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Cars 4 Rental Information on Fiji

General

Area: 18,376 sq km (7095 sq miles).

Population: 819,000 (estimate 2002).

Population Density: 44.6 per sq km.

Capital: Suva. Population: 77,366 (1996).

GEOGRAPHY: Fiji is located in the South Pacific, 3000km (1875 miles) east of Australia and approximately 1930km (1200 miles) south of the Equator. It comprises 322 islands, 105 of which are uninhabited (some are little more than rugged limestone islets or tiny coral atolls). The three largest are Viti Levu (Great Fiji), Vanua Levu (Great Land of the People), both of which are extinct volcanoes rising abruptly from the sea, and Taveuni. There are thousands of streams and small rivers in Fiji, the largest being the Rewa River on Viti Levu, which is navigable for 128km (80 miles). Mount Victoria, also on Viti Levu, is the country’s highest peak, at 1322m (4430ft).

Government: Republic since 1987. Head of State: President Ratu Josefa Ilolio since 2000. The President is appointed for a five-year term by the Great Council of Chiefs (Bosu Levu Vakaturaga), a traditional body with roughly 70 members consisting of every hereditary Fijian chief (or ratu). Head of Government: Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase since 2000.

Language: The principal languages are Fijian and Hindustani, but English is widely spoken and is also taught in schools. Chinese and Urdu are heard in the markets.

Religion: Methodist and Hindu with Roman Catholic and Muslim minorities. A strictly fundamentalist Methodist version of Christianity is enshrined in, and informs, the Fijian Constitution.

Time: GMT + 12.

Electricity: 240 volts AC, 50Hz. Larger hotels also have 110-volt razor sockets.

Communications:

Telephone

IDD is available. Country code: 679. Outgoing code: 05. International calls can be made from hotels via an operator, or from the Fiji International Telecommunications (FINTEL) office at 158 Victoria Parade in Suva.

Mobile telephone

GSM 900. Roaming agreements in operation. Network provider is Vodafone Fiji (website: www.vodafone.com.fj). Phone rentals are available from the airport.

Fax

The FINTEL office in Suva also offers fax services. Major hotels have facilities.

Internet

ISPs include Fiji Online, a subsidiary of Telecom Fiji (website: www.fijionline.com) and fiji.net (website: www.fiji.net). There are Internet cafes in Suva, Nadi and Lautoka.

Telegram

Facilities are available at major hotels in Suva and at the FINTEL office on Victoria Parade.

Post

Airmail to Europe takes up to 10 days. Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1630, Sat 0800-1300.

Press

The main English-language daily is the Fiji Times, which claims to be ‘the first newspaper published in the world today’ – a reference to Suva’s position just to the west of the International Date Line; the other main English language paper is the Fiji Daily Post. Fiji Calling is the bi-annual tourist newspaper, which may be of interest to visitors.

Radio: BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online.

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Money

Currency: Fijian Dollar (F$) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of F$50, 20, 10, 5 and 2. Coins are in denominations of F$1, and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents.

Currency exchange: Exchange facilities are available at the airport, at trading banks and at most hotels. ATMs may not accept foreign credit cards.

Credit & debit cards: American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are accepted at a number of establishments. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.

Travellers cheques: To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in Australian Dollars or Pounds Sterling.

Currency restrictions: There are no restrictions on the import of foreign or local currency, provided declared on arrival. Unspent local currency can be re-exchanged on departure up to the amount of foreign currency imported. The export of local currency is limited to F$500. The export of foreign currency as cash is limited to the equivalent of F$500.

Exchange rate indicators
The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the Fijian Dollar against Sterling and the US Dollar:

Date Nov '03 Feb ’04 May '04 Aug '04
£1.00= 3.05 3.10 3.19 3.19
$1.00= 1.79 1.70 1.79 1.75

Banking hours: Mon-Thurs 0930-1500, Fri 0930-1600. Restricted Foreign Exchange Dealers (authorised to issue foreign currency and travellers cheques for travel-related purposes only): Mon-Fri 0830-1700, Sat 0830-1200.

