Press Release No. : 27/2025
Date : 02 December 2025
Press Release No 27 – Fiji’s New Polymer Banknotes Officially Unveiled by the President of Fiji His Excellency Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu
His Excellency Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu unveils Fiji’s new polymer banknote series with Governor Ariff Ali on 02 December 2025.
The Reserve Bank of Fiji (RBF) has today launched a new series of banknotes, a historic milestone in Fiji’s economic and cultural journey. The newly designed polymer banknotes with state-of-the-art security features across all denominations were officially unveiled by the President of the Republic of Fiji, His Excellency Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu today, at an event held in Suva attended by government officials, diplomats, representatives of the financial sector, business community and grass-root organisations.
In his address, His Excellency the President stated that the event is “a tangible symbol of progress in achieving our collective national vision for Progress, Prosperity, and Unity.” Progress with the unveiling of our new banknote series highlighting new designs, Prosperity as currency is a symbol of our sovereignty if managed effectively and Unity through shared ownership and pride.
His Excellency further emphasised the important role of the RBF in the prudent management of the Fijian economy, and the significant link to its currency management function. “What we celebrate today is not just the ink and the new design, but that the value of the Fiji dollar printed on paper or polymer, is strong, and reflects the strength of our economy”, he remarked.
To ensure relevance of these factors over time, the RBF conducts a comprehensive review typically around every 10 years driven by an internal technical committee and guided by its board of directors. Polymer banknotes are cleaner and more hygienic offering greater durability in terms of banknote life with reduced overall quantity requirements, saving costs to the nation. The new polymer banknotes are layered with a combination of inherent observable and hidden security features creating distinctive points for authentication and improved protection against counterfeiting. As a progressive central bank, RBF is committed to upholding the trust of our people.
The new banknote series feature new designs on the reverse of the notes, while retaining the same primary colours and the existing front designs. They include new vignettes that strives to showcase Fiji’s identity as a nation, its people, resources and national heritage. A significant feature is the transition of all banknotes now to polymer, similar to the current $5 banknote.
The new $5 now features an endangered turtle found in Fiji, the Vonu Dina (green turtle). The $10 features children planting mangrove along the coastline. The $20 features the esteemed RBF Building. The $50 features a Girmitiya lady with the vessel “Leonidas” in the background. Finally, the $100 features the imagery of an i-Taukei man in traditional attire holding a bilo (bowl) of kava.
In delivering his welcome address at the launch event, the Governor of the RBF, Mr Ariff Ali, stated that the process of designing notes and enhancing security features of our currency is not a simple exercise; it requires time for extensive research and meticulous planning, noting that the process that led to today’s launch started back in 2021. The 2025 banknote series launch is particularly significant, marking the first time the RBF engaged a new banknote supplier, Crane Currency. With over 200 years of heritage in the banknote industry, Crane Currency has an incredible depth of expertise in banknote design, paper making and banknote printing.
Governor Ali stated that the RBF’s key mandates of macroeconomic and financial stability stem directly from our ability to govern the value of Fiji’s currency highlighting that “through the regulation of money supply, setting interest rates, and other monetary policy and financial stability tools, the RBF works toward economic stability, containing inflation and managing currency value.”
In support of the Government’s on-going climate change initiatives, the Bank has undertaken to off-set carbon emissions from the production of these new banknotes toward a local community project, providing solar energy access to the village of Nakida, in the Province of Naitasiri. Furthermore, being committed to sustainability efforts, the Bank looks forward to recycling the polymer confetti (shredded worn out banknotes) into recycled products as an initiative towards a sustainable future.
The new banknotes will be issued into circulation from 02 January 2026. The current design banknotes will be gradually withdrawn from circulation over the year and demonetised on 31 December 2026. Special numismatic collector sets are also available for purchase through the Reserve Bank.
Please Click Here to view the following: –
- Unveiling of Fiji’s New Polymer Banknotes by His Excellency Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu
- Design features of Fiji’s New Polymer Banknotes
- Security features of Fiji’s new Polymer Banknotes
RESERVE BANK OF FIJI
For further details, please contact:-
Communications Office
Telephone: (679) 3223 381 Email: info@rbf.gov.fj
Mr Mervin Singh – Manager Corporate Communications
Telephone: (679) 3223 229 Email: mervin@rbf.gov.fj