Before you travel
No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to:
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If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.
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This information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of Tonga’s current rules for the most common types of travel.
The authorities in Tonga set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Tongan High Commission in London.
Telephone: 020 7724 5828
Email: office@tongahighcom.co.uk
Passport validity requirements
To enter Tonga, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive.
Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.
You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.
Visa requirements
You can visit Tonga without a pre-arranged visa for up to 30 days. Border officials will issue a free visa on when you arrive. You may need to show:
- an onward or return ticket
- sufficient funds – a bank statement is acceptable evidence
- confirmed accommodation such as a hotel booking or letter of invitation
Extending your visa
To extend your stay, contact the Tonga Immigration Department. Make sure you do not overstay your visa.
Vaccine requirements
For details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s Tonga guide.
Customs rules
There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Tonga. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty, including all plant, animal and food products.
You must also declare any personal valuables worth 500 Tongan pa’angas (about £160) or more.
Taking money into Tonga
Declare cash or travellers cheques on the customs declaration form if the value is more than 10,000 pa’angas. You may need to pay duty.
Terrorism
There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times.
UK Counter Terrorism Policing has information and advice on staying safe abroad and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack. Find out how to reduce your risk from terrorism while abroad.
Terrorism in Tonga
Although there’s no recent history of terrorism in Tonga, attacks cannot be ruled out.
Crime
Protecting yourself and your belongings
The level of serious crime is low, but petty theft is fairly common. To protect yourself and your property:
- do not leave bags unattended
- use hotel safes or deposit boxes for passports and valuables
- stay in well-lit and populated areas after dark
- keep villas and hotel rooms locked and secure
Laws and cultural differences
Customs and dress code
Tongan society is very conservative and highly religious. People strictly observe the Sabbath. On Sundays, local people may consider recreational activities to be disrespectful. This does not apply to island resorts.
Topless sunbathing and nudity in public is illegal. You could be fined up to 100 pa’angas or get a prison sentence of up to 4 months if you refuse to pay.
Swimwear is acceptable on the beach or by streams and waterfalls, but in other areas it is likely to receive negative attention.
Mobile phone coverage
You can buy a local SIM card at the airport. You register it by giving your personal ID. Network coverage is usually reliable in towns, but can be patchy in rural locations.
Alcohol laws and bans
It’s illegal to drink alcohol in public except at bars or restaurants. The legal drinking age is 21. It is illegal for anyone aged 20 or under to buy alcohol. Drunken behaviour is likely to receive negative attention from locals.
Illegal drugs and prison sentences
Drug taking in all forms is illegal. The maximum penalty for importing or exporting illegal drugs is 30 years’ hard labour and fines of several hundred thousand US dollars. If you are found guilty of cultivating or distributing illegal drugs, you are likely to receive a severe punishment.
LGBT+ travellers
Same-sex sexual activity between men is illegal in Tonga and the law is occasionally enforced. Same-sex partners showing affection in public may receive negative attention.
Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers.
Outdoor activities and adventure tourism
Swimming and surfing safety
Take local advice before swimming or surfing. Tonga’s tides can produce powerful currents in ocean lagoons. There have been fatal accidents on popular beaches.
Many waves break directly on to reefs. The sea and beaches may have loose rocks and other debris resulting from the underwater eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano. Take extra care when swimming.
For more advice, see water safety on holiday from the Royal Life Saving Society.
Scuba diving
Before scuba diving, check you are covered by your insurance. You should also:
- ask for the dive operator’s credentials
- make sure safety equipment and oxygen is available on the boat
- check for damage before using any equipment
- insist on training and ask operators to explain safe practices
- check what to do if something goes wrong, including how to call for help while at sea
There is currently no hyperbaric chamber on Tonga, so get advice from your dive instructor or dive team.
Whale boats
Thousands of whales frequent the waters of Tonga every year between June and November. There are strict regulations on whale watching. It is illegal to swim or kayak with whales unless you are on a licensed boat with a certified guide. If convicted, you could get a fine of up to 5,000 pa’angas or an 18-month prison sentence – or both. The authorities can apply these penalties to a first-time offence.
Transport risks
Road travel
If you are planning to drive in Tonga, see information on driving abroad. You can drive using your UK driving licence.
Roads are generally in good condition, but inland they can be narrow and potholed. Speed limits are low and traffic police can issue on-the-spot fines if you exceed them. All drivers and front seat passengers must wear seatbelts. It is illegal to use a mobile phone while driving.
When driving near villages watch for children and animals on the roads. Avoid driving at night as roads are poorly lit and hazards such as livestock and pedestrians make driving very dangerous.
Sea travel
Safety at sea, particularly on board older vessels, is a concern in Tonga. Ferries do not follow normal safety regulations and are often overloaded. Consider carrying your own lifejacket.
Air travel
Severe weather can cause flight delays and cancellations. Stay in touch with your travel provider.
Extreme weather and natural disasters
Find out what you can do to prepare for and respond to extreme weather and natural hazards.
Tropical cyclones
The tropical cyclone season normally runs from November to April, but cyclones can happen throughout the year. Severe weather may cause floods, landslides, road closures and disrupt essential services and infrastructure. Take local advice and monitor local and international weather updates from World Meteorological Organization or Tonga Meteorological Services.
Earthquakes and tsunamis
Tonga is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, a zone of frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Earthquakes and volcanic activity can happen at any time and trigger tsunamis. Check tsunami alerts for the region.
The US Federal Emergency Management Agency website has advice about what to do before, during and after an earthquake or tsunami.
Before you travel check that:
- your destination can provide the healthcare you may need
- you have appropriate travel insurance for local treatment or unexpected medical evacuation
This is particularly important if you have a health condition or are pregnant.
Emergency medical number
Call 933 and ask for an ambulance.
Contact your insurance company quickly if you’re referred to a medical facility for treatment.
Vaccine recommendations and health risks
At least 8 weeks before your trip:
See what health risks you’ll face in Tonga, including:
Medication
The legal status and regulation of some medicines prescribed or bought in the UK can be different in other countries.
Read best practice when travelling with medicines on TravelHealthPro.
Healthcare in Tonga
Health facilities in Tonga are basic. The range of drugs available is limited and modern equipment is in short supply. Medical evacuation from Tonga is required for most non-basic medical problems.
Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation.
Travel and mental health
Read FCDO guidance on travel and mental health. There is also mental health guidance on TravelHealthPro.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) cannot provide tailored advice for individual trips. Read this travel advice and carry out your own research before deciding whether to travel.
Emergency services in Tonga
Telephone: 911 (ambulance, fire, police)
Fire: 999
Police: 922
Ambulance: 933
Contact your travel provider and your insurer if you are involved in a serious incident or emergency abroad. They will tell you if they can help and what you need to do.
Refunds and changes to travel
For refunds or changes to travel, contact your travel provider. You may also be able to make a claim through insurance. However, insurers usually require you to talk to your travel provider first.
Find out more about changing or cancelling travel plans, including:
- where to get advice if you are in a dispute with a provider
- how to access previous versions of travel advice to support a claim
Support from FCDO
FCDO has guidance on staying safe and what to do if you need help or support abroad, including:
Help abroad
See how to get help from the UK government abroad including in an emergency.
Help in the UK
You can call FCDO in London if you need urgent help because something has happened to a friend or relative abroad.
Telephone: 020 7008 5000 (24 hours)
Find out about call charges
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