Selling a property in Fiji is not complicated, but sales that go wrong usually go wrong for the same few reasons: the paperwork was not ready, the price was a guess, or a consent was left too late. This guide covers what to prepare, how to price, and what happens between accepting an offer and being paid. If you would like us to handle it, see sell property in Fiji; listing with us is free.
Step 1: Get your paperwork in order
Buyers and their solicitors ask for the same documents every time. Have them ready before you list:
- Your title. The certificate of title for freehold, or your lease for State or iTaukei leasehold.
- The survey plan, showing boundaries and area.
- Rates and rent receipts, showing town rates and any lease rent are paid up.
- Building approvals and a completion certificate for any buildings.
- For strata property, the body corporate rules and a statement of levies.
- Mortgage details, if the property is mortgaged, so the discharge can be arranged for settlement.
If the title is in the name of someone who has died, or in a company or trust, sort out who has authority to sell before you go to market. Estate and authority problems can hold up a sale for months.
Step 2: Know what you are selling
The title decides who can buy your property and what consents the sale needs.
- Freehold can be sold to any Fiji citizen. Overseas buyers can also buy it, with some limits under the Land Sales Act, mainly on residential land inside town boundaries and on larger areas.
- State leases are usually “protected”, so the Director of Lands must consent to the transfer. The buyer takes the remaining term, so the years left on the lease are a large part of the value.
- iTaukei leases need the consent of the iTaukei Land Trust Board (TLTB).
If your lease has only a short time to run, ask about renewal before you sell. A buyer, and a buyer’s bank, will pay more for a longer term.
Step 3: Set the price
Fiji has no easy public record of sale prices to look up, so pricing takes local knowledge. Three things help:
- A registered valuation. Worth having for higher-value or unusual property, and often needed by the buyer’s bank anyway.
- Comparable sales and current listings in your area, adjusted for title, size and services.
- An honest view of condition and access. Buyers discount heavily for unclear boundaries, missing services and poor access.
Price on application is common in Fiji and suits some properties, but a stated price tends to draw more enquiries. Whichever you choose, set a figure you can justify.
Step 4: Prepare the property
For land, clear the boundaries, cut the grass and make sure the survey pegs can be found. For a house, fix what is cheap to fix, tidy the grounds and deal with anything a building inspection would raise. Then get good photographs in good light, including the view, the access road and, for land, an aerial shot with the boundaries marked.
Step 5: Market to the right buyers
Who is likely to buy depends on what you have. A family home in Lautoka will probably sell to a local buyer; a tourism site in Nadi or a freehold block in Savusavu may well sell to someone overseas. Good marketing puts the property in front of both.
When you list with Fijian Real Estate we:
- prepare your listing and publish it on a website built for Fiji property, offered in English and Chinese;
- market it locally and internationally at no charge to you;
- answer enquiries from buyers;
- arrange viewings by appointment.
Step 6: Negotiate and sign
Offers come through the agent. Look at the whole offer, not just the price: the deposit, the conditions, the settlement date and whether the buyer needs finance or consent all affect how certain the sale is. Once terms are agreed, the solicitors prepare a sale and purchase agreement and the buyer pays the deposit into a solicitor’s trust account.
Step 7: Consents, tax clearance and settlement
Between signing and settlement, the solicitors:
- apply for any consent the sale needs, from the Director of Lands, the TLTB or the Minister for Lands;
- arrange the discharge of your mortgage;
- obtain a capital gains tax clearance, which is normally needed before a transfer can be registered;
- prepare the transfer for signing.
On settlement the buyer pays the balance, your mortgage is paid off from the proceeds and the remainder is paid to you.
Tax when you sell
Fiji charges capital gains tax on the sale of property. There are exemptions, including for a Fiji resident’s main home in some circumstances. How it applies depends on who you are, how long you have owned the property and how it was used, so speak to an accountant or to the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS) before you agree a price. If you are registered for VAT, ask whether VAT applies to the sale as well.
Selling from overseas
You do not need to be in Fiji to sell. Documents can usually be signed abroad in front of an authorised witness, and your solicitor settles for you. If you want to take the proceeds out of Fiji, your bank will need to see how the money originally came in, because the Reserve Bank of Fiji’s exchange controls apply. Keep your purchase records.
How long does a sale take?
It depends on price, title and location. A well-priced property with clean paperwork can go under contract quickly; once it does, allow several weeks to a few months to settlement, depending on the consents involved. The part you control is preparation: sellers with their documents ready lose the least time.
Why sell with Fijian Real Estate
Fijian Real Estate is led by Farmaan Ali, who has around 24 years of experience across New Zealand and Fiji. He spent nearly a decade as a legal executive and was a director of a Fijian land-surveying company, which means title problems and boundary questions are picked up before they cost you a buyer. You deal with him directly, from the first conversation to settlement.
Listing and marketing with us is free. Tell us about your property or read more about how we sell property in Fiji. Thinking of buying next? See Fiji property for sale.
Common questions
Can I sell my Fiji property to a foreigner?
In most cases, yes. Overseas buyers can purchase property in Fiji subject to the Land Sales Act. The main limits are on residential freehold land inside town boundaries and on purchases of more than one acre, which need ministerial consent.
Can I sell a leasehold property?
Yes. You sell the remaining term of the lease, with the consent of the Director of Lands for a State lease or the TLTB for an iTaukei lease.
Do I need a lawyer to sell property in Fiji?
In practice, yes. The transfer documents, consents, tax clearance and settlement are all handled by solicitors.
What does it cost to list with you?
Nothing. We market your property locally and internationally free of charge. Contact us for a no-obligation chat about how we work.
This guide is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Property law and tax rules in Fiji change, so confirm the details with a Fiji-qualified solicitor and accountant before you commit.