Fiji Currency Guide: Cash, Cards, ATMs and Money Exchange

Written and researched by

Last updated and fact-checked:

The currency used in Fiji is the Fijian dollar (FJD). Bring FJD cash for everyday purchases and a card for larger businesses.

The Short Answer

Fiji currency and payment essentials for travelers
What to knowWhat to do
Official currencyFijian dollar, currency code FJD; commonly written FJ$, F$ or $.
Everyday cashUse FJD for markets, small businesses and taxis. Ask for smaller notes when exchanging or withdrawing money.
Card paymentsVisa and Mastercard are widely accepted in tourist areas and larger businesses. Ask about a surcharge before paying.
ATMsPlan withdrawals in major towns and tourist centers. Confirm cash access before traveling to a smaller island.
Exchange ratesCompare the final FJD amount after fees. A reference rate is not a guaranteed cash-exchange quote.
Public busesArrange a loaded eTransport card or the relevant electronic payment method before boarding; ordinary cash fares have been replaced.

Fiji's Currency: The Fijian Dollar

The international currency code is FJD. Locally, prices may use FJ$, F$ or a dollar sign alone. Check the currency on an international booking site before comparing a room, tour or transfer price.

  • Regular banknotes: FJ$5, FJ$10, FJ$20, FJ$50 and FJ$100.
  • Coins: 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents, plus FJ$1 and FJ$2.

Commemorative notes: Fiji has also issued FJ$7 rugby notes, although travelers will mainly use the regular denominations above.

These denominations are listed by Tourism Fiji.

Can You Use AUD, NZD or US Dollars in Fiji?

Use FJD for routine cash spending. Some hotels and tourist businesses may accept foreign currency for a purchase, but ask about acceptance and the conversion rate first. Under the RBF's September 2026 clarification, any change from such a payment must be in Fijian dollars.

If a booking is priced in AUD, NZD or USD, check the currency the business will actually charge and whether local payments use a different quote. An overseas dollar price on a website does not tell you what a market stall or taxi driver will accept.

Where to Exchange Money in Fiji

Use a licensed commercial bank or foreign exchange dealer. The RBF lists banks including ANZ, BSP, Westpac, BRED, HFC and Bank of Baroda, alongside licensed dealers such as FEXCO and Lotus Foreign Exchange. Check the official dealer list when choosing a provider. A hotel accepting a foreign-currency payment is not automatically licensed to change cash for other customers.

At Nadi Airport

Tourism Fiji describes 24-hour currency exchange booths in the Arrivals Terminal. Compare the quote and any fees, then obtain enough FJD for your immediate plans. Choose a provider by the final amount you receive and the time available before your onward journey.

See Tourism Fiji's Nadi tips for airport money information and our Nadi airport transfer guide to plan the journey to your hotel.

At a Town Branch or Exchange Office

Check the specific branch's opening hours and whether it handles your currency before making a special trip. Carry your passport in case identification is requested, ask for the final FJD amount, and keep the exchange receipt for possible reconversion later.

How to Compare Exchange Rates

Use the Reserve Bank of Fiji's exchange rates as a reference. The RBF says its published rates are indicative and may differ from customer quotes. It does not exchange foreign currency with the general public.

  1. Compare the same amount: ask how many Fijian dollars you will receive for the amount of AUD, NZD, USD or other currency you want to exchange.
  2. Include every fee: compare the final cash handed over, including any commission or minimum charge.
  3. Check the direction: a quote in FJD per foreign dollar differs from a quote in foreign dollars per FJD.

ATMs in Fiji: Fees and Withdrawal Limits

Arrange cash in major towns and tourist centers, including Nadi and Suva. Before an outer-island trip, ask your accommodation about ATM access and cash-only payments.

A withdrawal may involve an ATM operator fee, your card issuer's withdrawal or foreign-transaction fees, and currency conversion. There is no single charge or daily limit that applies to every foreign card in Fiji.

As a dated example, BSP's published fee schedule lists a FJ$10 international cash-disbursement fee for withdrawals using internationally issued cards. Check the machine's fee screen and your issuer's terms before confirming; this example does not describe every ATM.

Illustrative FJ$10 fixed ATM fee, excluding all other charges
Cash withdrawnExample operator feeFee as a share of cash
FJ$200FJ$105%
FJ$500FJ$102%

This is a fee calculation, not a promise that a machine will allow either amount. Plan withdrawals around your actual cash needs and card limits.

  • Ask your issuer about overseas use and your card's daily withdrawal limit before departure.
  • Bring a physical card and know its PIN; keep a backup payment method separately.
  • If offered conversion to your home currency, review the rate and charges before accepting. The next section explains the choice.

Paying by Card: Surcharges and Currency Conversion

Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted at larger hotels, restaurants and businesses in tourist areas. Ask your accommodation or operator about the particular card you plan to use, especially before an island stay. Bring the physical card as well as any phone wallet.

Ask About the Card Surcharge

Tourism Fiji mentions a common 3% card surcharge. The actual charge depends on the business, so ask before paying. For illustration, a 3% surcharge adds FJ$15 to a FJ$500 bill. Compare that with the full cost of obtaining the cash, including ATM and bank fees.

