Chinese tourists will no longer need a visa to visit Tonga.
China joins a long list of countries whose citizens do not require a visa to visit the island kingdom if they are staying for less than 30 days.
A visa is not required for most bona-fide visitors to enter Tonga for stays of one month or less, providing that the visitor holds a valid passport and an onward air or sea ticket and the immigration authorities are satisfied that the visitor has adequate funds for the visit.
On 9 June 2016, China and Tonga signed a mutual visa exemption agreement for ordinary passport holders yesterday.
Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva, Prime Minister and Chinese ambassador H.E. Mr. Huang Huaguang, signed the agreement.
Hon. Pohiva said the agreement would boost tourism and contribute to the growth of the economy.
H.E. Mr. Huang said China was now the largest tourism market in the world and the agreement would promote tourism between two countries.
The agreement means Chinese or Tonga citizens will not have to obtain visas to enter or transit through the territory of the other for a period of not more than 30 days. Citizens wanting to stay for longer than 30 days, study, work, or take up residence, will need to apply for visas in advance.
In 2012, China and Tonga signed an agreement covering visa exemptions for Diplomatic, Official or Service Passports and Passports for Public Affairs.
At the moment you do not need a visa to visit Tonga if are a citizen of one of the following countries: Australia, Austria, Barbados, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Cook Islands, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominica, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Finland, France, French Polynesia, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kirabati, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Monaco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niue, Norway, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Portugal, Russia, Samoa, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Spain, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Sweden, Switzerland, The Bahamas, Turkey, Tuvalu, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, the United States of America or Vanuatu.
Chinese and Tongan citizens still require a visa to enter New Zealand for a holiday.
The main points
- Chinese tourists will no longer need a visa to visit Tonga.
- China joins a long list of countries whose citizens do not require a visa to visit the island kingdom if they are staying for less than 30 days.
- A visa is not required for most bona-fide visitors to enter Tonga for stays of one month or less, providing that the visitor holds a valid passport and an onward air or sea ticket and the immigration authorities are satisfied that the visitor has adequate funds for the visit.
- In 2012, China and Tonga signed an agreement covering visa exemptions for Diplomatic, Official or Service Passports and Passports for Public Affairs.
For more information
