Customs clearance in Fiji is handled by the Fiji Revenue and Customs Authority (FRCA). All goods imported into Fiji must be declared at the main customs house and must be accompanied by the necessary paperwork, such as a commercial invoice, bill of lading, and a shipper’s export declaration. Goods without the necessary documentation may be subject to penalty tax or even seizure.
Upon arrival, shipments will be screened for compliance and value declared. FRCA will then assess duty and taxes on the goods depending on their classification, and the importer will be responsible for paying this.
All customs duties and taxes must be paid to the FRCA prior to the release of the goods. Payment can typically be made at a local FRCA office, via a bank transfer, or online. It is important to note that additional charges such as demurrage, storage, and examination fees may also apply.
Once the payment is made, the importer must apply for Customs clearance (Form 6) and present it at the Customs House. Upon the successful completion of all formalities, the goods will be cleared.
Customs Clearance Document Requirements
Fiji customs processes follow international procedures and standards during normal and disaster times. Standard documentation is required. There need to be a clear distinction between goods being used for an organisations operation and goods being use for donation. If there are any additional comments, they can be included at the bottom of the table
- Trade documents such as commercial invoices
- Import permit
- Packing list
- Bill of lading
- Tax and duty declarations
- Certificate of origin
- Licensing certificates
- Insurance documents
- Relevant declarations and certificates for restricted items such as firearms, medicines, hazardous substances, etc.
Additional notes:
Dangerous Goods Declaration
Items that are considered dangerous i.e communications equipment batteries will require a dangerous good declaration. This should accompany the goods from consignor.
Used items (i.e. clothing)
Items must be accompanied by fumigated and contain a fumigation certificate. If clothing arrives without a fumigation certificate it will be fumigated and costs passed onto the consignee.. All food items must comply with the Provisions of Pure FoodAct.
Staff Office and Organisational Supplies
All goods that are used for organisational operational purposes for UN organizations can gain exemptions through applying to UNDP Department of Foreign Affairs. Whether this applies to Un agency implementing INGO partners is unknown.
Entry, Examination and Delivery
Imported goods other than goods in transit or for transhipment which are not entered for
warehousing, shall be entered on whichever of the undermentioned approved forms is appropriate—
(a) import for home consumption form;
(b) provisional import for home consumption form; and
(c) import for warehousing form for normal or provisional warehousing or
warehousing for transhipment.
If goods referred to in sub-regulation (1) are entered provisionally, the perfect entry
for such goods shall be made on whichever of the undermentioned approved forms is appropriate—
(a) perfecting provisional import for home consumption form; and
(b) perfecting provisional import for warehousing form.
fee of $7.15 per entry, per lodgement, shall be payable to the Comptroller for each entry lodged and processed by Customs. In addition to the fee , the agent, importer, exporter or owner as the case may be, shall pay to the Comptroller an additional fee of $12.30 per entry, if entries are not claimed and collected within 10 working days after lodgement.
Where before the Comptroller has processed entry documents, the agent, importer, exporter or owner notifies in writing, within 10 days from the date of lodgement, to the Comptroller that the documents are no longer required due to goods being over carried, short landed etc., the Comptroller may at the Comptroller’s discretion, refund or remit in whole or in part the fee paid or payable pursuant to this Regulation.