Visitor Information & Maps

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., Ste. 604, San Francisco, CA 94108 (tel. 415/781-0365; fax 415/781-3964; secretary@sfconsulate.gov.to).
  • Australia: Sione Pinomi, Marketing Representative (tel. 04/1461-1080; jpinomi@hotmail.com)
  • New Zealand: Will Ilolahia, Marketing Representative (tel. 0276-368357; fax 09/629-0826; will@waiatatrust.co.nz)
  • United Kingdom: Tonga Consulate, 36 Molyneux St., London W1H 6AB (tel. 0207 245828; fax 0207 239074; snkioa@tongahighcom.co.uk)

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

Passports & Visas -- Every visitor must have a valid passport. Visas are issued upon arrival for 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-affected area within 2 weeks prior to arrival in Tonga.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.