Check the uniqueness of the proposed company name and reserve name
Agency: Registrar of Companies Office
Company founders must first conduct a search of the Companies, Business Names, and Trade Marks Register to ensure that the name applied for is not confusingly similar (1–2 days). Computerized and manual search systems are both available. The Government of Fiji has introduced a website (www.egov.gov.fj) for all applications for name reservation to be made online in 2010. Hard copy applications are no longer accepted by the Registrar of Companies unless an online application is made first.
Application fees for name reservation can be paid in person at the Registrar of Companies’ Office or via the online portal at www.egov.gov.fj. Only MasterCards and VISA cards are accepted. Once the payment is completed online, hard copies of the payment confirmation and the name reservation approval are required to be submitted to the Companies Registry.
If approved, the company name will be reserved for 30 days (with a one-time extension). Company incorporation documents must be lodged with the Registrar within this time.
Time and cost: 4 days, FJD 50 for name reservation + FJD 10 for company name search + VAT
Hire services of a lawyer to draft company documents
Agency: Lawyer or Accountant
Fees may vary from FJD 1,000 to FJD 2,000. Although not require by the law, in most cases lawyers and/or accountants still prepare most of the documents necessary to register a company.
Time and cost: 3 days, FJD 1200
Register the company with the Registrar of Companies Office
Agency: Registrar of Companies Office
Under the Companies Act 2015. The company is required to complete and lodge a Form A2 (under section 20 of the Act) together with the required fee which is FJD 49.05 for private companies.
Form A2 requires the company to provide details of the company, governance of the company, registered office, principal place of business, officeholders details, details of ultimate holding company, share structure details, details of its members.
There is no longer a need for the company to have a Memorandum of Association under the 2015 Companies Act. A company is only required to have Articles of Association. It may adopt the standard articles from the Act or vary the standard articles provided in the Act.
The company is still required to have a local tax identification number which can be obtained from the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service in 1 day.
Time and cost: 7 days, FJD 45
Register for Tax Identification Number (TIN) with FRCS
Agency: Fiji Revenue & Customs Service (FRCS)
To finish the registration process of a new business with the Registrar of Companies Office entrepreneurs must obtain a Tax Identification Number (TIN) from FRCS. The procedure is as follows:
- The person must visit the Registrar of Companies Office and fill the necessary form. The Registrar of Companies Office will stamp such form and will request the person to visit FRCS to obtain TIN;
- At FRCS, the person must fill in the TIN registration Form. A copy of the preliminary documents submitted to the Companies Office must be attached to the TIN Registration Form. The preliminary document refers to forms lodged at Registrar of Companies Office and the Articles of Association;
- The FRCS will issue a standard letter confirming the TIN;
- The TIN must be supplied to the Registrar of Companies Office that will facilitate the issue of the Certificate of Registration;
- The Registrar of Companies Office will send a copy of the Certificate of Registration to FRCS for updating of taxpayer records.
Time and cost: 1 day (simultaneous with previous procedure), no charge
Receive inspection by FRCS
Agency: Fiji Revenue & Customs Service (FRCS)
By law, since December 2004, if VAT registration is required, the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS) requires the inspection of the business premises. Since 2007, the inspection has been the practice as FRCS inspects that there is a physical office during business hours.
Time and cost: 1 day (simultaneous with previous procedure), no charge
Submit the TIN number to the Registrar of Companies Office to obtain the final Certificate of Registration
Agency: Registrar of Companies Office
New businesses must submit their TIN number to Companies Registry to obtain their final incorporation certificate.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Obtain the National Fire Authority Certificate (NFA) after inspection
Agency: National Fire Authority
The entrepreneur must request the NFA for an inspection of the business premises. Once the request has been made, the NFA officials will inspect the premises during opening hours of the business. If the NFA is satisfied with the results of the inspection, it will then issue a compliance certificate to the entrepreneur.
Upon receipt of the compliance certificate from the NFA, the entrepreneur must conduct a fire safety training for its staff. The training takes 3 days. NFA officers can, for a fee, teach fire safety preventative and protection measures. The employees are trained to respond to a fire incident and how to use the fire safety equipment installed in the workplace.
Time and cost: 10 days, FJD 50-150 (VAT excluded) depending on the size of the business
Register for statutory training tax
Agency: Fiji National University (FNU)
Statutory training tax is 1% of payroll. The submission of these documents is done by mail. The National Training and Productivity Authority at Fiji National University (FNU) will send the form by mail to the office of the new business. Once completed, the form will be mailed back to FNU.
Statutory levy is 1% of payroll out of which the FNU Council is required to distribute 10% for in-service training of employees of levy payers, managing apprenticeship schemes, trade testing, productivity promotion and education and training in the national interest.
Time and cost: 3 days (simultaneous with previous procedure), no charge
Obtain the compliance letter from the Ministry of Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations
Agency: Ministry of Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations
Since November 2011, the OHS issues a letter of compliance to all type of businesses after an inspection of workers and non-workers in the workplace. In order to obtain this letter, the entrepreneur needs to submit:
- NFA certificate
- Business registration certificate
- TIN letter
Three days after submitting the documents, the OHS inspects the business and if all the compliance requirements are met, the compliance letter is issued. The compliance letter then needs to be submitted to the Suva City Council in order to obtain the business license.
Time and cost: 3 days, FJD 70-150 (FJD 50 for inspection and FJD 2 per employee)
Apply for a business license from the relevant licensing authority (Suva City Council)
Agency: Suva City Council
The company must obtain a business license from the relevant licensing authority for each location it conducts business. This license is renewable annually. Depending on the activity, the fees range from FJD 4.37 to FJD 4,363.26 .
Time and cost: 11 days, fees range from FJD 4.37 to FJD 4,363.26 depending on the activity
Register as an employer with the Fiji National Provident Fund
Agency: Fiji National Provident Fund
New businesses must register as an employer with the Fiji National Provident Fund.
Time and cost: 11 days (simultaneous with previous procedure), no charge
