1: Shipping to Fiji
When you want to bring cars from Japan to Fiji, they arrive at the Suva port. There are two ways to ship them: one is cheaper and more popular called RoRo (Roll-on Roll-off), and the other is more expensive, using containers.
2: Age Limits
In Fiji, you can\’t import used cars that are more than 8 years old.
3: Inspection
Before used cars from Japan can enter Fiji, they must be checked for foreign pests and diseases that can harm Fiji\’s environment. Only cars without these pests can be imported.
4: Age Requirements
If you want to import a used car to Fiji, you need to follow these rules:
- Regular used cars or road tractors for carrying people can\’t be older than five years from the manufacturing date.
- Special purpose vehicles that use different types of fuel like Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), or Solar road tractors for carrying people can\’t be older than eight years from the manufacturing date. The manufacturing date is when the car was made, not when it was first registered.
- You need to apply to the General Manager Customs and provide these documents:
- Original Japanese Export Certificate.
- English Export Certificate certified by the relevant authority (not the importer).
- Evidence of the car\’s manufacturing date from the Road Transport Authority in Japan, signed by an authorized person.
5: Clearance Process
Normally, importers get the necessary documents when they bring the cars to Fiji. Sometimes, customs brokers help with the clearance process. If you\’re doing it yourself, it\’s a good idea to make an appointment with the local customs office.
6: Requirements for Vehicle Delivery
When your car arrives, you need to:
- Get an agricultural clearance for the car from Fiji\’s Biosecurity Authority\’s Quarantine Section.
- Get customs clearance.
- Provide these documents:
- Passport
- Invoice receipt with the total price and purchase date.
- De-registration certificate.
- Invoice with export costs.
- Invoice showing shipping and insurance costs to Fiji.
- Bill of Lading (BoL).
- Odometer reading when the car was sold for export to Fiji.
- Odometer reading when the car arrived in Fiji.
7: Taxes in Fiji
The amount of tax you pay in Fiji depends on your car\’s engine size:
- If your car\’s engine is between 2500cc and 3000cc, you\’ll pay $7500 per vehicle.
- If your car\’s engine is over 3000cc, you\’ll pay $20,000 per vehicle.
- On top of that, there\’s a 32% duty rate, a 15% excise duty, and a 15% VAT.
- If you\’re driving an unregistered car to your home or the LTA office, you\’ll need to pay $7 for permission for each trip.