Moving to Tonga: visas, cost of living & immigrant guide

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Population

106,095

Population Growth Rate

0.14%

Urban Population

23.000000

Population in Major Urban Areas

NUKU'ALOFA 25,000

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Age Structure

34.470000

Median Age

21.800000

Birth Rate - births/1,000 population

24

Death Rate - deaths/1,000 population

4.87

Total Fertility Rate - children born/woman

3.46

Sex Ratio at Birth - male/female

1.030000

Net Migration Rate - migrant(s)/1,000 population

-17.87

Ethnic Groups

Polynesian, Europeans about 300

Language Note

Tongan is the language used for everyday communication, while Tongan and English are both official languages. The majority of Tongans are of Polynesian descent. Tongan is spelled with a Latin script, and sounds the way it looks.

Nationality Noun

Tongan(s)

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Literacy - total population

98.9%

Literacy - male

98.8%

Literacy - female

99%

Literacy Definition

can read and write Tongan and/or English

Education Expenditures - percent of GDP

3.9%

Total School Life Expectancy - (primary to tertiary)

14.000000

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Life Expectancy at Birth

75.600000

Infant Mortality Rate

12.780000

Infant Mortality Rate - total deaths/1,000 live births

12.780000

Maternal Mortality Rate - deaths/100,000 live births

110

Physicians Density - physicians/1,000 population

.56

Hospital Bed Density - beds/1,000 population

2.6

Health Expenditures - percent of GDP

5.3%

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

57.6%

Drinking Water Source - percent of urban population improved

99.000000

Sanitation Facility Access - percent of urban population improved

99.400000

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Economic Overview

Tonga has a small, open island economy and is the last constitutional monarchy among the Pacific Island countries.

It has a narrow export base in agricultural goods.

Squash, vanilla beans, and yams are the main crops.

Agricultural exports, including fish, make up two-thirds of total exports.

Tourism is the second-largest source of hard currency earnings following remittances.

Tonga had 53,800 visitors in 2015.

The country must import a high proportion of its food, mainly from New Zealand.

The country remains dependent on external aid and remittances from overseas Tongans to offset its trade deficit.

The government is emphasizing the development of the private sector, encouraging investment, and is committing increased funds for health care and education.

Tonga's English-speaking and educated workforce offers a viable labor market, and the tropical climate provides fertile soil.

Renewable energy and deep-sea mining also offer opportunities for investment.

Tonga has a reasonably sound basic infrastructure and well developed social services.

But the government faces high unemployment among the young, moderate inflation, pressures for democratic reform, and rising civil service expenditures.

Industries

tourism, fishing

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$5,100.00 (USD)

GDP - real growth rate

2.7%

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GDP - Gross Domestic Product (PPP)

$670,000,000 (USD)

GDP Per Capita

$5,100.00 (USD)

GDP - real growth rate

2.7%

GDP - official exchange rate

$443,000,000 (USD)

GDP - composition, by end use

• consumption: 79.9% government
• consumption: 21.6% investment in fixed
• capital: 40.2% investment in
• inventories: 0% exports of goods and
• services: 18.7% imports of goods and
• services: -60.4%

GDP by Sector- agriculture

18.3%

GDP by Sector- Industry

18.8%

GDP by Sector- services

62.9%

Industrial Growth Rate

1%

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Inflation Rate

5.9%

Exchange Rate per US Dollar

pa'anga (TOP)

Currency Name and Code

Pa'anga (TOP)

Fiscal Year

1 July - 30 June

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

10.9%

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Labor Force

39,960

Unemployment Rate

13%

Major Industries

tourism, fishing

Agriculture Products

squash, coconuts, copra, bananas, vanilla beans, cocoa, coffee, ginger, black pepper; fish

Population Below Poverty Line

24%

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Labor Force By Occupation- agriculture

31.8%

Labor Force By Occupation- industry

30.6%

Labor Force By Occupation- services

37.6%

Annual Budget

$80,480,000 (USD)

