Visitors to Tonga must obtain a visa unless they come from one of the visa exempt countries or countries eligible for visa on arrival. Visa applications must be sent to the Principal Immigration Officer in Nuku'alofa. All visitors must hold a passport valid for 6 months.
The same policy applies to holders of diplomatic or service passports of China.
Mutual visa waiver agreements[]
European Union: Tonga signed a mutual visa-waiver agreement with the European Union on 20 November 2015 which was applied on a provisional basis as from the day following the date of signature and fully ratified on 8 June 2016. This agreement allows all citizens of states that are contracting parties to the Schengen Agreement to stay without a visa for a maximum period of 90 days in any 180-day period.[2]
China: Mutual visa-waiver agreement was signed between the Chinese and Tongan governments on June 9, 2016 and is in force from 19 August 2016.[3] The agreement allows citizens of the respective countries to stay for 30 days without a visa.[4]
Israel: Mutual visa-waiver agreement signed between the Israeli and Tongan governments has been in force since April 2017.[5]
United Arab Emirates: A memorandum of understanding was signed in April 2018 and entered into force on 24 May 2018 allowing citizens of the United Arab Emirates holding all types of passports visa-free entry up to 60 days.[6]
1British Overseas Territories. 2 Open border with Schengen Area. 3 Russia is included as a European country here because the majority of its population (80%) lives in European Russia. 4 These countries span the conventional boundary between Europe and Asia. 5 Part of the Realm of New Zealand. 6 Partially recognized. 7Unincorporated territory of the United States. 8 Part of Norway, not part of the Schengen Area, special open-border status under Svalbard Treaty.
9 Part of the Kingdom of Denmark, not part of the Schengen Area.
10Egypt spans the boundary between North Africa and the Middle East.
1British Overseas Territories.
2 Part of the Schengen Area.
3 Open border with Schengen Area.
4Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, Kazakhstan and the partially recognised republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia each span the conventional boundary between Europe and Asia.
5Cyprus, Armenia, and the partially recognised republics of Artsakh and Northern Cyprus are entirely in Southwest Asia but have socio-political connections with Europe.
6Egypt spans the boundary between North Africa and the Middle East.
7 Partially recognized.
8 Part of the Kingdom of Denmark, not part of the Schengen Area.
9 Russia has territory in both Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. The vast majority of its population (80%) lives in European Russia.
10 Part of the Nordic Passport Union.
European Union: Tonga signed a mutual visa-waiver agreement with the European Union on 20 November 2015 which was applied on a provisional basis as from the day following the date of signature and fully ratified on 8 June 2016. This agreement allows all citizens of states that are contracting parties to the Schengen Agreement to stay without a visa for a maximum period of 90 days in any 180-day period.[2]
China: Mutual visa-waiver agreement was signed between the Chinese and Tongan governments on June 9, 2016 and is in force from 19 August 2016.[3] The agreement allows citizens of the respective countries to stay for 30 days without a visa.[4]
Israel: Mutual visa-waiver agreement signed between the Israeli and Tongan governments has been in force since April 2017.[5]
United Arab Emirates: A memorandum of understanding was signed in April 2018 and entered into force on 24 May 2018 allowing citizens of the United Arab Emirates holding all types of passports visa-free entry up to 60 days.[6]