Byevisa » Tonga Tourist Visa

A visa is required. We cannot assist in processing this document, but we provide instructions on how to apply.

All About the Tonga Visa

Do you intend to visit the beautiful Pacific nation of Tonga? Fortunately, the Kingdom is a welcoming place. Of the nearly 200 countries in the world, citizens of about 70 nations are either visa-free or can get a Visa on Arrival (VoA) at the airport. This includes travellers from the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union (EU), Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Notably, your entry permit is for tourism, rather than to work.

On the other hand, if you come from any of the other 130 or so nations on Earth, then you need to get a Visitor Permit before your trip. This Permit comes in the form of a Letter of Authorisation from the Department of Immigration of the Kingdom. This applies to visitors from India, Africa and much of South America. On this page, we explain exactly what you need to do to qualify for the Visitor Permit.

At present, Tonga does not offer an eVisa (Electronic Visa), and as such Byevisa.com cannot help you obtain one. That said, we have researched the processes to apply for the VoA and the Visitor Permit, which we explain below. Read on to learn how to obtain your entry pass to this Polynesian kingdom made up of over 170 islands!

What Is the Difference Between Tonga Visa Exemption, the Visa on Arrival and the Visitor Permit?

Visa Exemption

If you’re visa-free for Tonga, this means that you don’t need to apply for an entry permit ahead of your journey.

Check Visa Eligibility

Over 30 jurisdictions require no visa to enter, as follows:

  • European Union except Ireland (90 days entry within 180 days)
  • China (30 days)
  • Iceland (90 days entry within 180 days)
  • Israel (90 days)
  • Liechtenstein (90 days entry within 180 days)
  • Norway (90 days entry within 180 days)
  • Switzerland (90 days entry within 180 days)
  • United Arab Emirates (60 days)

Notably, even if you’re visa-exempt, you still need your passport. This must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your arrival and have at least 1 blank page for the entry stamp.

Also, if you are from a visa-exempt country and intend to stay beyond your permitted time period, then you must apply for a visa.

Visa on Arrival (VoA)

Almost 40 countries are eligible for a VoA to enter Tonga. These are issued at the immigration desk once you’ve gotten off your plane. You’ll need to provide some supporting documents, which we list below, and your entry pass is issued there and then. You’ll find the process pretty straightforward and friendly.

The VoA permits you to enter Tonga for up to 31 days, although your entry pass can also be extended for up to 6 months. Fortunately, there’s no fee for the VoA.

The countries eligible for the VoA are:

Australia Bahamas Barbados
Brazil Brunei Canada
Dominica Fiji Hong Kong
Ireland Japan Kiribati
Macao Malaysia Marshall Islands
Micronesia Monaco Nauru
New Zealand Palau Papua New Guinea
Russia Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa Seychelles
Singapore Solomon Islands South Korea
Turkey Tuvalu Ukraine
United Kingdom United States of America Vanuatu

To obtain a VoA, you need to provide:

  • Your passport, which should be valid for a further 6 months beyond your arrival and have at least 1 blank page for your entry stamp.
  • An onward air or sea ticket out of Tonga.
  • Proof of adequate funds to support yourself during your stay, such as a printed copy of a recent bank statement.

Importantly, if you plan to stay here beyond 31 days, then you will need to apply for a visa.

Visitor Permit

If you’re neither visa-free nor eligible for a VoA, then you must apply for a Visitor Permit to enter this country. We explain how in the following section. Like with the VoA, the Permit allows you to visit for up to 31 days as standard.

Tonga Visa or Visitor Permit Application Process

Tonga is a very small country with a population of a little over 100,000 people. As such, if you come from a country that requires a Visitor Permit, then there’s a high likelihood that you’ll have to apply online for your entry document. This is because Tonga has very few international embassies.

To apply online, you must contact the Immigration Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Fortunately, getting in contact with the Immigration Department is not as scary as it sounds. Here are the contact details:

Immigration Division
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Government of the Kingdom of Tonga
P.D. Box 352
Salote Road
Nuku’alofa
Phone (676) 26969
Fax (676) 26971
Email: tupou.v@gmail.com

You submit your application for a Visitor Permit by email to visatonga@gmail.com.

Alternatively, if you would prefer to speak to someone face to face, Tonga’s Immigration Department says that its diplomatic missions in London and Beijing issue entry permits in-person to people from other countries too.

If you are eligible for a Visitor Permit, this arrives in the form of a Letter of Authorisation from the Immigration Department, which is the equivalent of a visa. When you receive this, you must print a copy to take with you on your journey.

