Fiji

Starting a Business in

Fiji

Listed below is a detailed summary of the bureaucratic and legal hurdles an entrepreneur must overcome in order to incorporate and register a new firm, along with their associated time and set-up costs.  It examines the procedures, time and cost involved in launching a commercial or industrial firm with up to 50 employees and start-up capital of 10 times the economy's per-capita gross national income (GNI).

The information appearing on this page was collected as part of the Doing Business project, which measures and compares regulations relevant to the life cycle of a small- to medium-sized domestic business in 183 economies. The most recent round of data collection for the project was completed in June 2011.

  • Standardized Company

  • Legal Form: Private Limited Liability Company
  • City: Suva

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No. Procedure Time to Complete Associated Costs
1 Check the uniqueness of the proposed company name and reserve name

The entrepreneur must first conduct a search of the Companies, Business Names, and Trade Marks Register to ensure that the name applied for is not confusingly similar (1–2 days). Computerized (basic) and manual search systems are both available. The Government of Fiji has introduced a website (www.egov.gov.fj) for all applications for name reservation to be made online. Hard copy applications are no longer accepted by the Registrar of Companies unless an online application is made first. The application is processed once the hard copy of the application together with supporting documents (and a copy of the email confirmation of receipt of online name reservation application) is submitted to the Companies office. The processing time of the application is approximately 5 working days.

Application fees for name reservation however still have to be paid in person at the Registrar of Companies' Office. The application will take a week to process, and if it is successful, the company name will be reserved for 30 days (with a one-time extension). Company incorporation documents must be lodged with the Registrar within this time.

It costs FJD 5.63 for reservation of the name and FJD 1.13 for company name search.
8 days FJD 5.65
2 Obtain declaration of due compliance sworn by lawyer

Fees may vary from FJD 1,000 to FJD 2,000. The Declaration of Due Compliance can be sworn by a lawyer engaged in the formation of the company or by a director or secretary who is named in the Articles of Association of the company as a director or secretary.
The Cost of FJD1200.00 outlined above for a lawyer is not limited to he or she swearing the Declaration of Due Compliance. The Cost includes searches of the various registers to check for similar names, submission of the name reservation application, preparation of the company's memorandum of association, articles of association, particulars of directors and secretary, notice of situation of registered office and declaration of due compliance

Where a company director or secretary swears the Declaration of Due Compliance, the Cost is not substantially (if at all) reduced because in practice and in most cases lawyers and/or accountants still prepare most of the documents necessary to register a company.
3 days FJD 1200
3 Register the company with the Companies Registrar

Under the Fiji Companies Act 1985, companies must submit the following company documents to the Companies Registrar along with the following company incorporation documents in order to register the company and obtain a certificate of incorporation:

- current reservation of company name
- Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association
- Form 201, Notice of situation of registered office.
- Form 203, Particulars of directors and secretary.
- Form 208, Declaration of compliance with the requirements of the Companies Act (sworn by a lawyer or a director or secretary named in the Articles of Association of the company as such who was engaged in the formation of the company).

The registration fees vary depending on the authorised capital of the company. For example, for a company with an authorised capital of FJD 65,470.00, the registraton fee would be approximately FJD163.13 and stamp duty of FJD10.00 for the stamping of the Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association
21 days Registration fee FJD 163.13 + stamp duty FJD 10
* 4 Register for Tax Identification Number (TIN) with Fiji Islands Revenue and Customs Authority (FIRCA)

As of August 15th, 2010, a nw requirement is in place at the Company registry. Before a company can be registered, it is mandatory to obtain the TIN number from Fiji Islands Revenue and Customs Authority (FIRCA). The TIN nubmer will be required for all other procedures as well. As a result, this has complicated the process of of registration.
1-2 weeks, simultaneous with procedure 3 no charge
* 5 Receive inspection by FIRCA

By law, since December 2004, if VAT registration is required, the Fiji Islands Revenue and Customs Authority (FIRCA) requires the inspection of the business premises. Since 2007, the inspection has been the practice as FIRCA inspects that there is a physical office during business hours.
1 day, simultaneous with procedure 3 no charge
* 6 Submit TIN number to Companies Registry to obtain final incorporation certificate


1 day, simultaneous with procedure 3 no charge
7 Register with Training and Productivity Authority of Fiji for statutory training tax

Statutory training tax is 1% of payroll. The submission of these documents is done by mail. The Training and Productivity Authority will send the form by mail to the office of the new business. Once completed, the form is mailed back to the agency.
3 days no charge
* 8 Apply for a business license from the relevant licensing authority ( Suva City Council)

The company must obtain a business license from the relevant licensing authority for each place it carries out business. This license is renewable annually. Depending on the activity, the fees range from FJD 100 to FJD 500. The list of industries is comprehensive.
1-2 weeks, simultaneous with procedure 7 FJD 300
* 9 Register as an employer with the Fiji National Provident Fund


1-2 weeks, simultaneous with procedure 7 no charge
* Takes place simultaneously with another procedure.
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