NevP 0 Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 Does anyone have up to date knowledge on what Fiji's visitor entry requirements are for crew (NZ citizen/resident) entering Fiji by yacht and intending to depart by air? I have asked the question of their High Commission but just got a reply stating their standard requirements that I must hold a valid return air ticket and valid passport. This will be my first offshore passage, so I'm trying to make sure I get things right. I will be joining a yacht sailing with the ICA rally up to Fiji (Savusavu) in May and will be flying back to NZ a few days after we arrive. The slight dilemma, as I see it, is that I would rather not book my return flight until we arrive in Fiji as I can't be sure of our arrival date. I could always book a flight well in the future and change it to an earlier flight when we arrive but would rather avoid the change fees if I can. Does anyone know if I will be required to have a return air ticket on entry or is it OK to just turn up and book my return ticket in Fiji? I am aware Fiji immigration are a little more strict with entry requirements now, with the current political climate. I suppose they don't need to know that I won't be staying with the yacht for the duration of the trip but would rather be up front. Anyone with experience on this one? What did you do? Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 My guess is you are fine, the problem normally occurs the other way, when you fly in intending to sail out. Anyone have a definitive answer? Link to post Share on other sites
Megwyn 2 Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 Not definitive no. When I flew into Vanuatu, I needed a letter from the skipper to say I was leaving on his yacht. When I sailed into Tonga, they didn't care how I intended to leave. I have not sailed into or out of Fiji - yet, so I cannot speak for Fiji. Someone here must know tho . . . M Link to post Share on other sites
Grinna 2 Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 I've sailed into Fiji, but had a return flight booked already, so not much help I'm afraid. Link to post Share on other sites
Bimini Babe 0 Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 My partner sailed from Opua to Savusavu last May - I booked his flights home a few days after he'd arrived there. Didn't have to have them booked beforehand. I think it's pretty common - after all, you never really know exactly when you're going to arrive, so you can't really book flights with total confidence. It's not quite the same situation as flying in, sailing out, when you usually need some sort of evidence that you're planning to leave by boat (i.e. a letter from the skipper). Link to post Share on other sites
NevP 0 Posted February 3, 2012 Author Share Posted February 3, 2012 Thanks guys. BB, that was pretty much what I was thinking. Good to know someone else has done the same. Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 Absolutely no problem, but make sure that the skipper goes to immigration with your passport and copy of your flight ticket and signs you off as crew. Make sure you retain a copy of the crew sign off certificate for reference, but if any bureaucratic SNAFU happens it will come back on the skipper, not you. Speaking from experience, working for a yachting agency there. Fiji is actually reasonably user friendly as long as the paperwork is in place and you have a copy of any documentation. Link to post Share on other sites
Fogg 427 Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 A few years ago I flew into Fiji holding a return ticket but changed plans, cancelled the ticket and sailed out instead, all no problem. This meant that I arrived in Vanuatu on a yacht with no air ticket but again no problem - they weren't to know I wasn't part of the permanent crew. I eventually flew out of Port Villa. Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 Nev, Talk to Tony Nesbit and Katie Mathieson - they both did that last year. John. Link to post Share on other sites
John B 106 Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 Absolutely no problem, but make sure that the skipper goes to immigration with your passport and copy of your flight ticket and signs you off as crew. Make sure you retain a copy of the crew sign off certificate for reference, but if any bureaucratic SNAFU happens it will come back on the skipper, not you.Speaking from experience, working for a yachting agency there. Fiji is actually reasonably user friendly as long as the paperwork is in place and you have a copy of any documentation. When we went to Tonga last year , the delivery helpers( me included) bought return tickets ahead of time. I hated doing that, so much to go wrong with schedules.It all worked out but still . So PW, you're sure that we could enter Fiji this year without air tickets out and buy over there or on the net from here whichever, and not run afoul of the authorities? Is it a case of having to say that we're here to cruise the boat and we've changed our mind and are leaving , or is it just a non issue?( the problem being that we're told we should have the tickets) Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 When we went to Tonga last year , the delivery helpers( me included) bought return tickets ahead of time. I hated doing that, so much to go wrong with schedules.It all worked out but still . So PW, you're sure that we could enter Fiji this year without air tickets out and buy over there or on the net from here whichever, and not run afoul of the authorities? Is it a case of having to say that we're here to cruise the boat and we've changed our mind and are leaving , or is it just a non issue?( the problem being that we're told we should have the tickets) Yep, no problem. Crew departing the yacht don't need a ticket before entering the country, just make sure the skipper signs off any crew leaving the boat or it will come back to bite him on boat departure. If crew are leaving the boat and then returning to it or new crew are joining the boat in Fiji to leave by sea then make sure you get a one way letter from immigration in advance so they don't have to purchase a return ticket. FWIW, we had no problem in Tonga arriving with delivery crew and buying tickets once we got there. Link to post Share on other sites
