ANY FOREIGN NATIONAL HOLDING A TONGAN VISITOR'S VISA IS PROHIBITED FROM TAKING UP EMPLOYMENT WHILST IN THE KINGDOM. Any person in breach of this law shall be prosecuted or subject to having their visitor's visa cancelled and forcibly removed from the Kingdom.
Application for an employment visa for a foreign national must be made PRIOR to entry into the Kingdom.
All applications by foreign nationals to transfer a visitor's visa to an employment visa, whilst the applicant is in the Kingdom shall be declined by the Immigration Division, UNLESS WRITTEN PERMISSION BY THE PRINCIPAL IMMIGRATION OFFICER HAS BEEN GRANTED TO TRANSFER, PRIOR TO ENTRY INTO THE KINGDOM.
Tonga has a very high employment rate, particularly amongst it's youth. In order to help combat this problem the Tongan Government has attempted to protect the Tongan labour market for Tongans by preventing foreign nationals from entering the Kingdom and looking for job opportunities.
Companies/ Businesses registered and operating in Tonga may bring foreign national employees into the country, provided that the foreign national holds a specialized skill. In order to have professional skills assessed please contact the Ministry of Labour, Commerce & Industries (MLCI), Government of Tonga for further information.
The Ministry of Labour Commerce and Industries is the Ministry responsible for the labour markets that are open for foreign nationals to take up employment whilst in the Kingdom NOT the Immigration Division.
GENERAL REMINDER TO ALL FOREIGN NATIONALS
All foreign nationals are reminded to keep their visas VALID whilst in the Kingdom. Any person who remains in Tonga on an expired visa is subject to persecution or removal from the Kingdom.
The public are also informed that all fees for matters relating to Immigration, Passports and Naturalizations shall be soon increased.
Any queries relating to Immigration matters should be made to the following persons at the Immigration Division please:
Dr. T Suka Mangisi- Naturalization as a Tongan or Re-admission of Tongans;
Mr Tupou Vaipulu- Visa Requirements;
Mr ‘Otto Tu'itupou- Tongan Passports
Source: Immigration Division, Ministry of Foregin Affairs, Tonga.
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