Foreign Ownership of Islands in Fiji, Oceania

Freehold island properties and leaseholds in Fiji are available for purchase by foreigners. There are three types of land in Fiji: Native land, Crown Land and Freehold land. Native Land refers to the 83% of the land held by indigenous Fijians under communal tenure relationships. This land, which is reserved for the special use of its owners, may not be sold on a freehold basis, but it can be leased.

The government owns 7% of the land in Fiji; like Native land, Crown land cannot be sold, but it can be leased. The availability of crown land for leasing is usually advertised. This does not, however, preclude consideration being given to individual applications in cases where land is required for special purposes. Government leases for can be up to 99 years with rents reassessed every 10 years. Leases also usually carry development conditions that require lessees to develop with a certain time period. Leases may be sold or transferred, but these deals are subject to government approval.

Freehold land accounts for the remaining 10% of land in Fiji. Foreigners may purchase freehold islands, but they need consent from the Ministry of Lands for property over one acre. For the purchase of a residential property of less than one acre, buyers will need a residence or work permit. The government actively encourages foreign investment, and there are several schemes to promote tourist developments. Freehold or land tenure is via Torrens title land-registration system with the title guaranteed constitutionally by the State.

The real estate market in Fiji is unregulated, so foreigners should proceed with some caution. Mel Gibson, for example, purchased the island of Mago, a freehold private island with a small village already present. The villagers claimed they were cheated out of the island during British Colonial rule. Locals argue that the sale is invalid. Some feel the villagers have legitimate claim to their ancestral lands and others suspect the claim is cashing in on controversy.

Squatters are increasingly a problem in Fiji and we can expect future indigenous land claims to arise. Fiji also has a history of recent coup d’etats; continued tensions between the government and military have made some investors jittery.

Regional Statistics for Fiji, Oceania

Location:

Oceania, island group in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Population:

905,949

Languages:

English (official), Fijian (official), Hindustani

Capital:

Suva

Currency:

Fijian dollar

Climate:

tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation

Temperature Range:

+21 to +32

Terrain:

mostly mountains of volcanic origin

Natural Hazards:

cyclonic storms can occur from November to January