John B 106 Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 Thanks for the insight , I appreciate it. Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted December 31, 2012 Share Posted December 31, 2012 When we went to Tonga last year , the delivery helpers( me included) bought return tickets ahead of time. I hated doing that, so much to go wrong with schedules.It all worked out but still . So PW, you're sure that we could enter Fiji this year without air tickets out and buy over there or on the net from here whichever, and not run afoul of the authorities? Is it a case of having to say that we're here to cruise the boat and we've changed our mind and are leaving , or is it just a non issue?( the problem being that we're told we should have the tickets) Yep, no problem. Crew departing the yacht don't need a ticket before entering the country, just make sure the skipper signs off any crew leaving the boat or it will come back to bite him on boat departure. If crew are leaving the boat and then returning to it or new crew are joining the boat in Fiji to leave by sea then make sure you get a one way letter from immigration in advance so they don't have to purchase a return ticket. FWIW, we had no problem in Tonga arriving with delivery crew and buying tickets once we got there. That all differs from this. You have to have a entry permit and pay the entry permit on application Take a read and correct me if i'm wrong. http://www.immigration.gov.fj/index.php ... d-sections Also the skipper is responsible for crew airfares to his homeland any hotel accommodation, meals buse fare or taxi fare to the departure airport. Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted December 31, 2012 Share Posted December 31, 2012 When we went to Tonga last year , the delivery helpers( me included) bought return tickets ahead of time. I hated doing that, so much to go wrong with schedules.It all worked out but still . So PW, you're sure that we could enter Fiji this year without air tickets out and buy over there or on the net from here whichever, and not run afoul of the authorities? Is it a case of having to say that we're here to cruise the boat and we've changed our mind and are leaving , or is it just a non issue?( the problem being that we're told we should have the tickets) Yep, no problem. Crew departing the yacht don't need a ticket before entering the country, just make sure the skipper signs off any crew leaving the boat or it will come back to bite him on boat departure. If crew are leaving the boat and then returning to it or new crew are joining the boat in Fiji to leave by sea then make sure you get a one way letter from immigration in advance so they don't have to purchase a return ticket. FWIW, we had no problem in Tonga arriving with delivery crew and buying tickets once we got there. That all differs from this. You have to have a entry permit and pay the entry permit on application Take a read and correct me if i'm wrong. Permit Total Fees Application for permit to enter, reside and work 477.00 Application for permit to enter, reside on assured income 477.00 Application for students permit 140.00 Application for permit other than those specified above 477.00 Application to extend or vary a permit 477.00 Issue of a permit other than Visitors permit 190.00 Extension or variation of permit 190.00 [b]Application to extend visitor's permit 96.00[/b] Issue of replacement permit 140.00 Short Term Permit Application 667.00 Issue of an authority to work/study/research/preach [section 9(3) of Immigration Act 2003] 190.00 Appeal [section 58 of Immigration Act 2003] 953.00 Prohibited Immigrant Uplift [PI Uplift] 190.00 Search fee 13.00 Visa Application for Single Entry 96.00 Application for Multiple Entry 190.00 Search fees 13.00 Late Registration •Application fees •Making Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance 255.00 139.00 http://www.immigration.gov.fj/index.php ... d-sections Also the skipper is responsible for crew airfares to his homeland any hotel accommodation, meals buse fare or taxi fare to the departure airport. OC Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted December 31, 2012 Share Posted December 31, 2012 Where's the reference to visitor visor, which is what any yacht crew will be entering under whether one way flight or not. I think there might be a small fee for a one way letter but that's it AFAIK. Link to post Share on other sites
Steve Pope 243 Posted December 31, 2012 Share Posted December 31, 2012 We had crew that left in SavuSavu, September 2012, they had to be signed off from the boats papers, this could not be done without showing an outgoing air ticket for each crew member. The skipper is responsible to get them signed off the ships papers and can have to pay the air fares if he doesn't have an agreement with the crew to pay their own way. There was no charge from Fiji customs / Immigration for doing this. Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted January 2, 2013 Share Posted January 2, 2013 Nev, I have been into Fiji lots of times as a skipper, all changes to the crew for "arriving Yachts" should be taken care of on arrival, by the skipper! So if somebody is leaving on arrival this can be documented on arrival. Fiji is happy enough to give you a entry visa to allow you to stay for a couple of weeks, but they will need you to produce some eticket paperwork in a couple of days to prove you have the means to leave Fiji. Another alternative is to check in with everyone else on the crew, then purchase a ticket after clearance and then get the Skipper to change to the Captain crew allocation, with Immigration at which point you will need to produce a ticket. Either way works but visiting immigration in places like Suva is a really painful, paperwork and transport wise. I hope this help! M Link to post Share on other sites
NevP 0 Posted January 2, 2013 Author Share Posted January 2, 2013 Thanks for all the feedback everyone. As an update, I entered Fiji (Savusavu) as crew back in May without any onward arrangements no problem at all. As far as immigration was concerned I was crew on board the vessel I entered on until the skipper signed me off at the immigration office. After entering Fiji I purchased my airline ticket home, the skipper & I went down to the immigration, presented proof of my flight booking and I was signed off. It took all of 10 minutes, all very simple. I would imagine that the skipper would have all sorts of issues with immigration when departing Fiji if I hadn't formally signed off. As far as immigration are concerned any crew entering the country on board are the skippers responsibility until immigration have signed them off the vessel, which won't happen until they have proof of onward travel arrangements. Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 I would imagine that the skipper would have all sorts of issues with immigration when departing Fiji if I hadn't formally signed off. As far as immigration are concerned any crew entering the country on board are the skippers responsibility until immigration have signed them off the vessel, which won't happen until they have proof of onward travel arrangements. Correct. The boat can"t clear port untill they are satisfied the crew person is being repatriated to his home land. This could and will cause a problem with hitch hikers. Example = Take on crew member in Auckland - Not NZealander but Dutch and you have a despute in fiji - It's not a airfare to NZ but holand. It does not make any difference whether you have a crew agreement that he provides his own transport and accommodation meals ect on arrival. The authorites will quote the convention the skipper is responsible for all life support systems in a country that is not his home land. Hence the skipper wants to be bloody minded and dig his toes in he will be liable for food, hotel, fare to airport and airfare to holland or any other destination the crew agrees to. And as Sir peter blake wrote in his book the best solution in a dispute was the skipper to buy an air ticket on the first available flight. Link to post Share on other sites
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