Fiji (FJ)

Authority: Fiji Higher Education Commission (FHEC) — hec.org.fj / fhec.org.fj — is the national body for academic qualification recognition under the Higher Education (Qualifications) Regulations 2010.

Process: Apply to FHEC via the National Information Centre (hec.org.fj/nic). Submit: certified copy of degree certificate and academic transcript, confirmation of institutional accreditation in the country of origin, and evidence that the qualification was awarded after completing the required study duration. FHEC verifies institutional registration, programme accreditation, enrolment and completion, and compares the qualification against the Fiji Qualifications Framework (FQF). Assessment is thorough — allow 4–8 weeks for straightforward cases.

Equivalency service: FHEC Recognition Service — hec.org.fj/recognition. Submit documents via the FHEC NIC portal or in person at their Suva office. FHEC applies particular scrutiny to qualifications from Asia and Africa; ensure certificates carry an institutional seal and registration number. Fee: contact FHEC directly for current schedule. For professional bodies, individual council processes apply separately.

Apostille: Fiji is a Contracting Party to the Hague Apostille Convention (accession 1970, in force 10 October 1970). Official foreign public documents (degrees, birth certificates, police clearances) from other Hague member countries should bear an apostille. The apostille is issued in the country where the document originated, not in Fiji.

Legalisation: Documents from countries not party to the Apostille Convention require full consular legalisation: authentication by the issuing country's foreign ministry, then by the Fijian Embassy or High Commission in that country (or a jointly accredited mission). Where Fiji has no diplomatic presence, authentication via a third-country mission may be necessary.

Sworn translation: As English is the official language of Fiji, documents already in English are accepted without translation. Documents in other languages must be translated into English by a recognised translator and the translation must be certified as accurate. No central national registry of sworn translators exists; certified translations by qualified professional translators (with the translator's credentials attached) are accepted.