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

    <documentType>3</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-09-16</periodOfReport>
    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001036960</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FAIRCHILD SEMICONDUCTOR INTERNATIONAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NYSE: FCS</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001262608</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CONRAD ROBERT J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>FAIRCHILD SEMICONDUCTOR INTERNATIONAL</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>82 RUNNING HILL ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SOUTH PORTLAND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>ME</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>04106</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>SR. VP &amp; GM</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Option to Purchase Common Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>17.70</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2011-09-02</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock, par value $.01 per share</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>30000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Deferred Stock Units</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>1988-08-08</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock, par value $.01 per share</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>15000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Options become exercisable in 25% increments on the first four anniversaries of the grant date.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Deferred stock units vest in 25% increments on the first four anniversaries of the grant date.  The expiration date field reflects 08/08/1988 as a placeholder to satisfy SEC technical filing requirements only, and in fact the deferred stock units have no expiration date.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Paul D. Delva (Attorney-in-fact)</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-09-26</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

