All business activities, big or small that are operating in urban centres, peri-urban, remote-rural areas and maritime zones must apply and obtain a business license to legally operate under the Business License Act (Cap 204) with the relevant authorities.
Below is a summary of the Business License Application procedures for the three major centres covered under the survey, Suva, Ra & Kadavu.
| Urban – Suva | Peri-Urban Ra | Rural – Kadavu | |
| Business Licence | Application submitted to Suva City Council office with all the applicable requirements for verification and registration. | Application submitted to Provincial Administratror’s (PA) office with all the applicable requirements for verification and registration | Application submitted to PA’s office with all the applicable requirements for verification and registration |
| General inspection | A Town planning Inspector will check the location of the business to make sure that you are allowed to operate your business there. | PA will go through the application and provide his comments | PA will go through the application and provide his comments |
| Health Inspection | Inspection on premises to ensure cleanliness and safety is required by Health Inspectors before business license is issued. | Inspection by the Sub-divisional Health Inspector’s Office. If approved the applicant will have to pay for the health fees. | Health Inspector being the rural local authority representative also ensure adherence to proper OHS and structural plans |
| For businesses that engage in catering or any form of food will have to be vetted by the Health Inspector and meet requirements prior to approval. Once the endorsement is given, health fees will then be paid with Health Dept. | |||
| Urban – Suva | Peri-urban – Ra | Rural – Kadavu | |
| Finance | The application is forwarded back to finance where all approvals are verified. Once all the approvals have been granted, entrepreneurs will than pay and collect their Business License. (Costs depends on the nature of the business) | Application will be brought back to PA’s office and the applicant will be required to pay for the business license fees and collect their license to operate. | Application will be brought back to PA’s office, where the applicant will be required to pay for the business license fees and collect their license to operate. |
| Timeline | 7 to 10 working daysCan be longer for food related business. | 2 to 3 working daysNon-availability of officials can delay the process | 2 to 3 working daysNon-availability of officials can delay the process |
| Fees | Processing fees $23.00 non-refundable.License fees varies depending on the nature of the business
[Refer Appendix A] |
No Processing feeLicense fees varies depending on the nature of the business
[Refer Appendix B] |
No Processing feeLicense fees varies depending on the nature of the business |
| Requirements |
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In case the owner of a business undertakes various business activities, the owner will have to apply for a separate license for each business. This is due to the fee which varies for different business type as outlined in the fees and charges schedule.