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Health

Special Precautions Certificate Required
Yellow Fever No 1
Cholera No 2
Typhoid and Polio 3 N/A
Malaria No N/A

1: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over one year of age arriving within 10 days of leaving infected areas.

2: Following WHO guidelines issued in 1973, a cholera vaccination certificate is not a condition of entry to Fiji. However, cholera is a serious risk in this country and precautions are essential. Up-to-date advice should be sought before deciding whether these precautions should include vaccination as medical opinion is divided over its effectiveness. See the Health appendix for more information.

3: Vaccination against typhoid and polio is advised.

Food & drink: Mains water is normally heavily chlorinated, and whilst relatively safe may cause mild abdominal upsets. Bottled water is available and is advised for the first few weeks of the stay. Milk is pasteurised and dairy products are safe for consumption. Local meat, poultry, seafood, fruit and vegetables are generally considered safe to eat.

Other risks: Diarrhoeal diseases are common. Hepatitis A occurs. Hepatitis B is endemic. Dengue fever may occur.

Health care: The main hospitals are located in Ba, Labasa, Lautoka, Levuka, Savusavu, Sigatoka, Suva and Taveuni with clinics and medical representations elsewhere throughout the islands. Medical insurance is recommended.

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Climate

Tropical. Southeast trade winds from May to October bring dry weather. The rainy season is from December to April.

Required clothing: Lightweight for summer, rainwear for the wet season.

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Passport/Visa

Passport Required Visa Required Return Ticket Required
British Yes No Yes
Australian Yes No Yes
Canadian Yes No Yes
USA Yes No Yes
OtherEU Yes No/1 Yes
Japanese Yes No Yes

Restricted entry: Entry will be denied to persons who have been deported or removed from another country.

PASSPORTS: Passport valid for at least six months beyond intended period of stay required by all except nationals of Fiji when holding a Certificate of Identity including a photograph of the bearer. Holders of the certificate must obtain approval from the Fiji Immigration Department before arrival.

VISAS: Required by all except the following who are issued a visitor’s permit on arrival valid for one month (extendable to four months):
(a) nationals of countries shown in the chart above, except 1. nationals of Lithuania who do need a visa;
(b) nationals of Commonwealth countries (except nationals of Cameroon, Mozambique, Namibia and Sri Lanka who do need a visa);
(c) nationals of Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, Colombia, Iceland, Indonesia, Israel, Korea (Rep), Liechtenstein, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Moldova, Monaco, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, The Philippines, Romania, Russian Federation, Switzerland, Taiwan (China), Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vatican City and Zimbabwe;
(d) transit passengers continuing their journey to a third country within three hours, provided holding valid onward or return documentation and not leaving the airport.

Note: All visitors must hold onward or return tickets and sufficient funds to cover stay.

Types of visa and cost: Single-entry: £45. Multiple-entry: £80.

Validity: Visas are valid for stays of up to three months, but can be extended on application to: Immigration Dept, Level 3 Suvavou House, Victoria Parade, Suva (street address); or PO Box 2224, Government Buildings, Suva, Fiji (postal address) (tel: 331 2622; fax: 330 1653).

Application to: Consular section of High Commission or Embassy; see Contact Addresses section.

Application requirements: (a) Valid passport. (b) Completed application form. (c) Three passport-size photos. (d) Onward/return air ticket. (e) Copy of travel ticket/ itinerary. (f) Fee payable by bankers’ draft, bank cheque or by cash (if application is made in person). (g) Police clearance report (proof of no criminal record) from local police station (must be in English). (h) Sufficient funds for duration of stay.

Note: Applicants must make their own arrangements for collection/return of passport.

Working days required: Seven to 21.

Temporary residence: Enquiries should be directed to the High Commission or Embassy of Fiji.

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