Foreign Ownership Restrictions
RestrictiveFiji has among the most restrictive foreign-ownership frameworks in the Pacific. A dominant native-land leasehold system and the Land Sales (Amendment) Act 2014 together define a narrow set of options for non-residents.
- About 87-88% of land is iTaukei (native) land, held communally and only ever available to foreigners on leasehold, requiring iTaukei Land Trust Board (TLTB) consent for any dealing
- Since 21 November 2014, non-residents cannot buy freehold or State land for residential purposes within any town or city boundary (Land Sales (Amendment) Act 2014)
- Exceptions within municipal boundaries: strata/unit titles (apartments), industrial or commercial use, residential within integrated tourism developments, and hotels
- Foreigners CAN buy freehold outside town/city boundaries and freehold islands, with Ministry of Lands consent required for parcels over one acre
- Non-residents who buy vacant residential land must build a dwelling worth at least FJD 250,000 within two years, or face a penalty of 10% of value every six months and fines up to FJD 100,000
- Leases of under five years, transfers to immediate family, and gifts/bequests are exempt from the municipal-boundary prohibition
- Every iTaukei-land dealing is conditional on TLTB consent -- without it, no title can be registered
