Fiji customs rules & duty-free allowances

Last reviewed October 1, 2026·Official source

Fiji is an island biosecurity state: the biggest risk at Nadi is not your suitcase but the mud on your boots, the apple in your bag or the salami in your carry-on. Declare or bin anything fresh before the x-ray and detector dogs find it.

Duty-free allowances

Alcohol
1.0 L
1 litre of spirits or wine (any strength) OR 2 litres of beer, per adult 18+. Anything above that is dutiable at the rate for the specific beverage.
Tobacco
200 cigarettes
or 50 cigars / 250 g
Cash to declare
$10,000
FJD 10,000 or more (about USD 4,400) in cash or negotiable instruments must be declared to the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service on arrival. Use the Border Cash Report form available at the airport or downloadable from frcs.org.fj.
Goods duty-free
$800
Personal effects and gifts up to FJD 1,000 (about USD 440) are duty-free. Above that you pay duty at the applicable rate for the item — commonly 15% to 32% plus 15% VAT on the duty-inclusive value.

Prohibited — banned from import

  • Narcotics and psychotropic drugs, including cannabis — penalties are severe
  • Fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, eggs, dairy and honey from most countries
  • Live plants, seeds, soil and untreated timber
  • Firearms, ammunition and explosives without a Fiji police permit
  • Counterfeit goods and pirated media
  • Pornographic material, including some mainstream adult content

Restricted — allowed with a permit or declaration

  • Prescription and controlled medicines — declare and carry documentation
  • Drones — require a permit from the Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji
  • Satellite phones and radio transmitters — need a licence from the communications regulator
  • Pets and live animals — strict import permit and quarantine
  • Cultural artefacts and coral — export controls apply

Arriving: red vs green channel

Fiji uses a single customs and biosecurity arrival card — fill it in before landing and keep it with your passport. After immigration, collect your bags and walk through the red channel if you have anything to declare (including food, plants, or over-limit alcohol/tobacco), or the green channel if you genuinely have nothing. Biosecurity officers with dogs and x-ray machines work the green channel, so a wrong call there is where the fines happen.

Bringing medication

Bring personal prescription medicine in its original labelled container with a copy of the prescription or a doctor's letter. Declare anything that is a controlled or narcotic drug — Fiji classifies many common painkillers and sedatives differently from Western countries, and importing without approval from the Ministry of Health can lead to arrest. If you need more than a month's supply, get prior written approval.

Food, plants & animal products

Fiji is an island biosecurity state and bans or restricts almost all fresh food, meat, dairy, eggs, honey, seeds, soil, plants and wooden items. Commercially packaged, shelf-stable food is usually fine but must still be declared. Anything fresh should be eaten, binned or declared before you reach the biosecurity x-ray — undeclared food carries immediate fines.

Rules worth knowing

Biosecurity fines are immediate

Biosecurity officers can issue on-the-spot fines of FJD 400 or more for undeclared food, plant or animal products. There is no warning system — if the dog or x-ray finds it, you pay.

Allowances are per adult, not per family

The alcohol and tobacco allowances apply to each traveller aged 18 and over. A family of four does not pool into one big allowance — each adult gets their own 1 litre and 200 cigarettes.

Kava has its own rules

Bringing kava (yaqona) into Fiji is restricted — you need a permit from the Ministry of Agriculture if you're importing it commercially or in quantity. Small personal amounts may be allowed but declare it.

Duty-free purchases on arrival count

Anything you buy in the arrival duty-free shop at Nadi still counts against your allowance. Officers do check receipts, and over-limit purchases are dutiable.

Frequently asked questions

Almost no fresh food. Meat, fruit, vegetables, eggs, dairy and honey are banned from most countries. Commercially sealed, shelf-stable snacks are usually allowed but must be declared. If in doubt, declare it — the fine for undeclared food starts around FJD 400.
One litre of spirits or wine, or two litres of beer, per adult aged 18 or over. Anything above that is subject to duty and VAT at the airport.
Yes, if you are carrying FJD 10,000 or more (about USD 4,400) in cash or traveller's cheques. Fill in a Border Cash Report form and hand it to a customs officer. There is no limit on how much you can bring, but undeclared amounts can be seized.
Biosecurity officers use x-ray machines and detector dogs on the green channel. If they find undeclared food, you will be fined on the spot — typically FJD 400 or more — and the items will be confiscated.
Yes, but keep it in its original packaging with a copy of your prescription or a doctor's letter. Declare any controlled or narcotic medicines. Some common medications in Western countries are controlled in Fiji, so check with the Fiji Ministry of Health before you travel if you're unsure.
No. Fiji does not operate a tourist VAT refund scheme. You cannot claim back VAT on purchases when you leave.
You need a permit from the Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji before you arrive. Drones flown without a permit can be confiscated and you may be fined. Declare it on arrival.

Official source

Fiji Revenue and Customs Service

For guidance only. Customs allowances and prohibited-item lists change without notice — always confirm with Fiji Revenue and Customs Service before travelling.