Everything you need to know about covid safe travel to Fiji is here. We flew to Fiji on 16 December with Virgin Australia and our trip was amazing. Everything was so easy, and it’s even easier now as requirements have been relaxed.

Here is everything I know. Information can change quickly, but I’ll be updating here as it does, and the Tourism Fiji website and Smart Traveller have all the info. But I have to say, a trip to Fiji is looking good right now – and it’s perfect for a solo parent holiday!

NOTE: Australia does not have pre-departure testing requirements for people leaving the country, so make sure you check the arrival requirements of your destination and those of the airline you’re flying. Australia DOES have vaccination requirements – if you’re over 12 you must be double vaxed to leave the country, and it must have been more than seven days before you fly.

Situation in Fiji

Fiji has a high level of vaccination – over 90% of adults are vaccinated and the rate is still climbing. Fiji also has a ‘no jab no job’ policy meaning everyone working in resorts and their tourism industry is fully vaccinated.

Fiji’s Care Fiji Commitment accreditation program makes sure that tourists only use accommodation, transport and activities that are accredited and safe. More information is outlined below.

Fiji Tourism is extremely confident guests will be looked after safety and has said that coupled with the high vaccination rate, their protocols are some of the best in the world for managing tourism safely during this time.

Pre-departure to Fiji checklist:

To travel to Fiji you must have the below information/fit the requirements. PRINT all documentation and keep it in a folder as you will need to show it at checkin and arrival.

• Have been in a Fiji partner country for 14 days prior to travel

          Fiji partner countries include Australia, the United States, Singapore, the UK and many more.
          Find a list of all partner countries here. 

• Be fully vaccinated if over 18 years old.

  If you’re over 18 you must be double vaxed and show your vaccination certificate to enter Fiji. Australia however requires everyone over 12 to be vaccinated to leave the country (or show exemption). Fiji recognises Astra-Zeneca, Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines.

• Download your International Covid-19 Vaccination Certificate

Download your International Covid-19 Vaccination Certificate from the MyGov portal and
print it. You will need to link Medicare to do this.

• 12 years and older: Have a negative International Travel RT-PCR test two calendar days before departure OR a Rapid Antigen Test but this MUST  be done by a medical practitioner.

PCR Test:

• Make sure you have your travel RT-PCR test results – this is not the free covid test. SMS results are not accepted, you must have a printed, authorised result. You can get it at the NSW community testing centres ($79) or private pathology clinic, where the cost is around $110 per person, and if negative you will receive a Testing Clearance Certificate.You can get the test on a four – five hour (max. often it’s quicker) turnaround at Sydney and Melbourne airports before you fly.You can also book through pathology groups like Douglas Hanley Muir, however they charge a little more at $145 per test. Their national booking number is 1800 026 622.

*** Make sure to have your PASSPORT and FLIGHT DETAILS with you to get this test.

Rapid Antigen Test:

 

This sounds great on paper but there are a lot of requirements. A PCR is possibly the best way still unless you can get a formal RAT at a doctors.

RAT requirements:

(Effective from 09Feb22) Negative Rapid Antigen Test (RAT): Travellers 12 years and above will be required to
produce a negative RAT test taken no more than 24 hours prior to the commencement of journey of continuous
flight(s), if applicable. RAT to be performed using nasopharyngeal, nasal, nasal mid-turbinate or oropharyngeal
specimen collection methods.
Test must be undertaken by or under the direct supervision of a medical practitioner (e.g., pharmacist general
practitioner, nurse, pathologist, pathology collector or trained personnel at airport-based testing stations).

Accepted COVID-19 test results
Your COVID-19 test result can be paper-based or electronic, and meet the following mandatory
requirements:
 Traveller name and date of birth;
 Test result (such as ‘negative’ or ‘not detected’);
 Method of test conducted e.g., PCR/nucleic acid amplification test (NAA) or rapid antigen test;
 Type of specimen collected;
 Brand and manufacturer of the test (for RAT tests);
 Date of specimen collection for the accepted COVID-19 test; and
 Date of test that the specimen for the test was collected, and the test was carried out by or under
the supervision of and, signed by an authorised person (see below).
If this information is not provided, travellers will NOT be able to check in and board the aircraft.

•  If traveling with Fiji Airways upload your vaccination documents pre-boarding.

