Planning a Trip

Visitor Information

The friendly staff has many brochures, maps, and other materials available at the Tonga Visitors Bureau (TVB), P.O. Box 37, Nuku'alofa, Kingdom of Tonga (tel. 21-733; fax 23-507; www.tongaholiday.com). The office is on Vuna Road near the International Dateline Hotel. Especially good are the bureau's brochures on Tongan dancing, handicrafts, archaeology, construction skills, and a walking tour of central Nuku'alofa. A stop by the "TVB" is a must before setting out to see the country. Hours are Monday to Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm and Saturday 9am to noon.

Other sources of information are:

North America: Tonga Consulate, 360 Post St., Suite 604, San Francisco, CA 94108 (tel. 415/781-0365; fax 415/781-3964; www.tongaconsul.org)

Australia: Tonga Visitors Bureau, 642 King St., Newton, NSW 2042 (tel. 02/9519-97009; fax 02/9519-9419)

New Zealand: Tonga Visitors Bureau, P.O. Box 24-054, Royal Oak, Auckland (tel. 09/634-1519; fax 09/636-8973)

United Kingdom: Tonga High Commission, 36 Molyneux St., London W1H 6AB (tel. 0207 245828; fax 0207 239074)

Once you're in Nuku'alofa, Friends Tourist Center, on Taufa'ahau Road between Wellington and Salote roads (tel. 26-323), is another good source of information. Owned by Paul Johansson, a Tongan who lived overseas for many years, it arranges tours of the islands and has Internet access.

Entry Requirements

Visas are not required for bona fide visitors from the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and most European and South Pacific island countries. They are permitted to stay for up to 1 month, provided they have a valid passport, and proof of adequate funds. You cannot board a plane flying into Tonga unless you have a ticket out of the country.

If in doubt about whether citizens of your country need visas, contact the Immigration Department, Hale Salote Kolofo'ou, Nuku'alofa (tel. 26-970; fax 26-977; www.pmo.gov.to).

Applications for stays of longer than 30 days must be made to the principal immigration officer in Nuku'alofa.

Vaccinations are required only if you have been in a yellow fever or cholera area within 2 weeks prior to arrival in Tonga.

Customs

Visitors are allowed to bring in 500 cigarettes and 2.25 liters of spirits or 4.5 liters of wine, as well as personal belongings in use at the time of arrival. Pets, dangerous drugs, indecent materials, firearms, and ammunition are prohibited, and foodstuffs must be declared and inspected. Arriving visitors can buy duty-free merchandise at Fua'amotu Airport after clearing Immigration but before going through Customs.