Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020

Moving to fiji

Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea / Fiji

Considering moving to fiji as a proffesional floatplane pilot. Wondering about all the basics work ethics living expenses hospitality towards americans enviromental issues, smog water pollution congestion in the cities things to do any recent natural disasters. also wondering what would be involved as far as licenseing to go from a american pilots license to whatever is required by the fijian officials

Avoid discussing religion, politics, and land matters. For work permits etc., I'd suggest you contact the govt, and you'll probably need to consult a solicitor (lawyer) as well if things involve business permits. And of course, there may not be many jobs available anyway. You've got a lot of research and work to do. Maybe you should consider a visit there for a month or two, so you can make personal contacts, plus get a feel for what it might be like to live there.

1

Australians have pilot the market locked up you'll have a tough time with no personal contacts.

As demanding and uninformed as you are it's unlikely you'll ever leave the USA, there are in fact very very few floatplanes anywhere in the South Pacific-if you knew anything about the business you'd know that.

2

Cardamon, I am sorry you feel the need to respond the way that you did. I have completed several international backpacking tours and utilized this site for varying things. I always found the participants to be a great asset. I am in the initial phases of exploration and thought I would ask my fellow travelers for their experiences of Fiji. Please rest assured that all of my research will be comprehensive.

I would highly recommend curbing your responses and as some perhaps highly intelligent people have said "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all".

3

I'm considering moving to Fiji too, thats why I came into this post. I have a stable income so I don't need to work there. I more need to know about living expenses etc. I'm a kiwi.

4

What's a floatplane? May be I'have been living too long in Fiji - is it just another word for sea plane? If yes, there is one with Turtle airways. Bracal, your only chance is to apply for the job with Turtle Airways. Once they are interested in you and they want you for the job, the company will try to sort out the visa stuff. This will be the easiest way.
Do not come to Fiji with the intention to find a job - according to the law you will have to be out of the country while you're applying for your work permit. (but you have already paid for your application!)

Uncle Herb: once you bought property and you have a certain secured income from overseas, you can apply for residency ( re- apply every three years) which is a residence visa. Or just stay on tourist visa: you normally get 4 months visa- starting with entering the country ( at no extra costs) and then apply for an extension of 2 extra months for approx. F$ 100. after 6 months you will have to leave - once you have been out of the country for 1 week you can start the cycle again.
Living expenses depend very much on where you settle down, cities - of course much more than in urbn areas.
As more imported items you will need for your living in Fiji as dearer your life in Fiji will be.
Regarding your signo - it's okay to go public on TT but I recommend being a bit more discreet here in Fiji, especially if you wish to settle down here.

5

bulabear, thank you so much for your reply it is very helpful. I don't want to buy a property there, proberly just rent. Do you know what the rents like in Suva? Whats the power and phone bills like? Is food expensive?

6

Check out the fiji times on-line classifieds for an idea of rents in Fiji

7