  They will email customers a link to upload. Also have your documents with you to show on check-in (listed below)

• If you have had covid within the last 30 days you must have done your 14 days quarantine and have a negative test or clearance from you health authority before you travel to Fiji.

• Have travel insurance that covers covid (see below for more on this)

• Have bookings for the first three nights at CFC accredited providers.

• Download the Care Fiji app

• Download the Australian Travel Declaration app (to complete within 72 hours departure to Australia). If you can’t download the app/don’t have a phone you can make your declaration here and print it.
  

Booking flights, accommodation and transfers

1. Booking your flights

Check if your airline requires pre-departure travel forms to be completed online and for any in-flight requirements.  Fiji Airlines will email a link to passengers where you can upload your vaccination certificate and additional details. Currently Virgin Australia and Qantas require them on check in.

2. Booking your accommodation

You must book a minimum of four days and three nights with a Care Fiji Commitment certified property. This accommodation complies with covid safety requirements and is part of the approved Fiji program. You may only stay at these hotels and resorts and can travel between them as long as they are CFC certified – even in the first 24 hours before the rapid PCR. Look for the blue logo and check before you book.

3. Booking transfers and activities

Any transfers must be with accredited CFC transfer companies. You may book activities also, as long as they are with CFC transfer companies too.

3. Insurance

As soon as you book make sure to get your insurance. Cover-More has excellent travel insurance for Fiji, covering the main areas of concern: medical if you contract covid and reimbursement if you have to stay in accommodation/pay for isolation should you contract covid. Make sure to read the PSD, and I also called Cover-More directly to clarify everything. You can read all the info below. Getting your insurance online is easy and quick, so I recommend that. Most importantly READ THE PDS.

You must buy CoverMore’s insurance at least 21 days before you depart.

It’s also great that the price of insurance has not climbed too much, so it’s still affordable and you will have cover and peace of mind (plus you MUST have international covid insurance to be able to travel).

Find detailed information from Cover-More on their cover insurance policies at the end of this post.

4. Download the CareFIJI app for contact tracing in Fiji

Just go to the App Store and download the app. You can set it up before you go so it’s installed and ready when you arrive in Fiji. It’s easy to register, just provide your phone number and you’ll be sent a confirmation code. Once in Fiji are sure the app is on,  and bluetooth is activated while you’re there. Use the app for QR check in and check outs as you move around.

5. At check in have hard copies (no SMS or email) of:

• Insurance policy with covid cover – print the covid pages of the PDS
• Transfers and accommodation booking confirmation of the first three nights for your CFC approved accommodation. I suggest printing out all your accommodation confirmations and bringing it all.
• RT-PCR test results
• International vaccination certificates

On arrival

You will need to complete an arrival form and cover declaration on the plane.

You may also need to show your:

• Insurance policy
• Accommodation booking confirmation for first three nights at CFC approved accommodation
• RT-PCR/RAT test results
• Vaccination certificates
• Activated CareFiji app

We were not asked for any of this but you do need to have it.

During your holiday

Wellness Ambassadors/medical staff at resorts are your first contact

Wellness Ambassadors at each resort are your contact for all covid enquiries, booking tests and if you need to discuss positive tests and arrange isolation. You will get all these details on arrival.

Rapid COVID-19 test 48 hours after arrival

48 hours after you have arrived you must have a Rapid PDR covid test. This can be done at your CFC approved resort and costs approximately $17AUD. You can contact your resort to find out the cost of this test, but it’s great news that resorts will be equipped to conduct the testing in-house. Ours was a self test and I had my negative result in 15 minutes.

You can still spend time at the resort and enjoy the facilities, and you can take day trips too, as long as you only use CFC approved and certified operators.

Keep your CareFIJI app on, socially distance and sanitise

Only use CFC certified operators

Wear a mask

Masks are required in busy public spaces and in indoor spaces. If you’re outdoors and its not crowded you don’t have to wear a mask but it is still recommended.

If you test positive

Contact your Wellness Ambassador who will put the CFC response into action. This will involve medical assessment, 10 days of isolation and care by medical staff. You should also then contact your insurer and change your flights. The CFC is set up to be able to quickly and seamlessly manage positive results. you can return home after a negative test.