Tonga Visa/Visitor Permit Requirements and Eligibility

As we state above, if you come from one of the 130 or so countries that’s neither visa-exempt nor eligible for a VoA, then you must apply in advance through the Immigration Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

To have your Visitor Permit approved, you will need to provide the Immigration Division with the following supporting documents:

  • A scanned copy of your passport.
  • A duly completed application form:
    • Incomplete forms will result in either a delay or rejection.
    • The content of the application form is detailed in the next section.
  • Documented proof of your reason for visiting the Kingdom. It is best to put this in a letter, which must be original and should be dated.
  • Proof of your travel plans into and out of the Kingdom.
  • Proof that you can financially support yourself during your period of stay.
  • A faxed or e-mailed copy of your signature.
  • An itinerary of where you plan to visit, including any of the smaller islands in the Kingdom of Tonga. This should detail where you are staying and for how long.
  • Evidence of any visas previously granted.
  • Details of a local sponsor or counterpart. He or she may be called upon to have a personal interview to support your application.

As you might expect, you will include your contact details in your application. In addition, though, these should be stated in the main body of the email you send to the Immigration Department too.

Also, It is important to note that the Immigration Department prefers as few attachments as possible in online submissions. As such, try and group your supporting documentation into a single attachment. This will help your application and speed up the process.

Tonga Visa Forms and Documents

The Visitor Permit application form is just a 2-page document, asking for straightforward travel information:

  • Personal information:
    • Name
    • Date of birth
    • Passport number
    • Passport issue and expiry dates
    • Nationality
    • Country of permanent residency
    • Marital status
    • Gender
  • Contact information:
    • Mobile phone number
    • Email address
  • Trip specific information:
    • Purpose of your visit
    • Date of arrival
    • Date of departure
    • Length of stay
      Address in Tonga

The prices are detailed below. You do not pay when you apply online for a Visitor Permit, but rather you pay when you arrive in the Kingdom and your permit has been approved.

As stated above, your permit will come in the form of a Letter of Authorisation from the Immigration Department. This then allows you entry here, at which point your passport will be stamped.

Tonga Visa Status Check

There is no online status checker available, so you will have to either call or e-mail the Immigration Department to enquire about your application. To do this, here are the Department’s contact details again:

Immigration Division
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Government of the Kingdom of Tonga
P.D. Box 352
Salote Road
Nuku’alofa
Phone (676) 26969
Fax (676) 26971
Email: tupou.v@gmail.com

How Much Is a Tonga Visa?

The fee depends on the type of Visitor Permit you are applying for. It does not vary depending on your nationality.

Type
Fixed Fee
Standard 46.00 Tongan Pa’anga (about 20 USD)
Business 230.00 Tongan Pa’anga (about 100 USD)
Student 57.50 USD, money order payable to the Tonga Consulate General
Residency 115 USD per adult over 18 years (or 54.50 USD for under 18s), money order payable to the Tonga Consulate General

Most Visitor Permits are paid for on arrival at the immigration desk at the airport. Alternatively, your local contact can prepay your application in person on your behalf at the Immigration Department in the capital city of Nuku’alofa.

More Tonga Visa Questions and Information

The information above should have prepared you for everything you need to obtain entry to the Kingdom. If you have more questions, then the drop-down menu below can answer them!

If you're visa-free, then how long you're allowed to stay depends on your nationality. Meanwhile, both the VoA and the Visitor Permit allow visits of up to 31 days as standard, although they can be extended.
The standard processing time after making an online submission for a Visitor Permit is 5 working days. There is no same-day service.
A Visitor Permit takes 5 days to process and is valid for 31 days. As such, try to apply at least 5 days ahead of but less than 31 days before your journey.
The immigration department will usually explain to you why an application has been denied. They may allow you to reapply, correcting any errors or omissions.
Your permission to enter will take the form of an Authorisation Letter from the Immigration Department. As such, it is important to bring a printed copy of this letter, and copies of your supporting documents such as proof of your flight and accommodation bookings.
This won’t happen. Your application to get into Tonga won’t be approved unless your passport is in order before you are admitted to the country. If any issues arise, then reach out to your embassy or consulate.
Because Tonga is a small country, it does not have many international embassies or consulates. As such, the best bet to apply is to email the Immigration Department at tupou.v@gmail.com.
If you have a 31-day passport stamp that is close to expiry, then you should report to the Immigration Office to have your legal stay extended. This applies to either an embassy-issued Visitor Permit or the VoA.

The Immigration Officer can be contacted at the Immigration Division:

Head of Immigration Division Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nuku’alofa PO Box 821 tonga.permit@gmail.com

You can take up to 10,000 Pa'anga in cash into or out of the Kingdom. This is roughly equivalent to 4,500 USD.
If you’re travelling for formal study as a student, for a business relationship, or for a residency application, then you will need to apply for a visa and complete some other documents. These can all be obtained in advance from the Tongan Immigration Department.

Residency permits require documentation regarding your means to financially support yourself. Meanwhile, all business permits require a letter of support from the Ministry of Labour, Commerce & Industries (MLCI).

Here's what the entry stamp for Tonga looks like in your passport: Tonga Visa Sample
Listed below are some related links about travel to this amazing nation of over 170 islands!
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