Funeral repatriation route guide
Repatriation from Australia to Fiji
For families bringing someone home to Fiji. Send the details any time and we will take it from there.
Quick answer
Repatriation from Australia to Fiji: what to expect
Australia has the largest Fijian diaspora community outside the Pacific, with a well-established Fijian-Australian population in Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane, drawn by work, study, and family migration. Australia is also a major source of tourists and investors in Fiji. The Australia-Fiji repatriation corridor is among the most active in the Pacific. When a Fijian national dies in Australia and their family wishes to repatriate remains to Fiji, the death is registered with the state or territory Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM) registry. The Fiji High Commission in Canberra can advise on documentation requirements. Fiji is not a Hague Apostille Convention member; full consular authentication is required.
- Key document: death certificate (in English)
- Documentation takes 5-10 days. Appoint a specialist on day one.
- Death must be registered with the state or territory Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM) registry promptly.
- Fiji Embassy in Canberra can advise on documentation. They cannot fund repatriation.
Step by step
Timeline: Australia to Fiji
Immediate steps after death
Day of death. Call 000 (police, fire, ambulance) for local emergency services, and contact the embassy or consulate of the person's own country.
Family or travel insurer
Death registered. Death certificate obtained.
Death must be registered with the state or territory Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM) registry. Sudden, violent, or unexplained deaths (coroner takes jurisdiction) may delay this step.
Local funeral director and registry
Fiji Embassy in Canberra notified
Simultaneous with Step 1. Embassy provides a list of local funeral directors.
Family or repatriation specialist
Embalming and preparation.
After body released by authorities.
Licensed local funeral director
All export documentation and permits obtained.
Allow 5-10 days. Cannot begin until death certificate issued.
Local funeral director and authorities
Air cargo to Fiji
Once all documentation complete.
Repatriation specialist and airline cargo
Fiji funeral director takes custody. Receiving funeral director coordinates with local authorities.
Within 24 hours of arrival.
Receiving funeral director
The process
What happens after a death in Australia
Call 000 for emergency services. Death is certified by a registered medical practitioner. The death is registered with the state or territory Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM) registry. The coroner takes jurisdiction for sudden, violent, or unexplained deaths. Australia is a Hague Apostille Convention member. The registration process is straightforward; the coroner's release is the main cause of delay in complex cases.
Common questions
FAQs: repatriation from Australia to Fiji
In a straightforward case, repatriation from Australia to Fiji takes 3-5 weeks. The fastest cases complete in 2-3 weeks. Complex cases can take 8-12 weeks or longer.
Death must be registered with the state or territory Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM) registry promptly. Sudden, violent, or unexplained deaths (coroner takes jurisdiction) may add time before the body can be released.
The core documents are: death certificate with certified translation where required, embalming certificate, export permit, freedom from infection certificate, and passport of the deceased. Your repatriation coordinator handles obtaining these on your behalf.
The Fiji Embassy in Canberra can assist with document authentication and advise on repatriation requirements. They cannot pay for or arrange repatriation. Contact the Fiji Embassy in Canberra as soon as possible after the death.
Sudden, violent, or unexplained deaths (coroner takes jurisdiction) may trigger a post-mortem examination. This adds time: the body cannot be released until the authorities authorise it.
The Fiji funeral director takes custody at Nadi International Airport (NAN) or Suva Nausori Airport (SUV) cargo terminal. The Registrar-General's Office under the Ministry of Justice registers the death and issues a death certificate in English. All foreign documents require consular authentication before submission to Fiji authorities. Fiji is not a Hague Apostille Convention member. Fiji is a Commonwealth member. An embalming certificate and hermetically sealed coffin are required.
Cremation in Australia is widely available in all states and territories. You will need the local death certificate, cremation certificate, and relevant export documentation. Your repatriation specialist can advise on the current position.
In Fiji
When the body arrives in Fiji
The Fiji funeral director takes custody at Nadi International Airport (NAN) or Suva Nausori Airport (SUV) cargo terminal. Death registration in Fiji is handled by the Registrar-General's Office under the Ministry of Justice. Death certificates are issued in English. Fiji is not a Hague Apostille Convention member; full consular authentication of all foreign documents is required by Fiji authorities. Fiji is a Commonwealth member. An embalming certificate and hermetically sealed coffin are required for international air transport.
Consular support
The Fiji High Commission or Embassy in Canberra can advise on documentation requirements for repatriation to Fiji. Fiji is not a Hague Apostille Convention member; full consular authentication is required for all foreign documents. The High Commission cannot pay for or arrange repatriation. Contact the Registrar-General's Office in Fiji for civil registration queries.
Related guides
More repatriation guidance
We are here to help. Send us the details, any time
If your loved one has died in Australia, please do not face this alone. Send us the details and we will explain what happens next and prepare a quote for bringing them home to Fiji.
Reviewed by the Repatriate Service editorial team. Information sourced from official government and embassy guidance and professional repatriation experience. Facts last checked September 2026; page updated .
Sources: Official guidance on a death in Australia (gov.uk) · Australia repatriation guide · Frequently asked questions