Returning home

• Complete your Australian Travel Declaration 72 hours before departure. You can do in on desktop or through the app. You’ll have to present your declaration before boarding your flight and on arrival in Australia.
• Do a RAT within 24 hours of boarding.
• Have your negative test results – paper or electronic is accepted.
• Check in will open three hours before flights.
• Passengers will need to provide passport and itinerary at entrance to airport
• Wearing a mask is compulsory.
• Mandatory temperature check.
• All documents will be checked at check in – negative test, vaccination certificate and ATD.
• Seating at departure lounges will be distanced

On arrival in Australia

Isolate and take a Rapid Antigen Test within 24 hours.

Take a further RAT on Day 6.

Don’t visit high risk places like hospitals and aged care facilities for seven days.

Family travel safety guide

Have a great time on your trip. And if you’re feeling nervous about travelling check out our comprehensive family travel safety guide HOLIDAY SAFE: The complete guide to staying safe when traveling with kids  It has everything you need to know about traveling safely on our family holiday or extended trip. 

COVERMORE INSURANCE DETAIL

What is covered in Cover-More policies in regard to COVID-19 for international travel?

In December 2020, Cover-More introduced a number of previously unavailable COVID benefits for Australians travelling to New Zealand. These benefits, shown below, now extend to any country which is not subject to ‘Do not travel’ advice from the Australian Government on their Smartraveller website: www.smartraveller.gov.au

Importantly, Cover-More has offered cover for medical expenses for COVID-19 right from the beginning of the pandemic, so if you contract COVID-19 during your trip and you need to be hospitalised, your medical expenses will be covered, and you will also be fully supported by our global medical assistance team who operate around the clock.

Cover-More covers cancellation of the trip if you are diagnosed with having COVID-19 pre-trip. It does not matter that the country was ‘do not travel’ as at the issue date of the policy.

If it is an on-trip COVID-19 diagnosis, then it still does not matter if it was ‘do not travel’ as at the issue date. What matters is the travel advice status on your entry to the country.

The cover doesn’t stretch to border closures. They are too challenging to try and predict, model and price. Cover-More has worked hard to keep travel insurance premiums affordable for travelling Australians.

What is covered and the amount of cover available?

When	What is covered	Amount of cover available
Before you leave	If you are diagnosed with COVID-19: we cover cancellation costs	Cancellation cover chosen* (you choose the amount of cancellation cover you want when you purchase your policy)
	If you must quarantine because you’ve had close contact with COVID-19 i.e. you’ve been contacted by a health authority and deemed a close contact: we cover cancellation costs	Cancellation cover chosen* (you choose the amount of cancellation cover you want when you purchase your policy)
	If you are an essential health care worker and your leave is revoked (e.g. nurse, doctor, paramedic): we cover cancellation costs	Cancellation cover chosen* (you choose the amount of cancellation cover you want when you purchase your policy)
During your trip	If you are diagnosed with COVID-19: we cover overseas medical costs including emergency repatriation and evacuation	Unlimited
	If you must quarantine immediately because you’re diagnosed with COVID-19: we cover additional costs e.g. costs of quarantine accommodation, meals etc	Unlimited
	If you must quarantine immediately because you’re diagnosed with COVID-19: we cover cancellation costs e.g. remaining parts of your trip including pre-paid accommodation that you won’t be able to use because you are in quarantine	Cancellation cover chosen* (you choose the amount of cancellation cover you want when you purchase your policy)

Our favourite resorts:

For an easy trip from the airport straight to the resort we love the Radisson Blu Denarau. It is such a lovely resort with shade cloth over the lagoon pool, a waterslide, great restaurants, kids club and torch lighting ceremony. White it doesn’t have a swimmable beach it is right near the port for day trips to the islands and for snorkelling with accredited providers. You can read our review here.

We stayed at The Warwick when I first took Emmie to Fiji when she was four months old. It has beautiful grounds, super caring staff, great swimming pools and snorkelling off the beach. We will be gong back here for sure.

The Intercontinental Fiji was such a fun stay, the kids pool is absolutely huge, the adults only pool is private and the snorkelling was lovely. Our room was gorgeous, with an outdoor bath – cocktails were great too! It was a really, really nice stay here and just a little bit (a lot) fancy!

And if you’re feeling nervous about travelling check out our comprehensive family travel safety guide HOLIDAY SAFE: The complete guide to staying safe when traveling with kids It has everything you need to know about traveling safely on our family holiday or extended trip.