 2010. Gay and lesbian travellers should be aware of local sensitivities, particularly when visiting rural communities.

See our Your trip page. 

Entry Requirements - Visas
Entry visas are not required for visits of up to four months. As a visitor you must have an onward or return ticket and a valid visa for the next country of disembarkation. If you are visiting Fiji on business you will be granted a stay for 14 days on arrival.

A visa is required for visits of longer than four months. Applications for visas can be made at the Fiji High Commission in London.

Those entering Fiji by boat are subject to the same visa requirements as those travelling to Fiji by plane.  Yachts can only enter through Suva, Lautoka, Savusavu and Levuka.

Entry Requirements - Passport validity
You must hold a valid passport to enter Fiji. Your passport must be valid for a minimum period of six months from the date of entry into Fiji.

Entry Requirements - Importing meat or dairy products
Fiji customs enforce strict quarantine regulations and x-ray all in-bound luggage at Nadi airport. Most perishable foodstuffs will be confiscated on arrival, unless arriving from a country with quarantine agreements with Fiji.

Entry Requirements - Importing or exporting currency
Visitors and residents are required to declare currency amounts in excess of FJ$5,000 (£1,600 approx).

Entry Requirements - Travelling with children
Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country.

In the case of Fiji, no such documentation is required for visitors.  But it is required for those applying for work and/or residency permits.  For further information contact the Fiji High Commission in London.

Health care facilities are adequate for routine medical treatment, but are limited in range and availability. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services. In the event of a medical emergency, evacuation could be a likely option for treatment, and you should ensure that your insurance policy covers this.

Dengue, which is transmitted by mosquitoes, occurs in Fiji. There is no vaccination against dengue, but there are preventative measures that you can take, as advised on the National Travel Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) website.

Whilst in May 2011 the Fiji Ministry of Health reported that the incidence of typhoid in Fiji is generally declining, cases do still occur. 149 cases were reported in Fiji from January to May 2011 and typhoid hotspots are monitored by public health officials. You should exercise precautions to avoid exposure to typhoid. For further information on the appropriate vaccine and preventative measures visit the National Travel Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) website.

There have been cases of Rubella in Fiji, with the most recent outbreak in July 2011. For further information on the disease and vaccination requirements visit the National Travel Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) website.

In the 2010 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around less than 1,000 adults aged 15 or over in Fiji were living with HIV; the prevalence percentage was estimated at around  0.1 of the adult population compared to the prevalence percentage rate in adults in the UK of around 0.2%. You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see HIV and AIDS.

Seek medical advice before travelling to Fiji and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention visit the websites of the National Travel Health Network and Centre NaTHNaC or NHS Scotland's Fit For Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

See our Travel Health and Eat and drink Safely pages.

Natural Disasters - Earthquakes
Fiji is in an earthquake zone and suffers from tremors from time to time. These can trigger tsunami alerts.  You should familiarise yourself with safety procedures in the event of an earthquake, and take note of earthquake and tsunami related instructions e.g. in hotel rooms. For more information on earthquakes and their effects, please visit: www.earthquake.usgs.gov.

Natural Disasters - Tropical Cyclones
The tropical cyclone season in Fiji normally runs from November to April.  Throughout this period there is a high risk of strong winds and heavy rains with associated flooding, landslides and road closures.

Monitor weather updates from the Fiji Meteorological Service, in local newspapers and on Radio Fiji 2 on 105 FM. See our Tropical Cyclones page for more detailed information about what to do if you are caught up in a storm.  

Natural Disasters - Flash Floods
Flash floods resulting in landslides and road blockages are not uncommon throughout the Fiji Islands. In periods of heavy rain, which can occur at any time of year, check with your tour operator or resort before travelling, particularly by road.

General - Insurance
You should take out comprehensive medical and travel insurance covering all eventualities, including cover for medical evacuation by air ambulance, before you travel, particularly if you plan to engage in adventure sports. Check any exclusions, and ensure your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. See our Travel Insurance page. 

If things do go wrong when you are overseas see our When Things Go Wrong page.

General - Mobile phones
The mobile phone network generally works well in cities and large towns but coverage in some rural areas and outlying islands can be limited or non-existent. You can use your UK mobile phone in Fiji if global roaming has been activated, but making and receiving calls can be expensive. Many UK mobile phones will not work in Fiji as your mobile phone provider may not have an international roaming agreement with Fiji’s mobile phone providers, Vodafone and Digicel. Many visitors prefer to buy a Fiji SIM card on arrival. These are relatively cheap to buy and calls, both local and international are cheaper than using a UK SIM card. Fijian SIM cards are available at Nadi International Airport and at convenience stores and supermarkets. Registration of a SIM card purchased locally is mandatory.

In the outer islands the mobile phone network coverage is patchy.  Contact with family and friends may be affected.

General - Consular Assistance in Fiji
The British High Commission is located in Suva, around 200kms from the main holiday resort areas in the west. Therefore, there may be some delay in rendering assistance to those who encounter problems in the west, given the distance involved, time taken to reach the west from Suva and the difficulties with travel on the Suva to Nadi road after dark.

General - Consular Assistance - Statistics
Almost 25,000 British nationals visit Fiji every year. Most visits to Fiji are trouble–free. 10 British nationals required consular assistance in Fiji in the period 01 April 2010 - 31 March 2011 for the following types of incident; three deaths; one hospitalisation; and one arrest.  

General - Consular Registration
Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency. 

General - Replacing your passport  

If your passport is lost, stolen or expired, there are no facilities to issue full validity UK passports in Fiji; these are all issued at our Regional Passport Processing Centre in New Zealand.  Details on how to complete the application process can be seen on the UK in New Zealand website http://ukinnewzealand.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/passports/how-to-apply/pacific-islands.

If your need to travel falls within the minimum full validity passport processing time of 3 - 4 weeks, you should contact the British High Commission in Fiji - http://ukinfiji.fco.gov.uk/en/about-us/our-high-commission/contact-us/ - and they will do their best to help you.  You may be eligible for an Emergency Travel Document (ETD).  We make every effort to makes sure compassionate cases are processed quickly.

If you are issued with an Emergency Travel Document, you must also apply for a new exit visa from the Fijian authorities. A fee may be charged. Further information can be obtained on the Fiji Immigration website (http://www.immi.gov.fj).

Please see the section on victims of crime if your passport has been stolen along with other possessions whilst you are abroad.

General - Money
Most tourist hotels and many restaurants accept credit cards.  But not all ATMs accept the full range of credit cards issued overseas.  The Australian and New Zealand Bank (ANZ) and Westpac ATMs accept UK Visa and Mastercard, and UK debit cards with Maestro and/or Cirrus symbols.