<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-09-30</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000866374</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FLEXTRONICS INTERNATIONAL LTD</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FLEX</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001008463</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TAN LIP BU</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O WALDEN INTERNATIONAL</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE CALIFORNIA STREET, SUITE 2800</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN FRANCISCO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94111</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>14.22</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-09-30</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>6165</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>14.22</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2008-09-30</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Ordinary Shares</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>6165</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>31165</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The option vests and becomes exercisable with respect to 25% of the shares one year after the date of grant and thereafter continues to vest and become exercisable as to 1/48th of the total shares each month thereafter.  </footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Tim Stewart, Tim Stewart signing under Power of Attorney in fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-10-24</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

