Yes. To marry legally in Fiji you must obtain a marriage licence from the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages before the ceremony. There are two routes: a Notice of Intention to Marry, which carries a 21-day waiting period, or a Special Licence, which waives that wait for short-term visitors.
That is the whole answer. What follows is the detail that decides which route applies to you, and the fee conflict you will run into if you read a few wedding blogs first.
What are the two licence routes?
Notice of Intention to Marry (NOI). Both parties attend any Births, Deaths and Marriages Registry in person and post the notice. The marriage can take place after 21 consecutive days. Published fee: FJD 16.35.
Special Licence to Marry. Intended for short-term visitors and other special circumstances, this waives the 21-day waiting period. It requires a letter of request explaining why the waiver is sought. Almost every overseas couple flying in for a wedding uses this route, because nobody spends three weeks in Fiji waiting for a notice to mature.
Either way, the licence is issued before the ceremony and the ceremony cannot proceed without it.
What documents do you need?
| Situation | Documents required |
|---|---|
| Everyone | Recent passport-size photographs of both parties; birth certificates; valid photo identification |
| Overseas couples | Passports, plus a Certificate of Single Status, Certificate of Search or Certificate of No Legal Impediment |
| Previously married | Divorce papers, or the death certificate of the former spouse |
| Some applicants | A statutory declaration, which may be required for mixed-nationality couples and former Fijian citizens |
| Witnesses | Identification for two witnesses, each aged 21 or over and able to sign their names |
The Certificate of No Legal Impediment is the one that catches people out, because it is issued in your home country and can take weeks. Start it before you book anything else. The full document list is in every document you need for a Fiji marriage licence.
What does the licence actually cost?
Here the published figures diverge sharply, and it is worth knowing why.
| Source | Item | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Fiji Ministry of Foreign Affairs | Notice of Intention to Marry | FJD 16.35 |
| Fiji Ministry of Foreign Affairs | Civil registry marriage | FJD 54.50 |
| Industry wedding guides | "Marriage licence and registration" | FJD 200–400 |
The official fees total FJD 70.85 for a registry marriage — roughly NZ$56 or A$45 at Reserve Bank of Fiji indicative rates of 25 September 2026. The FJD 200–400 figure quoted by commercial wedding guides is considerably higher, and the likeliest explanation is that it bundles the statutory fee with celebrant charges, agent or coordinator fees, document handling and certified copies.
Neither figure is wrong. They are measuring different things. Ask your resort or planner to itemise which portion is the government fee and which is their service charge — a good one will do this without being pushed.
Where do you apply?
At the Registrar General's Office in Suva, or at divisional and district registrars throughout Fiji. The Suva registry is at Level 1, Suvavou House, Victoria Parade, with a published phone number of (679) 3308600.
Published office hours are 8:00am to 3:00pm, Monday to Friday. That is a shorter window than most visitors assume, and it does not include weekends — which matters if you are arriving on a Friday for a Saturday wedding.
Most resort wedding coordinators handle the registry visit as part of the package. Confirm in writing that they are doing it, and confirm which day they need you both available.
Do you need to be in Fiji before the wedding?
Yes, in practice. Both parties must attend the registry in person to complete the process, so you cannot arrive on the morning of the ceremony. How many days you actually need depends on the route and on how efficiently your coordinator has prepared the paperwork — how long before the wedding do you need to be in Fiji? sets out realistic timings.
Two witnesses aged 21 or over must be present at the ceremony and sign the certificate. They do not need to be Fijian, and resorts will usually supply witnesses if your party is very small.
What about a legal ceremony at home instead?
This is a legitimate alternative and more couples use it than admit to it. You complete the legal marriage in your home country, then hold the ceremony in Fiji as a celebration or blessing without the licence requirement. Legal ceremony at home, vows in Fiji explains how that works and what it changes about the day.
It is the right answer for couples with complicated documentation, tight timelines or same-sex partners — the legal position for whom is set out honestly in same-sex couples and Fiji.
Guideline only
This is general information, not legal advice. Requirements and fees change. Confirm the current position with the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Ministry of Justice, Fiji, before relying on anything here. Last reviewed 27 September 2026.
What to do next
Get the Certificate of No Legal Impediment moving in your home country first, because it has the longest lead time. Then confirm with your venue who handles the registry visit and on which day. Resorts with in-house coordinators — among them Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort, Shangri-La Yanuca Island, Warwick Fiji Resort and Spa and Likuliku Lagoon Resort — do this routinely, and the Fiji wedding celebrants and ministers directory covers who actually conducts the ceremony.
The full legal walkthrough is in how to get legally married in Fiji, the wider planning picture in getting married in Fiji: the complete guide, and the venue options across the islands in Denarau and the rest of the directory.
