Tonga, also known as the Friendly Islands, is one of the unique destinations in the Pacific. Unlike all other monarchies, it is the only monarchy in the Pacific that has never completely lost its independence. The island consists of 171 islands (coral and volcanic). The total area of Tonga is 747 square kilometers, and 48 of those islands are inhabited.
The unique culture and traditions of Tonga attract thousands of people from various parts of the world here per year. There is no doubt that plenty of our readers wants to travel to Tonga. Before visiting Tonga, they must handle several issues, and one of the most crucial ones is the visa to Tonga.
- What is the cost of a Tonga visa?
- Do I need a visa for Tonga?
Tonga visa policy
Although I will talk about tourist visas, there are various visa types for visiting Tonga. Depending on the purpose of the visit you can choose one of them. While making your application, you should check the details for each type because each of them has some unique terms. Available visa types for visiting Tonga are:
- Visa on Arrival. Certain nationalities can apply for a visa on arrival for short-term visits. If the applicant stays in the country maximum of 30 days, he (she) will not pay a visa charge. On the other hand, people who want to stay more than a month must pay 504 USD. You will get your visa at Fua'amotu International Airport.
- Visitor visa
- Student visa. International students who desire to study in Tonga can apply for a student visa. Of course, they must fit the Tonga visa requirement. First of all, candidates should obtain an acceptance letter from one of the institutions in Tonga.
- Employment visa. It allows you to work in the public or private sector for a wide range of time. The application fee for a visa varies between 75-230 USD. It depends on nationality or country of submission.
- Business visa. The person or the company that wants to start a business in Tonga can apply for a Business visa. They will make a standard visa application, provide documents and pay the visa fee between 100-345 USD.
- Assured Income visa. It is for people who have income from a pension, property from an overseas source, and want to retire in Tonga. Assured Income visa is valid for two years, and it is renewable.
- Temporary Residency visa. Foreign citizens who want to live in Tonga can apply for residency visas without undergoing entry visa procedures.
If you want to learn more information about the Tonga visa policy, you can check the 'Services' section on our website.
Do I need a visa for Tonga?
If you are familiar with visa procedures, then you heard about the visa-waiver program. It is a special agreement between countries that allows their citizens to travel without any visa procedure. So, before making an application, you should check the Tonga visa free countries list. Keep in mind that visa-free nationalities have a right to stay in the country for a short period. If they want to stay for a long term, they must apply for one of the long-stay visas. Tonga visa free countries are:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- United Arab Emirates
Application Steps
To obtain a visa to Tonga, you should follow several steps. First of all, you should choose the type of visa that matches the purpose of the visit. Flowingly, you can begin to collect the required documents. You will get the list of documents in the following heading. After obtaining all documents, you will pay the charge and attend the interview. Where to apply for a visa? You can realize your application for a tourist visa in visa application centers, embassies, or consulates (it may vary depending on the country). Can I get a tourist visa online? If you want to obtain a tourist visa online, you can get detailed information via the Services section.
Required documents
Only the applicants who comply with the Tonga visa requirements will be able to visit the country. Documentation has a crucial place among visa terms. You should present all the documents on the list. Providing fake documents or not providing them will end with rejection. The best way of avoiding problems related to papers is by preparing a checklist. As the required documents for a tourist visa is not many, your list will be short. You will need to present the following documents during the application procedure.
- Application form. All candidates must fill out the form, sign, and date.
- Two photos. The photos you present must have the following features: passport format, light background, colored, 3.5x4.5 size, etc. Your face must cover 70-80% of the image, and you should look at the camera with neutral facial expressions and avoid to dress clothes that can match the background.
- Passport. The provided document must be valid at least 180 days beyond the departure date and must have at least two free visa pages.
- Copy of the main page of the passport
- Copy of Identity Card
- Residency permit or Visa copy (If residence and citizenship is different)
- Return ticket
- Financial means. All visitors must have enough funds to cover all expenses during the trip. Tourists should consider accommodation, transport, eating, and other crucial things. You can calculate the estimated amount of money through the websites that show the daily expenses, food prices, and other details for each country.
- Documents of children if they accompany you
- You may need some other documents during the application.
What is the cost for a Tonga visa?
One of the most asked questions is related to the cost of the Tonga Tourist Visa. How much does it cost? Today, the fee changes between 65-80 USD. Take into consideration that the visa charge may vary depending on the nationality. Plus, you may need to pay some additional fees during the application procedure.
Visa interview
Everyone who wants to apply for tourist visa must attend an interview. The interview will be the last step before the processing. During the interview, candidates will answer various questions related to their purpose of the visit, personal life, and so on. The main purpose of the interview is to be sure that the applicant fits all requirements and can visit the country. How can I prepare for an interview? You can search for some information about the country and organize a plan for yourself because some of the questions can be about the places that you plan to visit. You can search for reviews of previous visitors or potential questions. Plus, you can get a question about your friends or relatives who live in Tonga. Preparing beforehand will make you feel more relaxed and confident.
The processing time of the Tonga Tourist Visa
After finishing all application steps, you will need to wait for processing. How long does the processing take? In general, it takes one or two weeks, but it may last longer depending on the workload, nationality, and other nuances. At the end of processing, the embassy will call you by phone, or you will get an email from the embassy.
Reasons for rejection
It is no secret that not all applications end successfully. What are the reasons for failure? The cause of visa rejection can be related to various nuances.
- Missing documents. As we mentioned above, documentation is a crucial part of the procedure. So, before making your application be sure that you have all the needed papers.
- Fake documents. Unfortunately, several people want to cheat in the documentation process and provide fake documents. Such kinds of attempts will end with rejection.
- Financial means. Each tourist must have enough money to cover his (her) expenses. At least you must have a sponsor who can finance your trip. If you don't have both, the application will be unsuccessful.
Why travel to Tonga?
After giving information about how to apply for a tourist visa, I would like to tell you why you should travel. Undoubtedly, the reasons may vary depending on the person, but meeting a new culture and traditions is always fun. In the modern world, finding unique and untouched things is really hard. Unfortunately, many people lost their heritage through the centuries. Thankfully, Tonga is not one of those examples. Citizens of the country have been keeping a rich cultural inheritance for centuries. While meeting with people, enjoying local cuisine, watching local dances, and listening to local music, you will feel the soul of Tonga deeply. What are the best attractions of Tonga? There are plenty of things to do and see in Tonga, but some of the places that you should definitely add to your list are:
- Nuku’alofa (the capital city of the country)
- Ha'amonga 'a Maui (the historic site that was built in 1200 AD)
- Mapu ‘a Vaea Blowholes
- Swallows Cave
