Business Customs 

Business culture in Fiji tends to be more relaxed and informal than in many other countries. People commonly use first names, and participants typically begin business meetings with small talk, progressing at a slower pace than what U.S. businesspeople might expect. Businesspeople should confirm appointments and meeting arrangements in advance, but they should also expect to wait beyond the scheduled time on occasion.
In meetings with government officials or senior executives, men typically wear collared shirts and blazers with ties, paired with either long pants or a pocket sulu (a kilt-like garment regarded as formal Fijian attire). Attendees should avoid casual clothing such as shorts in these settings. Unless otherwise specified, evening events remain generally informal. On workdays, many employees wear bula or aloha shirts, especially on Fridays.
Fiji’s government and communities observe Sunday religious practices conservatively. Many shopping centers in major urban areas like Suva, Nadi, and Lautoka open only for limited hours or close entirely on Sundays. Fiji also hosts sizable Hindu and Muslim populations, whose religious customs influence their food and drink preferences.

People in Fiji use the metric system for weights and measures. They write dates in the day, month, year format (e.g., 10 January 2023). When writing numbers, they use commas to separate thousands and periods to indicate decimals, following the same conventions as the United States (e.g., $1,000.50). 

Travel Advisory

State Department Fiji Travel Advisory.

Visa Requirements 

Travelers entering Fiji must carry a passport valid for at least six months beyond their intended stay, a return or onward travel ticket, and proof of sufficient funds to cover their expenses. U.S. nationals can obtain entry visas upon arrival for stays up to four months. Business travelers do not need special visas for their visits. Travelers may extend their visas up to six months by applying to the Department of Immigration offices in Suva, Lautoka, Nadi, Nausori, Savusavu or Labasa.

Individuals who wish to reside and work in Fiji, even temporarily, must secure proper authorization before arrival. Typically, prospective employers arrange the necessary sponsorship.

U.S. companies sending foreign businesspeople to the United States should note that security evaluations follow an interagency process. Visa applicants must visit the State Department Visa Website for more information. 

Currency 

Fiji uses the Fiji dollar as its official currency, but businesses across the country also accept several foreign currencies - including those from Australia, Europe, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Hotels, banks, and foreign exchange counters exchange these currencies. Most hotels, restaurants, and shopping centers accept credit cards, and you’ll find Automated Teller Machines and Electronic Funds Transfer at Point-of-Sale machines throughout most urban areas.
Travelers who bring currency equal to or over FJ$10,000 (around $4,500) must declare it when they arrive in Fiji.

Telecommunications/Electronics 

Fiji has a well-developed telecommunications infrastructure, connecting internationally through satellite and extensive submarine cable networks. The country’s high-speed network supports a capacity of 240 gigabits per second, providing secure and direct bandwidth connections from Australia, New Zealand, and Hawaii. With an average cost of just $0.15 per gigabyte, Fiji offers some of the cheapest mobile data rates in the world. As of 2024, approximately 75% of the population accessed the internet.

Most people in Fiji use mobile phones as their primary means of communication, although remote and outer island areas may have limited or no connectivity. The three main mobile service providers - Vodafone Fiji, Digicel, and Inkk Mobile - deliver 3G/4G services for voice, data, and text messaging. Government regulations require all users to register SIM cards. After obtaining licenses from the Fijian government, Vodafone Fiji and Digicel Fiji have started testing 5G services. The government plans to officially launch 5G by the end of the first quarter of 2025. Wi-Fi is also widely available in major resorts, hotels, and urban centers.

TFL, one of the country’s largest providers of fixed-line communications and network services, operates a 4G+ network alongside its fixed-line broadband services. TFL offers a range of products, including data networking, cloud services, managed services, and voice services.
Households in Fiji use electricity that runs at 220 volts and 50 Hz, with three-pronged plugs similar to those in Australia and New Zealand. 

Transportation 

U.S. business travelers can fly directly to Nadi from Los Angeles and San Francisco on Fiji Airways, the country’s national carrier. Fiji Airways also operates code-share flights with American Airlines between Fiji and the U.S. Other airlines that serve Fiji include Air New Zealand, Jetstar, Qantas, and Virgin Australia. Fiji Link and Northern Air primarily handle domestic flights. For specific inter-island routes, Island Hoppers, Joyce Aviation, and Pacific Island Air offer chartered flights via helicopter, seaplane, or small aircraft.

Visitors can drive in Fiji with a valid driver’s license from their home country - if it matches the appropriate vehicle class—or with an international driver’s permit. Drivers use right-hand-drive vehicles and follow traffic on the left side of the road. Road conditions often become challenging during the wet season. Speed limits typically reach 80 kilometers per hour (50 mph) on open roads and 50 kilometers per hour (30 mph) in urban areas, with lower limits in zones like villages, schools, and industrial areas. Major airports and urban centers offer rental cars from well-known international companies, and travelers should book in advance. 

Language 

Fiji uses English as its primary language and follows British English conventions in both written and spoken forms. The government also recognizes the indigenous Fijian (iTaukei) language and Hindi as official languages, reflecting the nation’s diverse cultural makeup.

Health 

Fiji avoids many tropical diseases such as malaria, yellow fever, and others commonly found in similar climates. However, health authorities occasionally report cases of typhoid, dengue fever, chikungunya, and leptospirosis. Travelers to Fiji don’t need to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or travel insurance. In urban areas like Suva and Lautoka, authorities treat tap water, but it may still be unsafe to drink. Bottled water remains widely available. Outside these urban centers and larger resorts, health officials advise against drinking tap water.

Local Time, Business Hours, and Holidays

The Fijian government and most businesses follow a five-day workweek, operating from Monday to Friday. Fiji sits 12 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Government offices open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and close earlier at 4:00 p.m. on Fridays. Staff usually take a one-hour lunch break between noon and 2:00 p.m. Private businesses typically run from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., while banks serve customers from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Many shopping centers and supermarkets stay open as late as 8:00 p.m. You can find a full list of Fiji’s public holidays on the official Fiji Government website.

Fiji no longer observes daylight saving time, ending its last transition in early 2021. Located south of the equator, Fiji experiences a tropical climate. The hot, humid, and rainy season lasts from December to April, followed by a cooler, drier season from June to October.

Temporary Entry of Materials and Personal Belongings 

Importers can classify machinery and equipment brought into Fiji for temporary use on specific projects as “Privileged Goods” if they plan to re-export the items within 12 months. To process these imports under a formal entry, importers must submit a security deposit - either in cash or bond - to the FRCS at the time of entry. FRCS refunds the deposit or releases the bond once the goods are re-exported. Alternatively, importers may choose to pay duties upfront and submit a refund claim after completing the project and before re-exporting the goods.

Individuals may import personal and household items duty-free under conditions set by FRCS, as these items fall under a different category from “Privileged Goods.” However, FRCS applies standard duties to personal motor vehicle imports.