Arriving in Fiji: Airport Customs, Biosecurity & Arrival Process

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Packing for Fiji

Before you depart for Fiji, it’s a good idea to check what items are restricted or prohibited in Fiji so that you don’t risk the item being confiscated at Biosecurity on arrival. On top of that, you will need to check that any outdoor gear or equipment that you pack is clean.

What You Can’t Bring into Fiji

• Certain foods, such as most meat, fresh vegetables, fresh fruit, honey, eggs and more
• Certain plant products, such as flowers, untreated wood and more
• Some animal products, such as animal skins, fish/seafood products
• Dirty camping and sports equipment
• Certain biological items, such as blood, culture, vaccines, soil and more
• Dangerous drugs and utensils to prepare drugs, such as opium, Indian hemp, cocaine, methamphetamines, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), synthetic drugs and more
• Weapons and firearms
• Alcohol and tobacco over the duty-free allowance
• Other dutiable goods over the duty-free allowance.

If you do want to bring some of these items, then make sure you declare them. More on that in the “Passing Through Customs and Biosecurity” section below.

Cleaning Your Gear for Arrival in Fiji

While you are allowed to bring sports and camping gear into Fiji, they must be free from dirt and soil in order to pass through Biosecurity. Otherwise, you may be requested to either clean them at the airport or have the item sent for treatment at your expense. So be sure to clean equipment, such as:

• Tents
• Used sporting shoes/boots and tracking shoes/boots/gear
• Camping equipment
• Bicycle
• Golf clubs
• Fishing equipment, such as rods, reels, nets, etc.

More Packing Advice for Fiji

For more tips on what to pack for Fiji, check out Fiji Packing List: What to Pack for Fiji.

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The Fiji Passenger Arrival Card

The next part of the process comes during your flight or cruise to Fiji. You will be given a Passenger Arrival Card, a form used to gather personal details and make any declarations about items you bring into Fiji. The Passenger Arrival Card must be completed for each person arriving in Fiji, including children.

The front of the Passenger Arrival Card asks for your personal details, such as your name, address, passport number, occupation, flight number/name of the ship, etc. You must also tick from a multiple-selection question on your main reason for visiting Fiji. On the back of the card, there is a series of “Yes” or “No” questions about items you have in your possession or in any of your luggage concerning Health and Biosecurity. If you are unsure about a question, just tick “Yes”. You will only get a fine on items you do not declare, so it’s best to declare anything that you have a doubt about.

Keep ahold of your Passenger Arrival Card until you are asked for it after landing in Fiji and going through the border process.

For more information on the Arrival Card and how to complete it, check out our guide to the Fiji Passenger Arrival Card: What You Need to Know.

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Immigration / Passport Control

Once you’ve landed in Fiji, you won’t be transitioning into “Fiji time” just yet. First up, you’ll need to pass through Immigration, otherwise known as Passport Control.

Declaring Items on the Passenger Arrival Card

At the Immigration Desk, an Immigration Officer will ask to see your passport, Passenger Arrival Card and visa if applicable. The officer may ask you questions regarding the answers you have given on the Passenger Arrival Card, most commonly if you have answered “Yes” to any of the Customs and Biosecurity questions. The officer will then tell you if any action is required. Otherwise, your passport and Passenger Arrival Card will be returned to you, and you will be asked to move to the Baggage Claim area.

For extra documents to be prepared for this step of the arrivals process, such as vaccination certificates (if applicable) and flight booking confirmations, check out What Documents I Need to Travel to Fiji.

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Passing Through Customs and Biosecurity

After picking up your baggage from Baggage Claim, you’ll finally go through Customs and Biosecurity. For a full guide on this section of the process, see Arrival Advice: Biosecurity & Customs in Fiji. Otherwise, here’s an overview.

Declaring Risk Goods

This is your last chance to declare a “risk good” that you might have in your possession or packed in your luggage. Signs at Biosecurity provide a reminder of what items to declare, as well as bins to dispose of prohibited items, such as food. While not all “risk items” are prohibited, you still need to declare them so the Biosecurity officer can check them. Items that you need to declare include:

• Weapons
• Obscene articles or printed matter
• Cigarettes or alcohol above the duty-free allowance for Fiji
• Goods for commercial purposes
• Personal goods which exceed FJ$1,000 (excluding personal items that would be reasonably expected in luggage)
• Currency with a combined value of FJ$10,000 or more
• Food of any kind
• Animals, reptiles, aquatic organisms, birds or any animal products
• Biological specimens
• Equipment used with animals, fish or plants
• Soil, rock, earth and any used outdoor equipment like camping gear, sports shoes, etc.
• Any items used in a farm, forest or a place with farm animals, abattoirs or packing premises
• Holy water
• Human remains (ash).

Note that not all “declarable items” are prohibited, but you still need to declare them so that a Biosecurity Officer can check the item. See a complete list of declarable items, including rules about drones and medicines, in What to Declare When Arriving in Fiji.

A Biosecurity/Customs Officer will ask you questions based on answers given on your Passenger Arrival Card. You will then be prompted to put your bags through an X-ray machine or to open them for inspection.

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What Happens if Risk Goods Are Found in Your Baggage

If completing your Passenger Arrival Card and you realise you packed something in your bag that won’t go through Biosecurity, like fresh fruit, for instance, don’t worry. You have the opportunity to dispose of potential risk items in bins before passing through Customs and Biosecurity.

If you declare an item and the item is not restricted or prohibited from being imported into Fiji, you will be allowed to pass through Customs and Biosecurity without further action.

What Happens to Undeclared Risk Items?

When passing through Biosecurity, if any restricted, prohibited or declarable items are found in your luggage or in your possession, which you have not declared on your Passenger Arrival Card, you may face penalties. Whether it’s restricted, prohibited or considered a declarable item, you may receive an instant FJ$400 fine. You will also be liable for prosecution with a maximum fine of FJ$20,000 and/or up to six months imprisonment.

What if You Declare an Item and it is Prohibited or Restricted?

Suppose you have declared an item deemed unsafe to enter the country. In that case, you can either get the item treated at your expense, destroyed or re-exported to the country of origin under Biosecurity supervision at your expense.

For more information, see Arrival Advice: Biosecurity & Customs in Fiji.

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After Customs and Biosecurity

You’ve made it to Fiji! In the Arrivals area, you have the opportunity to visit the various travel agents, pick up a SIM card, exchange currency, use the luggage storage and even pick up a coffee from Cuppabula. Information on all of these facilities and services can be found in our guide, The Complete Guide to Nadi Airport.

From the airport, you have a few transport options, including buses, taxis or pre-booked airport transfers where your driver will be awaiting your arrival. Check out a comprehensive list in our guide to All Fiji Airport Transfer Options: Buses, Helicopters & More.

Check out the Arriving at Nadi Airport: A Step-by-Step Guide for what to do once you have completed the arrivals process.