Nuku’alofa, Tonga — The Governments of Japan and Tonga signed an agreement on Thursday, September 25, 2025, to introduce an Electronic Machine-Readable Passport (EMRP) system in the Kingdom of Tonga.
The initiative is backed by a grant of 882 million Japanese Yen—approximately USD $6 million—from the Government of Japan.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Tupouto’a ‘Ulukalala, Tonga’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, and officiated by His Excellency Mr. Inagaki Hisao, Ambassador of Japan to Tonga, alongside Mr. Solomon Kantha, Chief of Mission and Subregional Coordinator for the South Pacific at the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
Ambassador Inagaki praised the trilateral collaboration between Japan, Tonga, and IOM, noting that the e-passport system aligns with the goals of the PALM10 Leaders’ Declaration and the Joint Action Plan, particularly in the areas of peace, security, and digital connectivity.
Mr. Kantha emphasised the project’s people-centred approach, highlighting its role in equipping frontline officers with the tools and training needed to make informed decisions at the border.
The EMRP system marks the next phase of Japan’s support for Tonga’s border management, following the successful implementation of the Migration Information and Data Analysis System (MIDAS) in October 2024. IOM, which has been active in Tonga since 2018, will execute the project in close coordination with Tonga’s Immigration Division and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The new e-passport system will replace Tonga’s manual, paper-based passports, offering faster, more secure access to government services and international travel.
