Fijians planning to return to Fiji for personal reasons, such as visiting friends and family, will be required to pay for their mandatory 14-day quarantine.
This, according to a statement issued by the Fijian Government which stated that the Government had used over $18 million to pay quarantine costs for Fijians who returned home since March last year.
“The new charges apply to all Fijian passport holders, including Fijians who have been residing overseas and are dual passport holders or permanent residents of another country,” the statement read.
“The charges will include the cost of accommodation and meals, which will be directly payable to the quarantine facilities. These charges will depend on the quarantine facility and will average around $2200 for the entire 14-day quarantine. COVID-19 swab tests (minimum two), transfers from airport to quarantine facility, monitoring and site surveillance, will continue to be paid to the Ministry of Health and Medical Services for all repatriating Fijians.”
The statement stated that exemptions from the charges will only be considered in exceptional circumstances and approved by the Quarantine Authority of Fiji, which is the permanent secretary for Health.
Those in exemption include Fijian citizens who have travelled outside before March 28, 2020, and are now returning home, students and their approved dependents on government-sponsored or government endorsed scholarships returning after completion of studies.
Also, those patients and approved companion referred/supported by the Health Ministry to seek medical assistance/intervention overseas and Fijian citizens employed under a Government-to-Government arrangement that the Fijian Government is a party to, such as workers returning under labour schemes and also returning servicemen, Fijian Government officials, Fijian diplomats who have travelled for official purposes.
