• Money:  There are ATMs in main urban centres (including an ANZ ATM at Nadi Airport), and these accept the main international cards including Plus, UnionPay, Cirrus and Maestro.  Check that you can use your card at overseas outlets, also whether there is a charge for overseas withdrawals and other transactions.  Local bank ATMs will charge between 12-15 FJD per international transaction. Credit cards can be used at larger hotels, restaurants and shops – Visa, Amex and Mastercard are generally accepted but often incur a 2.5%-3.5% service fee.

 

• Passports: Ensure your UNLP and national passports for all family members have at least six months’ validity before you enter Fiji.

 

• Vaccinations:  Moving countries is a good time to check that all family members are up-to-date with the usual vaccinations: typhoid, tetanus, Hep A and B, plus the obligatory vaccination for yellow fever or cholera if you are arriving from an infected area.  Fiji is not malarial; however, there are regular outbreaks of dengue fever.

 

• To avoid the introduction of foreign plant and animal pests and diseases, Fiji prohibits the importation of vegetable matter, seeds, or any animal product without a permit from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forests.

 

• UN Entitlements:  Know your entitlements – check these here.

 

• Diplomatic Privileges and Immunities Act- Fiji Legislation

 

 

Getting there

You are likely to arrive at Fiji’s main airport in Nadi (pronounced 'Nandi'), a three-hour drive or half hour flight from Suva.  Nadi International Airport is Fiji’s main airport and gateway which handles 96 percent of total annual international passengers and 30 international scheduled flights on a daily basis.

 

Nausori Airport is the second International Airport in Fiji and is a thirty minute drive from the country's capital, Suva. If you choose to get to Suva driving, a taxi from Nadi Airport to Suva (approx 3hr drive) is around FJD 200. A taxi from Nausori Airport to Suva is FJD 35-40. 

 

The airlines that fly into Fiji are Fiji Airways, Qantas, Air New Zealand, Korean Air, Jetstar and Virgin Australia. You can visit their websites for special flight packages to Fiji.

 

For more information, refer to AirportsFiji.

 

Shipment

For those who are moving belongings by air to Fiji , make sure you check and double check airline specifications. In the case that the size is exceeded, your boxes may await delay in Australia and items may get reported lost, as in a number of cases.  It is also advisable to insure your items, even if the shipper/ mover does not offer it. 

 

For shipping, estimated delivery dates are usually late, from anywhere to 2 weeks to 2 months (or more!).  Retrieving containers from the dock has been reported as fairly hassle free, though local authorities are keen on fumigation, so it is important to clarify with the shipper whether they take care of that, particularly for wood items.

 

Also of note, most rental houses and apartments come fully furnished, so you may wish to not bring too much furniture.  Landlords do not often have storage space and are hesitant to move their furniture out of the rental apartment.

(Some people have remarked that they wished they brought far less furniture and more food items that are not available In Fiji!). 

 

 

What to Bring

Note: Use common sense when packing and organizing your shipment.  Fiji is a small island country serving a largely basic-needs economy.  Luxury/high quality items are available in department stores though supply is limited and usually expensive due to import costs largely from NZ and Australia.

 

• Books:  Bring plenty of spare books if you have a particular genre you like.  There are bookshops, but you probably won’t find the specific book you are looking for as there is limited selection and can be expensive.  Corona Women’s Group runs a book swap club and discursive book clubs exist throughout Suva.  You may want to consider a kindle or iPad type of e-reader, allowing instant downloads from Amazon etc, which means you are not limited to the books available only in Suva.  There is a UNLESA book club which meets monthly.  Contact UNLESA for more information and to be put onto the mailing list if interested.

 

• Children and Baby Requirements: Disposable nappies, formula and baby food are widely available, but fairly expensive.  Good quality car seats, highchairs and strollers are occasionally available from some pharmacies but are very expensive.  Good quality children’s furniture, particularly cots, is not available unless bought second-hand from an ex-pat.  Imported children’s toys are limited in supply and very expensive.

 

•  Clothing/ shoes: There is a limited selection of good quality clothing in Fiji, and good quality shoes are almost impossible to find.  Children’s clothing is also limited.  In general, dress in Fiji is fairly casual.  Apart from a few cooler months in the middle of the year when you need an extra layer in the evenings, you can live in cotton shirts and skirts/trousers/shorts all year round.  A raincoat or umbrella can come in handy! Do NOT bring items that cannot stand year-round humidity (leather, wool, delicate wall hangings or valuable books), unless you are prepared to continuously air-condition and dehumidify the room in which they are placed.   Be prepared that the clothing and shoes you bring to Suva you may choose to leave behind at the end of your stay- the high year- round humidity will deteriorate even the best of quality!

 

 

More information

• Electrical Appliances:  Electric power in Fiji is 240 AC volts, 50 cycles.  Power points are 3-pronged, with the top two prongs slanted (the same as those in Australia and New Zealand).  Adaptors are widely available. High quality refrigerators and other large appliances are limited in supply and expensive. It would be advised to bring all laptops and other higher end IT software from overseas.

 

• Food:  The range of imported foods is increasing all the time, although it can be expensive and limited.  If you have special items you can’t do without, you may want to consider bringing a stock with your shipment!  Gluten-free pasta is available, but other gluten-free products are limited.  Alcohol is available, but heavily taxed – make the most of duty-free during trips out of the country.

 

• Furniture:  Most rental houses and apartments you will find are furnished, including appliances.  If you prefer to have your own furniture, bring as much as you can, as good quality, tasteful furniture is in short supply.  Before shipping all your goods, it is advisable to find out from your landlord if they will store their furniture in order for you to use your own. 

 

• Linens: Again, good quality is imported, limited and expensive.

 

• Medicines and feminine sanitary products: There is a good supply of high quality pharmaceutical products imported from Australia and New Zealand (including insect repellent). As for feminine sanitary products – if you have particular brands you are fond of then bring from  overseas, there is however an average range available at good prices.  Most other toiletry items are are available at pharmacies, supermarkets and Cost-U-Less.

 

• Musical instruments: Do take caution in bringing any high quality expensive instruments (especially strings or piano). The humidity can do damage and there are limited music teachers available (see music section for more information). 

 

• Optical Supplies: limited range of contact lenses, contact solution and frames. Advised to stock up on optical needs prior to arrival.

 

• Sports Equipment:  Good quality sports gear is limited in supply and expensive.

 

• UV index is high year round at 8 – 10.  SPF, hats and spf clothing for swimming and sport (rash t-shirts, etc.) are recommended.  UV-protective swimming gear is available locally from Wai Tui or Jack’s stores but with limited availability and lower quality than found overseas.  You may wish to source these for your family before coming to Fiji.  There is limited brands of SPF available at pharmacies, department stores and grocery stores.  If you have a favourite brand, stock up before coming, especially facial SPF.  Nivea SPF 30 and Neutrogena SPF 50+  for body are available for purchase in Fiji.