International: Fiji

At a glanceRequirements at a glance

Freight Forwarder Licensing Is Required, and Recent

Yes

Yes, where the mover arranges the international leg itself. Since 1 August 2023, all freight forwarders operating in Fiji are required to hold a license from FRCS under Section 148A of the Customs Act 1986, a provision added by Act No. 7 of 2023. This is the credential a mover needs if it intends to itself advise on and arrange international shipping (booking vessel or aircraft space, coordinating the ocean or air leg) rather than handing the shipment to a separately licensed company.

A Separate Role From Customs Clearance

Yes. Fiji’s official exporter guidance treats freight forwarding as a separate role from customs clearance. Holding a Freight Forwarder license does not authorize a mover to perform customs clearance; see Country Guides for that.

FRCS Publishes a Current List of Approved Freight Forwarders

Yes. FRCS maintains and publishes a dated, public list of approved Freight Forwarders, a checkable resource for confirming a specific company’s current licensing status.

OverviewOverview & Scope

A Fijian mover intending to itself arrange the international sea or air leg of a relocation (advising on shipping options and booking vessel or aircraft space directly, rather than routing the entire international portion through an unrelated company) needs a Freight Forwarder license from FRCS, a requirement formalized under the Customs Act as of August 2023. Where the mover instead routes the international leg through a licensed forwarder, that forwarder’s own license covers the service it performs.

RegistrationRegistration & Compliance Essentials

Movers that arrange the international sea or air leg in their own name must:

1. Hold a Freight Forwarder license from FRCS under Section 148A of the Customs Act 1986.

Movers that route the international leg through another company must:

2. Use carriers and forwarders that hold the licences required for the transport they perform.

ChecklistCompliance checklist

Company licensing

• Registered with the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service under section 38(1) of the Tax Administration Act 2009 as a person carrying on business, and company or business name registered under the Companies Act 2015 where requiredVerified by DocumentRequired
• Freight forwarder or cargo agent licence held from FRCS under section 148A of the Customs Act 1986, unless freight forwarding is authorised under a licence held under section 4(6), 144 or 148 (section 148B)Where applicable (mover arranges carriage of goods in its own name without performing it)Verified by DocumentRequired

Subcontracted transport

• Where transport or other services are subcontracted, the mover uses suppliers that hold the licences and insurance required by law for the work they performWhere applicableVerified by AffirmationRequired