Setting up a foreign owned company in Fiji
Setting Up a Foreign-Owned Company in Fiji: A Step-by-Step Guide
Fiji continues to attract overseas investors across a wide range of sectors, from tourism and agriculture to construction, retail, and professional services. But setting up a foreign-owned company here involves more than just registering a business name. Because the process touches company law, tax, exchange control, and immigration all at once, it helps to know what's coming before you start.
If you're a non-resident looking to incorporate a private limited liability company in Fiji, here's what the journey looks like from start to finish, whatever industry you're in.
The good news: every step below can be handled remotely, wherever in the world you're based. The one exception is opening the corporate bank account, which generally requires all directors and shareholders to be physically present in Fiji.
Step 1: Company Registration
The first step is registering your company with the Registrar of Companies. This covers completing and lodging the Business Registration application, reserving your company name, and ultimately obtaining your Certificate of Incorporation.
Cost: FJ$1,250 + VAT (including lodgment fees) Timeframe: 2–3 working days
Step 2: Shareholder and Director TIN Registration
Any shareholders who don't already have a Tax Identification Number (TIN) in Fiji will need one. Overseas directors who aren't Fiji residents don't need to obtain a TIN — this step covers TINs for shareholders and any director based in Fiji.
Cost: FJ$1,000 + VAT & disbursements Timeframe: 2–3 working days
Step 3: Company Tax & VAT Registration
Once the company exists, it needs its own tax profile. This step secures a TIN for the company itself and completes VAT registration where applicable.
Cost: FJ$1,000 + VAT & disbursements Timeframe: 1 working day
Step 4: Business Profile Setup and MCTTT Registration
Next, we establish your business profile and register it with the Ministry of Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport (MCTTT). This registration is a prerequisite for the Reserve Bank of Fiji application that follows.
Cost: FJ$500 + VAT Timeframe: 1–3 working days
Step 5: Reserve Bank of Fiji Exchange Control Approval
Because your company involves foreign shareholding, it needs exchange control approval from the Reserve Bank of Fiji. This step secures approval for the foreign shareholding structure as well as the initial capital investment being brought into the country.
Cost: FJ$1,500 + VAT & disbursements Timeframe: Approximately 3 working days
Step 6: Investor Immigration Permits
Foreign shareholders who intend to live and work in Fiji will need investor permits. This step covers preparing and lodging the applications, including certified passport copies, police clearance reports, and other supporting documentation for principal applicants. Dependent applications are quoted separately.
Cost: FJ$3,500 per applicant Timeframe: Approximately 21 working days from lodgment
Step 7: Work Permit Applications (if applicable)
If your business plans to bring in foreign personnel beyond the investors themselves, each will need a work permit. This step covers preparing and submitting those applications.
Cost: FJ$2,000 + VAT per application Timeframe: Varies depending on the nature of the application and supporting documentation
Step 8: Business Bank Account Setup
With incorporation complete and investor permits approved, the final step is opening a corporate bank account. Note that all directors and shareholders are generally required to be present in person for this.
Cost: FJ$1,250 + VAT & disbursements per account Timeframe: Subject to individual bank requirements and compliance reviews
Additional Services
Local Director Services — FJ$500 + VAT per month. Fijian company law requires a local director on every private limited company — this doesn't apply if you're setting up as a foreign branch instead. We can provide this service if you don't already have someone in place.
Investment Threshold Waiver Application — FJ$3,000 + VAT. Where applicable, this covers applying to the relevant ministry for a waiver of the statutory minimum investment requirement that applies to foreign-owned companies — the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation for tourism-sector investments, or the Ministry of Trade, Cooperatives, Small and Medium Enterprises for other sectors. Please note that approval is at the discretion of the relevant authority, and we do not guarantee approval.
Documentation You'll Need
For company registration, all proposed shareholders and directors will need to provide:
A certified copy of valid photo identification (passport or driver's licence)
A certified copy of their birth certificate
For shareholder and director TIN registration, each director will need:
One recent passport-sized colour photograph
For investor permit applications, each individual shareholder will need:
A certified copy of their passport bio-data page
A police clearance report issued within the last 12 months
A certified copy of their birth certificate
A medical report
Two recent passport-sized colour photographs
A detailed business plan outlining the proposed business activities
Projected budget, capital expenditure, bank statements, and cash flow forecasts
Copies of any proposed contracts, project agreements, leases, or land arrangements in Fiji relevant to the business, if available
Proof of the investor's ability to bring a minimum of FJ$300,000 into Fiji
Please note that the relevant authorities may request additional information or documentation during their assessment process.
Get in Touch
Establishing a foreign-owned company in Fiji involves several moving parts, but with the right guidance, the process is straightforward across every sector. Whether you're setting up in construction, tourism, agriculture, or another industry, get in touch and we'll walk you through the process step by step.
Email: alvin@akfiji.com WhatsApp: +679 7142741