Fiji: Authorities permitting entry for fully vaccinated people from Travel Partner locations starting Dec. 1 /update 15

Event

Fiji will permit tourist travel for fully vaccinated people from Travel Partner locations, including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, the UAE, the UK, the US, and several Pacific nations and territories from Dec. 1. A complete list of Travel Partner locations is available here. Permitted travelers from these locations must undergo a three-day quarantine at a Care Fiji Commitment (CFC) hotel booked in advance, take a COVID-19 test on day two of quarantine, in addition to existing entry requirements. Entrants can leave quarantine upon receiving a negative test result. The same conditions are already in effect for fully vaccinated returning residents from Travel Partner locations.

Domestic Restrictions
Social distancing measures remain in place. A nationwide 00:01-04:00 curfew is ongoing. Officials permit fully vaccinated people to attend gatherings of any size outdoors or up to 80-percent capacity indoors. Officials limit capacity at workplaces, tertiary institutions, places of worship, recreational, and hospitality venues to 80 percent, with fully vaccinated workers and patrons. Facemasks are required in most public areas, except when exercising, having picnics at the beach, or on boats.

Employers must ensure that employees and customers wear appropriate protective equipment, including facemasks, complete temperature checks before entry, and consistently enforce 2-meter (6.5-foot) distancing. Workers must also download the government's careFiji mobile application to attend work. The government requires companies to post Quick response (QR) codes at the entrance of all facilities, and patrons must check-in. Employers must provide equipment and smartphones for employees, if necessary, and send health authorities information on absentee workers. Officials could issue a fine of up to FJD 10,000 and/or five years imprisonment for people violating the measures.

Public transport operates at 80-percent capacity for vaccinated passengers. Officials have lifted quarantine and testing requirements for most domestic travel. Maritime transport has resumed between Viti Levu and Vanua Levu; however, vessels must limit capacity to 50 percent. Authorities also request that inter-island travelers avoid the so-called red zones, with vaccination rates below 60 percent. Officials may require a seven-day quarantine for travelers to outlying islands also designated as red zones. Authorities have also suspended all maritime transport to some islands due to COVID-19 concerns.

International Travel Restrictions
Fiji continues to ban entry for most foreign nationals and unvaccinated residents. Authorities require permitted entrants, including people arriving from Travel Partner locations, to be fully vaccinated, take a PCR test 72 hours or less before departure, and download the careFIJI app. Foreign arrivals must also hold international travel insurance.

Fully vaccinated citizens and residents from non-Travel Partner locations must self-quarantine for five days before departure and receive negative COVID-19 test results on day five and within 72 hours before departure. Officials have also increased quarantine time upon arrival from 10 to 14 days at government-managed facilities, with three rounds of testing before travelers' release. Entrants must pay for quarantine and health monitoring costs, with various exceptions. While charges for quarantine can vary, authorities indicate the average expense is FJD 2,200, and health-related expenses are FJD 690. Some inbound travelers may be allowed to self-quarantine with permission.

International commercial flights are resuming gradually, though officials may continue to authorize some charter flights for repatriation and emergency medical purposes. Cruise ships remain banned from docking; however, yachts and private leisure vessels can dock at Savusavu Bay and Port Denarau with permission and adherence to quarantine and testing requirements.

Advice

Follow all official instructions. Abide by national health and safety measures. Reconfirm all travel arrangements. Liaise with trusted contacts for further updates and guidance. Maintain contact with your diplomatic representation. Ensure contingency plans account for further disruptive measures or extensions of current restrictions. Reconsider and reconfirm nonemergency health appointments. Plan for queues and delays at available shopping centers.