Taxes and other revenues - percent of GDP

23.6%

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Full Country Name

Kingdom of Tonga

Country Name

Tonga

Local - Long

Pule'anga Fakatu'i 'o Tonga

Local - Short

Tonga

Former Name

Friendly Islands

Etymology- history of name

"tonga" means "south" in the Tongan language and refers to the country's geographic position in relation to central Polynesia

Independence

4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate status)

National Holiday

• Official Birthday of King TUPOU VI, 4 July (1959)
• note - actual birthday of the monarch is 12 July 1959, 4 July (2015) is the day the king was crowned
• Constitution Day (National Day), 4 November (1875)

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Government Type

constitutional monarchy

Constitution

• history: adopted 4 November 1875, revised 1988, 2016
• amendments: proposed by the Legislative Assembly; passage requires approval by the Assembly in each of three readings, the unanimous approval of the Privy Council (a high-level advisory body to the monarch), the Cabinet, and assent to by the monarch; revised 1988; amended many times, last in 2013

Legal System:

English common law

Executive Branch:

• chief of state: King TUPOU VI (since 18 March 2012); Heir Apparent Crown Prince Siaosi Manumataogo 'Alaivahamama'o 'Ahoeitu Konstantin Tuku'aho, son of the king (born 17 September 1985)
• head of government: Prime Minister Siaosi SOVALENI (since 27 December 2021)
• cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the monarch
• elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister and deputy prime minister indirectly elected by the Legislative Assembly and appointed by the monarch; election last held on 18 November 2021 (next to be held in November 2025)
• election results: Siaosi SOVALENI elected prime minister by the Legislative Assembly; Siaosi SOVALENI 16 votes, Aisake EKE 10
• note: a Privy Council advises the monarch

Legislative Branch:

• Description: unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fale Alea (30 seats statutory, 28 current); 17 people's representatives directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, and 9 indirectly elected by hereditary leaders; members serve 4-year terms)
• Elections: last held on 18 November 2021 (next to be held in November 2025)
• Election Results: percent of vote - NA; seats by party - independent 11, nobles' representatives 9, DPFI 3, TPPI 3; composition as of February 2024 - men 26, women 2, percentage women 7.1%

Judicial Branch:

• office: judge appointments and tenures made by the King in Privy Council and subject to consent of the Legislative Assembly
• subordinate courts: Supreme Court; Magistrates' Courts; Land Courts

Regions or States:

5 island divisions; 'Eua, Ha'apai, Ongo Niua, Tongatapu, Vava'u

Political Parties and Leaders:

• Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands or DPFI or PTOA [Semisi SIKA]
• People's Democratic Party or PDP [Tesina FUKO]
• Tonga Democratic Labor Party (vacant)
• Tonga Human Rights and Democracy Movement or HRDM ['Uliti UATA]
• Tonga People's Party or PAK or TPPI (Paati ʻa e Kakai ʻo Tonga) [Pohiva TU'I'ONETOA] (split from Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands)

Suffrage:

21 years of age; universal

Citizenship Criteria:

• birth: no citizenship by descent
• only: the father must be a citizen of Tonga; if a child is born out of wedlock, the mother must be a citizen of Tonga dual citizenship
• recognized: yes residency requirement for
• naturalization: 5 years

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Capital Name

Nuku'alofa

Capital - geographic coordinate

21 08 S, 175 12 W

Capital Time Difference

UTC+13 (18 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Daylight Savings Time

+1hr, begins first Sunday in November; ends second Sunday in January

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International Organization Participation:

• ACP
• ADB
• AOSIS
• FAO
• G-77
• IBRD
• ICAO
• ICRM
• IDA
• IFAD
• IFC
• IFRCS
• IHO
• IMF
• IMO
• IMSO
• Interpol
• IOC
• IPU
• ITU
• ITUC (NGOs)
• OPCW
• PIF
• Sparteca
• SPC
• UN
• UNCTAD
• UNESCO
• UNIDO
• UPU
• WCO
• WHO
• WIPO
• WMO
• WTO

International Law Organization Participation:

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Diplomatic Representation from US:

