Embassy/Consulate Addresses | Foreign Relations | Travel Advisories | Travel Tips | Customs/Duties



EMBASSY/CONSULATE ADDRESSES

Diplomatic Representation in US:
Chief of Mission: Winston Thompson
Embassy: 2000 M Street NW, Suite 710, Washington, DC 20036
Telephone: [1] (202) 337-8320
FAX: [1] (202) 337-1996

US Diplomatic Representation:
Chief of Mission: C. Steven McGann
Embassy: 31 Loftus Street, Suva
Mailing Address: P. O. Box 218, Suva
Telephone: [679] 314-466
FAX: [679] 300-081


Embassy and Consulate Web Sites for Fiji
Embassy of the United States of America in Fiji
Embassy of Fiji Web Site in Washington DC


FOREIGN RELATIONS

Fiji has traditionally had close relations with its major trading partners Australia and New Zealand. Currently, a number of countries including Australia, New Zealand, and the United States have placed targeted sanctions on the illegal interim government. Fiji has pursued closer relations with a number of Asian countries, including the People's Republic of China and India.

Since independence, Fiji has been a leader in the South Pacific region. Fiji hosts the secretariat of the 16-nation Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), as well as a number of other prestigious regional organizations. However, in May 2009, the PIF suspended Fiji’s membership for failing to declare elections before the deadline set by the organization. Fiji became the 127th member of the United Nations on October 13, 1970, and participates actively in the organization. Fiji's contributions to UN peacekeeping are unique for a nation of its size. It maintains about 600 soldiers and police overseas in UN peacekeeping missions, primarily in Iraq, MFO Sinai in the Middle East, Sudan, and Liberia. Fiji also has a number of private citizens working in Iraq and Kuwait, mostly in security services, and over 1,500 citizens serving in the British Army.

U.S.-FIJI RELATIONS
Relations between the elected government of Fiji and the United States have traditionally been excellent. The United States has limited its relationship with the interim government established by the illegal December 5, 2006 coup. Fiji maintains an embassy in Washington, DC and trade office in Los Angeles, as well as a Permanent Mission in New York at the United Nations. Although the United States provides relatively little direct bilateral development assistance, it contributes as a major member of a number of multilateral agencies such as the Asian Development Bank and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community. The U.S. Peace Corps, temporarily withdrawn from Fiji in 1998, resumed its program in Fiji in late 2003. The three pillars of U.S. policy toward Fiji under the coup government are: upholding U.S. law-based sanctions, protecting and promoting U.S. interests in the region, and doing no harm to the people of Fiji.

Principal U.S. Embassy Officials
Ambassador--C. Steven McGann
Deputy Chief of Mission--Richard K. Pruett
Political/Economic/Commercial Affairs--James T. Crow
Consul--Debra J. Towry
Management Officer--Ila S. Jurisson
Regional Environmental Officer--Joseph P. Murphy
Regional Security Officer--Matthew C. McCormack

The U.S. Embassy in Fiji is located at 31 Loftus Street, Suva; tel: 679-331-4466, fax: 679-330-0081. The mailing address is U.S. Embassy, P.O. Box 218, Suva, Fiji.


TRAVEL ADVISORIES

To obtain the latest Travel Advisory Information for Fiji check the U.S. State Department Consular Information Sheet.


TRAVEL TIPS

Driving U.S Driving Permit accepted
Currency (FJD) Fijian Dollar
Electrical 240 Volts
Telephones Country Code 679, Suva 32+5D



Time: GMT + 12.

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

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.

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.

Shopping: Favourite buys are filigree jewellery, woodcarvings (such as kava bowls) and polished coconut shells, sea shells, woven work (such as mats, coasters, hats, fans and trays), tapa cloth and pearls. Bargaining is not a rule in shops. Some shopkeepers will give a discount with large purchases. Duty-free items are available and include cameras, televisions, watches, binoculars, clocks, lighters, hi-fi equipment, pewter, crystal and porcelain. Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1700, Sat 0800-1300 (some shops have half-day closing on Wednesday and are open later on Friday).

Tips about visiting villages: The Fiji Visitors Bureau has the following advice for travellers visiting Fijian villages: visitors should be aware that they cannot just stroll into a village, which would be an intrusion of privacy. It is customary to purchase a bundle of unpounded yaqona (kava) – the traditional sevusevu (gift) – before visiting. When approaching the village, visitors should not enter immediately but wait nearby until someone comes to greet them and ask the purpose of their visit. They will then be taken to the Chief or Turaga Ni Koro (Headman), to whom the kava should be offered. Visitors who are accepted by the Chief will be assigned a guide and host. Once inside the village, please also note the following: visitors should dress modestly and not wear shorts or hats and women should not have their shoulders bare; shoes should always be taken off when entering someone’s house or any other village building; visitors should speak softly and not raise their voices too much as this may be interpreted as expressing anger; visitors should show respect but be cautious about praise as Fijians will feel obliged to make a gift of an object if visitors show too much liking for it; Fijians will always, out of custom, ask visitors to stay or eat with them, but if one has already been invited, new invitations should be politely declined and possibly arranged for a later date; visitors who spend a night in the village should reward their host with a useful gift of similar value for each member of the party; it is not recommended to give money.

Tipping: Small tips only for special services.

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: MasterCard, American Express, Diners Club 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.


CUSTOMS/DUTIES

Tobacco.......................500 cigarettes or 500 grams of tobacco

Liquor..........................2 litres of spirits or 4 litres of wine or 4 litres of beer

Perfume.......................114 ml of perfume for personal use

Goods...........................Up to a value of f$400

Agricultural items.........Refer to conculate

Currency.......................U.S. dollars no restrictions

Prohibited items: All items of firearms, ammunition and all narcotics. Fruits or plants may be confiscated on entry. Meat and dairy products from Tamsmania are prohibited.



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