Invest in Fiji Guide – 2026

Country Overview

Population

Fiji has an approximate population of 940,000 people.

Government

Fiji operates as a parliamentary system governed by a Constitution (2013) that serves as the supreme law of the country. The day-to-day operations of the Government are controlled by the Office of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet. The President has a limited role in the day-to-day affairs of the country.

The Parliament has 55 seats, and general elections are held every 4 years. Currently, a coalition government made up of the People's Alliance Party, the National Federation Party, and the Social Democratic Liberal Party governs Fiji. The present Prime Minister of Fiji is Mr. Sitiveni Rabuka from the People's Alliance Party.

Languages

English is the official language and followed nationwide. The majority of the population are able to communicate in English although the levels of competency vary.

iTaukei and Hindi (local dialects) are used significantly and are part of the school curriculum.

Currency

The national currency is the Fijian Dollar.

Economic Summary

Main Economic Sectors

Tourism is Fiji's largest economic sector and accounts for the largest portion of foreign reserves.

Agriculture, including the sugar industry, is a huge contributor to the economy both in terms of GDP as well as employment, although on a comparative scale, agriculture remains a significantly smaller contributor.

In recent years, remittances from the Fijian diaspora have increased significantly and now account for the second highest source of foreign funds.

Fiji has a dynamic manufacturing industry with a diverse range of products being manufactured. These range from food and beverages to textiles. Fisheries, timber, and mineral resources/mining form smaller industries.

Significant skilled outward migration has placed significant pressure on many economic sectors, which is currently being addressed by upskilling programs for the local workforce and inward labor migration.

Foreign Investment

Investment Policy

Foreign investment is regulated by Investment Fiji. There are a select number of business activities reserved for Fiji citizens, whilst there are also several business activities that are restricted. The restricted activities are permitted with conditions, which may include local partners, minimum investment/capital requirements, etc.

Having said this, the bulk of business activities are unrestricted, and businesses are free to invest. The Government is pro-investment, and the national economic policy is investment-driven.

Investment Incentives

The government is pro-investment and has several initiatives and programs to encourage investment by local as well as foreign investors. There is a keen focus on improving Fiji's Ease of Starting and Ease of Doing Business rankings. The Government has been making significant investments in infrastructure aimed towards encouraging investment.

Key Areas of Investment

Setting Up a Business

Business Requirements

Foreign investment is regulated in Fiji, and so regulatory approvals will be required to set up any business in Fiji or to acquire a business (or its shares). Approval of the Reserve Bank of Fiji will also be required for the issuance of securities under the Exchange Control Act, which includes shares in companies.

Business Entity Types

The legal types of business entities are:

Limited liability entities are the recommended choice for investors.

Process of Setting Up a Business

The general process is to obtain approval from the Registrar of Companies, followed by approval from the Reserve Bank of Fiji.

Subsequent to the registration at the Registrar of Companies, the investor can proceed to register with the Fiji Revenue & Customs Service (tax regulator) and any other permits, licenses, etc that the business will require.

Financial Year

The financial years vary, but the general preference is 31st December for each year. The entity is permitted to select its financial year end at the time of registration for tax.

Accounting and Auditing

Sole proprietorships and partnerships may opt out of the audit regime, but audits are generally recommended. Companies with a turnover of FJD 20 million are required to submit audited accounts, although the common practice is for all companies to have audited accounts prepared.

Economic and Fiscal Incentives

Fiji offers extensive incentives for foreign companies, some of which include:

Investors are encouraged to make inquiries about the fiscal incentives available before investing to ensure that requirements are met.

Taxation

Main Forms of Taxes

Fiji imposes various forms of taxes; however, the main forms of taxes are:

Tax Rates

The Income Tax for companies is fixed at a flat rate of 25% whilst individuals pay taxes based on income brackets.

Value Added Tax will be charged at 12.5% effective from 1 August 2025.

Other forms of taxes that investors should keep in mind are VAT reverse charge and withholding tax.

Tax advice is recommended before investment for investors to appropriately account for tax obligations.

HR/Labour Law/Employment Law

Employment Law

The primary governing law for labour laws is the Employment Relations Act. Employment contracts may be for a fixed term or an indefinite period.

Where a contract is entered for a fixed term, the contract is deemed to be terminated at the end of the term, and there can be no further renewals. A new contract must be entered into if the parties wish to continue.

An indefinite contract remains in force until terminated by the employer or the employee under the employment contract or the Employment Relations Act.

Any employer employing a person for over 1 month must have a written employment contract.

Employment Considerations

The labour laws in Fiji lean towards the employee, particularly concerning termination, where the onus of proof is on the employer to demonstrate that termination was lawful.

The general employee attitude in Fiji is poor, with absenteeism, abuse of leave entitlements, general employee disinterest, and employee dishonesty being key challenges for employers in addition to efficiency challenges.

The general workforce is skilled in English and Fiji has a high literacy percentage, with most of the younger workforce having some form of tertiary education.

Superannuation

The Fiji National Provident Fund manages a compulsory superannuation program.

Employers are required to contribute the equivalent of 10% of the gross income of an employee to the employee's superannuation account, whilst the employee is required to contribute 8%.

The employer is legally obliged to deduct the contributions and submit them to the FNPF.

Payroll, Immigration & Work Permits

Payroll Requirements

The employer is legally obliged to submit employee returns to the tax authorities. Obtaining and using a tax authority-approved payroll software is recommended to make the submission of tax returns easier.

Immigration and Visa Requirements

All non-citizens require a work permit before they are allowed to be employed in Fiji.

For immigration purposes, a person is deemed to be in employment if the tasks carried out by a person would ordinarily be carried out by an employee. The determination is not linked to whether or not the person holds a paid position.

Investors can obtain a special "investor" permit from the Immigration Department to allow them to work and live in Fiji as investors.