• Chief of Mission: Ambassador Marie DAMOUR (since 6 December 2022); note - Ambassador DAMOUR is based in the US Embassy in the Republic of Fiji and is accredited to Tonga as well as Kiribati, Nauru, and Tuvalu
• Embassy: although the US opened an embassy in Tonga on 9 May 2023, the US Ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tonga while the Embassy is being staffed

Diplomatic Representation in the US:

• Chief of Mission: Ambassador Viliana Va’inga TONE (since 20 April 2021)
• Chancery: 250 East 51st Street, New York, NY 10022
• Telephone: [1] (917) 369-1025
• FAX: [1] (917) 369-1024
• Email: tongaunmission@aol.com
• Consulate(s) General: San Francisco

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Geographic Location

Oceania

Geographic Coordinates

20 00 S, 175 00 W

Total Area

288 Square Miles 747 Square Kilometers

Land Area

277 Square Miles 717 Square Kilometers

Water Area

12 Square Miles 30 Square Kilometers

Coastline

260 Miles 419 Kilometers

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Terrain

most islands have limestone base formed from uplifted coral formation

others have limestone overlying volcanic base

Highest Point

1,033 Meters

Highest Point Location

unnamed location on Kao Island 1,033 m

Lowest Point Location

Pacific Ocean 0 m

Natural Resources

fish, fertile soil

Time Zone

UTC+13 (18 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Daylight saving time

+1hr, begins first Sunday in November; ends second Sunday in January

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Climate

tropical; modified by trade winds; warm season (December to May), cool season (May to December)

Terrain

most islands have limestone base formed from uplifted coral formation

others have limestone overlying volcanic base

Location

Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Total Area

288 Square Miles 747 Square Kilometers

Environment - Current Issues

• deforestation results as more and more land is being cleared for agriculture and settlement
• some damage to coral reefs from starfish and indiscriminate coral and shell collectors
• overhunting threatens native sea turtle populations

Environment - International Agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

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Exports

$22,000,000 (USD)

Imports

$139,000,000 (USD)

Major Exports

squash, fish, vanilla beans, root crops

Major Imports

foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, fuels, chemicals

Top Export Partners

Japan 40.7%, US 37%, Germany 3.7%

Top Import Partners

New Zealand 31.4%, Fiji 20.9%, US 14%, Australia 12.8%, China 5.8%

Export Partners

Japan 40.7%, US 37%, Germany 3.7%

Import Partners

New Zealand 31.4%, Fiji 20.9%, US 14%, Australia 12.8%, China 5.8%

Country Description

Tonga is a South Pacific island nation consisting of 171 islands, of which 45 are inhabited.

Tonga is a constitutional monarchy and a member of the British Commonwealth.

Its agrarian economy is developing, and its tourist industry, although limited, is growing.

Tourist facilities are concentrated in and around the main island of Tongatapu where the capital, Nuku’alofa, is located.

Tourism is expanding to the island of Va’vau.

The Tongan Visitor’s Bureau has a wide range of information of interest to travelers.

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Crime

Although Tonga has a low crime rate, there has been a recent rise in house break-ins and property theft.

Though rare, sexual assaults against foreigners have occurred, including on public beaches.

Females in particular should avoid going out alone at night or alone to isolated locations.

You should not be complacent regarding your personal safety or the protection of your valuables.

Don’t buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available.

Not only are the bootlegs illegal in the United States, if you purchase them you may also be breaking local law.

The Tonga equivalent numbers to the U.S. “911” emergency lines are: 911, which connects to the Tonga Telecommunications emergency operators; 922, which connects directly to the police; and 933, which connects directly to the hospital.

U.S. citizens requiring immediate emergency services in Tonga should call one of these emergency contact numbers.

Criminal Penalties

While you are traveling in the Kingdom of Tonga, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen.

Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different than our own.

You may be taken in for questioning if you don’t have your passport with you.

It is illegal to take pictures of certain buildings.

Driving under the influence could land you immediately in jail.

There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States, and you can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods.

Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States.

If you break local laws in Tonga, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution.

It’s very important to know what’s legal and what’s not where you are going.

While some countries will automatically notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate if a U.S. citizen is detained or arrested in a foreign country, that might not always be the case.

