Fiji - Immigration

Fiji Immigration for Yacht Crew

Passports must be valid for at least six months from the date of entry.

Immigration Procedure:

Fiji Immigration are concerned that most yachts arriving in and departing Fiji waters do not follow the correct procedures. The Fiji Immigration Act 2003 states: “The master of a ship which is due to arrive in the Fiji Islands from a place outside the Fiji Islands, or which is about to depart from the Fiji Islands, must give to an Immigration officer at least 24-hours notice, in writing, of the expected arrival or departure date. If a ship is due to arrive in the weekend or holiday, the period of notice required is at least 48 hours”.

See Clearance for pre-arrival Immigration procedures.

Permit and visa applications can now be lodged online through the Fijian Immigration Department website. The website has detailed processes and instructions to guide customers to submit the completed applications online. All documents must be uploaded as pdfs when applying online.

All the crew must be seen by the Immigration officer upon arrival and require entry permits approved by an Immigration officer before disembarking from the vessel in Fiji.

Visa Information:

A visa-free stay for up to four months (provided one has enough funds or an outward ticket) is allowed for many nationalities. See list here.

Visa Extensions:

2-Month Visa Extension: After four months, an extension may be obtained for an additional two months. This costs about FJ$90 (US$40) per person. Apply at least 7 days prior to the expiry of your original visa.

The following is required for the first two month extension or the “visitor’s permit extension”:

• A letter requesting the visa
• the filled in form
• custom’s and immigration clearance
• cruising permit
• passport copy

Payment must be made by bank transfer so ensure you have access to a bank otherwise you might need to find a friendly local to help.  If you do not get a response from immigration after a couple of weeks, give them a call as they may simply "forget to send an email".

6-Month Visa Extension: 21 days before this additional 2-month visa expires, one can apply for an additional six month period - FJ$642 US$290 per person).

One can apply for an extension under the ‘Special Purpose Permit for Yacht Owners and Crew’ in terms of Immigration. (Note: The yacht is not an issue under customs as it already has an 18-month stay granted from the initial date of entry).

The six-month extension is called “Residence permit for yachtees” and requires uploading the same documents as the two month extension.

Note:  If the online form asks for a medical report and a police report and will not proceed unless this is done, the Immigration Department advises uploading a blank pdf.

Payment has to be made by a bank transfer as well for this Visa.  It is possible to go to a bank branch with the required amount in cash and they will do the transfer.

Incoming Crew and Guests:

Any crew flying into Fiji to join a yacht must have a Facilitation Letter from the Immigration Department prior to their flight departure.  See this News item for more information.

Check the Fiji Immigration website for the latest information.

See Fiji Customs Regulations for more details.

Last updated:  July 2024.