South Pacific – Fiji
Fiji is an independent island nation in the southern Pacific Ocean, located approximately 3,100 km (1,900 miles) northeast of Sydney, Australia and approximately 5,000 km (3,100 miles) southwest of Honolulu, Hawaii. The climate in Fiji is tropical with an average annual temperature of 25 degrees centigrade. December to April are the hottest months, but also the wettest. Rain forests exist on the windward sides of the mountains, while the leeward sides have grassy plains

The romance of Fiji is found amongst its swaying palm trees and white sand beaches.

Weather

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
T	86	86	86	84	82	80	79	79	80	81	83	85
S	7	6	5	7	6	7	7	8	7	7	7	8
R	11	11	14	12	10	7	5	8	8	8	10	12

Key to symbols used:
T - Average daily maximum temperatures
S - Average daily sunshine hours
R - Average monthly rainfall (if higher than 0.5”)

Flight time: 21 hours
GMT + or -: + 12
Visa: No

Documents and Legal requirements
Residency: The minimum residency before your wedding is 1 working day.
Proof of ID: You will be required to produce your original birth certificates and a valid 10-year passport.
Divorced: If you are divorced you will be required to produce your Decree Absolute with court stamp.
Widowed: If either of you are widowed the death certificate of your deceased spouse must be produced.
Age restrictions: The minimum age to marry without parental consent is 21 years of age. If you are under this age you will need to obtain an affidavit made by your father giving consent.
Name change: If your name has been changed by Deed Poll you must provide the legal proof stamped and signed by a solicitor. This also applies if you are a divorced woman have reverted back to your maiden name.

Ceremonies
In Fiji you can choose to marry in a hotel, on a beach or in a church, you can even have an entire resort all to yourselves for total privacy. In true Fijian style why not have a group of Fijian warriors carry you above their heads on a platform to your ceremony.

Religious Weddings
All ministers in Fiji belong to a certain church and there are no non-denominational ministers. For Catholic weddings the requirements include a letter of Freedom to Marry, sent at least two to three months to the Fijian Priest, along with your Baptism Certificate. Your normal pre-wedding studies must be completed with a letter from your priest. Religious ceremonies are legally recognised under Fijian law.

Obtaining a Marriage Licence
You must both attend the Register Office with the original copies of all the necessary documents, to apply for your marriage licence, which will be issued within one working day (see Further Information for addresses). The legal formalities only take about fifteen minutes. The fee is FjD$20 and the licence is valid for 21 days.

Further information

Tourism Council of the South Pacific 203 Sheen Lane London SW14 8LE 020-8876 1938	Embassy of Fiji 34 Hyde Park Gate London SW7 5DN Tel: 020-7584 3661
Fiji Government Website: www.fiji.gov.fj/ Fiji Visitors Bureau website: www.bulafiji.com	Divisional Registrar Western Office in Lautoka Tel: 00- 679 665132
Mrs Laite Matadigo Registrar General Ground Floor Suvavou House Victoria Parade Suva Tel: 00-679 315280 Fax: 00-679 304917	Contacts for Church Ministers Anglican Church 18 MacArthur Street Suva Tel: 00-679 304693 Fax: 00-679 302687
Assemblies of God Fiji 85 Robertson Road Suva Tel: 00-679 312644 Fax: 00-679 303940	Catholic Presbyteries Pratt Street Suva Tel: 00-679 311625 Fax: 00-679 301565
Christian Mission Fellowship Khalsa Road Newton Suva Tel: 00-679 396808 Fax: 00-679 398906/396790	Christian Outreach Centre 190 Renwick Road Suva Tel: 00-679 305889 Fax: 00-679 305777
Church of God in Fiji 17 Cumming Street Suva Tel: 00-679 306080	Fiji Gospel Churches 28 Belo Street Samabula Suva Tel: 00-679 383083
Methodist Church of Fiji Wesley Butt Street Suva Tel: 00-679 303805	Namadi Heights Baptist Church 350 Princes Road Tamavua Tel: 00-679 320935
New Life Centre Church Lot 56 Grantham Road Raiwaga Tel: 00-679 382800 Fax: 00-679 384043	Salvation Army Suva Central Corps 50 MacGregor Road Suva Tel: 00-679 314573 Fax: 00-679 303112
Samoan Congregational Church 5 Thurston Street Suva Tel: 00-679 302671

Always check with local authorities as this information may be subject to change.