Tonga visa on arrival

The waiver list published by the Embassy of Tonga in Beijing covers, among others, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, China, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Israel, Brazil, the Russian Federation, Ukraine, Turkey, most European Union states and the Pacific countries and territories. The Ministry of Revenue and Customs, whose officers staff passport control, publishes its own list of nationalities given a 30-day visitor visa on arrival; check that your nationality appears on it before you travel.

Since November 2015, nationals of Schengen member states have been able to visit Tonga visa-free for up to 90 days at a time, matching the access Tongan passport holders have to the Schengen area. Citizens of countries not on the list need written authority before travelling and use the entry visa process instead.

On arrival at any of Tonga's international airports, go straight to a customs officer at the passport control booths for immigration clearance. Your passport must be valid for at least six months when you enter. The visa on arrival is granted on condition that you hold a valid return ticket out of the Kingdom to a country you are permitted to enter and that the officer is satisfied you have enough money to maintain yourself while in Tonga.

Under section 10 of the Immigration Act, a visitor's permit is issued when the Principal Immigration Officer is satisfied that you hold a ticket or other means of travelling on to a country you can enter. It allows a stay of at most six months, beyond which an extension is possible only in special circumstances with the consent of Cabinet. While in Tonga a visitor must not take up employment without written permission, must not marry without written consent and must provide any security in cash or otherwise that the officer demands.

The visitor's visa can be extended up to six months in total. Extensions are handled by the Immigration Department at its offices in Nuku'alofa, in the Immigration Department building on Salote Road, and in Neiafu, Vava'u, on the first floor of the Tonga Development Bank building. Keep the visa valid at all times: the Immigration Division's checklists list a TOP 1,150 penalty fee for overstaying, and people in breach of the Immigration Act may be prosecuted and face imprisonment, a fine or both.

It is illegal to take up employment, run a business or study on a visitor's visa. Anyone planning to set up a business or obtain an employment visa who enters as a visitor must notify Tonga Immigration in advance and in writing; otherwise a fee is charged on adjusting status, TOP 1,150 on the Immigration Division's checklists and T$1,180 on the Embassy in Beijing's visitor page.

Anyone refused a visitor's permit may, within 30 days of being notified, appeal by written petition to the Prime Minister, whose decision is final. A permit obtained by false representation or concealment of a material fact can be cancelled, and a person who remains after a cancellation without being otherwise authorised commits an offence.

The Immigration Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is on Salote Road, Nuku'alofa, telephone +676 26969 or 26970. For entry permit questions the Ministry of Revenue and Customs gives the address tongapermit@gmail.com.