To ensure that the United States is aware of your circumstances, request that the police and prison officials notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate as soon as you are arrested or detained overseas.

Languages Tongan is the language used for everyday communication, while Tongan and English are both official languages.

The majority of Tongans are of Polynesian descent.

Tongan is spelled with a Latin script, and sounds the way it looks.

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Medical Facilities

Medical facilities, including medications, in Tonga are extremely limited.

The cities of Nuku'alofa and Neiafu have hospitals with limited emergency and outpatient facilities.

Local residents and visitors with serious medical problems are often referred to New Zealand for treatment.

For additional information on medical visas for New Zealand, contact the Embassy of New Zealand, 37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington, DC 20008, (202) 328-4800 or the Consulate General in Los Angeles (310) 207-1605.

Serious medical conditions requiring hospitalization and/or medical evacuation to the United States can cost thousands of dollars.

Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services.

Traffic Safety and Road Conditions While in Tonga, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States.

The information below concerning Tonga is provided for general reference only and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.

No roadside assistance is available.

Traffic moves on the left in Tonga.

While roads in Nuku’alofa are paved, most other roads are not.

Animals and unwary pedestrians walking in the road make night driving on unlit secondary roads hazardous.

There are no stop lights in the country; drivers are required to stop at all roundabouts and allow vehicles on the right side to proceed.

For specific information concerning Tonga driving permits, vehicle inspection, road tax, and mandatory insurance, please contact the Consulate General of Tonga in San Francisco.

Traffic Safety

While in Tonga, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States.

The information below concerning Tonga is provided for general reference only and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.

No roadside assistance is available.

Traffic moves on the left in Tonga.

While roads in Nuku’alofa are paved, most other roads are not.

Animals and unwary pedestrians walking in the road make night driving on unlit secondary roads hazardous.

There are no stop lights in the country; drivers are required to stop at all roundabouts and allow vehicles on the right side to proceed.

For specific information concerning Tonga driving permits, vehicle inspection, road tax, and mandatory insurance, please contact the Consulate General of Tonga in San Francisco.

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Airports - total

6

Airports with Paved Runways

1

Roadways- total

423 Miles 680 Kilometers

Ports and Terminals

Neiafu, Nuku'alofa, Pangai

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Telephones

31,000

Cell Phones

46,500

Internet Users

320,000

Internet Country Code

.to

Internet Hosts

20,847

Broadcast Media

• 2 state-owned TV stations and 2 privately owned TV stations
• satellite and cable TV services are available
• 2 state-owned and 3 privately owned radio stations
• Radio Australia broadcasts available via satellite

Telephone System

• assessment: competition between Tonga Telecommunications Corporation (TCC) and Shoreline Communications Tonga (SCT) is accelerating expansion of telecommunications; SCT granted approval to introduce high-speed digital service for telephone, Internet, and television while TCC has exclusive rights to operate the mobile-phone network; international telecom services are provided by government-owned Tonga Telecommunications International
• domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity about 80 telephones per 100 persons; fully automatic switched network
• international: country code - 676; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Electricity Consumption- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

39,990,000

Electricity Production- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

43,000,000

Oil Consumption- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

1,221

Anthem History

• name: "Ko e fasi `o e tu"i `o e `Otu Tonga" (Song of the King of the Tonga Islands)
• lyrics/music: Uelingatoni Ngu TUPOUMALOHI/Karl Gustavus SCHMITT
• note: in use since 1875; more commonly known as "Fasi Fakafonua" (National Song)

Anthem Lyrics

'E 'Otua Mafimafi, Ko ho mau 'Eimi koe, Ko Koe ko e falala 'anga, Mo e 'ofa ki Tonga: 'Afio hifo 'emau lotu 'Aia 'oku mau fai ni, Mo ke tali ho mau loto 'O malu'i 'a Tupou.

Anthem Lyrics English

• Oh Almighty God above, Thou art our Lord and sure defence, In our goodness we do trust Thee And our Tonga Thou dost love
• Hear our prayer, for though unseen We know that Thou hast blessed our land
• Grant our earnest supplication, and save Tupou our King.