Nearly every delay we see in setting up a Fiji company or bank account comes down to the same thing: KYC documents that are incomplete, outdated, or in the wrong format. Fiji's AML/CFT (anti-money-laundering / counter-financing of terrorism) framework requires proper identification and due diligence on every director, shareholder, and beneficial owner, and banks in particular apply this strictly.

For every individual director and shareholder

Certified copy of passport
A second certified form of photo ID
Proof of address — a utility bill or bank statement no older than three months
A signed KYC declaration form

Where a shareholder is itself a company

Corporate shareholders trigger a second layer of documentation: Certificate of Incorporation, Certificate of Good Standing, the company's Constitution or Articles, its Register of Members and Directors, a board resolution approving the Fiji investment, and a declaration identifying the ultimate beneficial owner (UBO) behind the corporate structure.

Information about the new Fiji entity itself

You'll also need to have decided, before you start: three proposed company names (in case your first choice is taken), a description of the intended business activity, the proposed share capital structure, a registered office address, and signed consents from the proposed directors and company secretary.

Source of funds, the step people underestimate

Increasingly, both the Companies Office process and (especially) banks want evidence of source of funds, not just a statement that the money is legitimate, but documentation showing where the investment capital actually came from. This is one of the most common reasons bank account opening drags out for foreign investors: the corporate documents are fine, but the source-of-funds evidence is thin or missing entirely.

Why "enhanced" due diligence sometimes applies

Certain clients, those from higher-risk jurisdictions, politically exposed persons, or structures with multiple layers of corporate ownership, trigger enhanced due diligence, meaning more documentation and a longer review. Knowing in advance whether your situation falls into this category saves weeks of back-and-forth.

How Alvin Kumar & Associates helps

We run KYC onboarding and due diligence for every new client, flag enhanced due diligence situations upfront, and prepare documentation the way banks and the Companies Office actually want to see it — the single biggest lever for a fast, friction-free setup. Individual banks may apply requirements on top of the Financial Intelligence Unit's rules, so confirm your document list with us before you start.