Choose FJD to Avoid the Merchant's Conversion Markup

A terminal or ATM may offer to charge your card in your home currency. This is dynamic currency conversion (DCC), which includes a quoted exchange rate and may include additional fees or a markup. Visa says the provider must display these details and let you choose.

Visa's travel guidance recommends paying in the local currency to avoid this markup. In Fiji, choose FJD and decline the offered home-currency conversion. Your issuer's own conversion and foreign-transaction charges may still apply.

A merchant's card surcharge, a DCC markup and your bank's fees are separate costs. See Visa's DCC explanation for the information a provider should show.

How Much Cash Should You Carry in Fiji?

Base the amount on cash-required spending until your next confirmed ATM. A prepaid resort stay needs a different plan from a homestay, village visit or island itinerary with several locally paid transfers.

  • Check what is prepaid: rooms, meals, resort transfers and tours.
  • Confirm cash-only payments: transport, food, activities or community contributions you arrange locally.
  • Count the days before your next ATM: include travel days and a possible extra night.
  • Add an extra allowance: enough for your likely changes of plan, without carrying the entire trip budget in cash.

Cash is useful at Suva Municipal Market and Lautoka Market. If choosing a Sigatoka homestay, confirm meal inclusions and payment arrangements with the host. Our Fiji trip planning guide helps you put accommodation, transfers and activities into one itinerary.

Tipping and Village Visits

Tourism Fiji says tipping is not customary; some resorts have a shared staff tip fund. A voluntary thank-you is your choice. For village visits, ask your host about the appropriate contribution or sevusevu offering beforehand and follow the local etiquette guidance.

A Practical Money Plan for Arrival and Island Transfers

  1. Before flying: save your transfer confirmation, check how the driver is paid, and verify whether you owe a hotel balance on arrival.
  2. At the airport: get cash for your first payments and check the amount and receipt.
  3. Before taking a public bus: arrange a loaded eTransport card or supported electronic payment. Cash for a taxi does not replace the bus payment system.
  4. Before boarding an island transfer: carry the cash you budgeted for the stay.

Vodafone explains Fiji's eTransport system. Our Fiji transport guide covers current card arrangements. For the Mamanucas, use the Nadi to Mamanuca ferry and transfer guide to match the journey to your resort.

Cash Declarations and Taking Money Out of Fiji

Arriving with FJ$10,000 or More

The Fiji Financial Intelligence Unit requires a declaration when entering or leaving Fiji carrying currency or bearer negotiable instruments totaling FJ$10,000 or more, or the equivalent in foreign currency. Count the combined value of the currencies you carry.

Fiji Customs' arrival guidance says to declare on the arrival card and complete the Border Currency Reporting Form when applicable. Ask Customs for the form if you meet the threshold.

Leaving with Unused Cash

Keep exchange receipts and plan reconversion of substantial leftover FJD before departure. The RBF's 2026 guidelines, page 16, specify up to FJ$500 in Fijian currency notes and foreign currency notes up to the equivalent of FJ$10,000, including that FJ$500, for foreign passport holders; amounts above these limits require RBF approval.

The declaration threshold and permission to take cash out are separate requirements. If you expect to exceed an outward limit, contact RBF or Customs before travel rather than assuming a declaration alone is sufficient. The guidelines also require evidence of funds imported for a tourist's reconversion above FJ$5,000.

Your Fiji Money Checklist

  • Check your card's overseas settings, fees and withdrawal limit.
  • Keep a backup payment method and lost-card contact separately.
  • Save exchange receipts and booking confirmations.
  • Review leftover cash and departure requirements.

If a card is lost or a payment looks suspicious, freeze the card and contact your issuer. Ask your accommodation about a payment or transport alternative. For local assistance after theft, our Fiji emergency guide lists police and other contacts.

Frequently Asked Questions

What currency is used in Fiji?

Fiji uses the Fijian dollar, currency code FJD. Prices may show FJ$, F$ or simply $. Confirm the currency when a booking website also displays Australian, New Zealand or US dollars.

Can I use Australian or US dollars in Fiji?

Some tourist businesses may accept foreign currency for a purchase, but acceptance and the conversion rate depend on the business. Use FJD for routine cash spending. Any change from an accepted foreign-currency payment must be in Fijian dollars.

Should I take cash or a card to Fiji?

Take both. A card is useful at larger businesses, while FJD cash covers markets, taxis and cash-only purchases. Before an island stay, ask your accommodation which payments need cash and whether there is an ATM.

What are ATM fees in Fiji?

There is no single fee for every ATM or foreign card. BSP publishes a FJ$10 cash-disbursement fee for internationally issued cards. Your card issuer may add its own charges. Read the fee screen before confirming a withdrawal.

Should I choose FJD or my home currency on a card terminal?

Choose FJD to avoid the merchant's dynamic currency conversion markup. Your card issuer will then handle any required conversion under its own terms. Check your card's foreign-transaction fees too.

How much cash should I bring for an outer island?

Add the payments that must be made in cash until your next confirmed ATM, including transfers, meals, activities and an extra allowance. Ask the resort what is prepaid and what can be paid by card before deciding on an amount.

Sources and Verification

FijiEco checked the official sources below for currency, payment arrangements and border rules. Exchange rates, bank charges and business payment policies can change; use the current quote or fee screen for your transaction.