New Zealand and Australia are working with Tongan immigration officials to overcome problems caused by the kingdom running out of passports.
A spokesman for Immigration New Zealand said the department was considering whether the Tongan Certificate of Identity was an acceptable document on its own to prove an individual’s identity and citizenship.
A spokesman for Australia’s Department of Immigration and Border Protection said it was working with its Tongan counterpart to allow Tongans to travel, but said it was doing this “while maintaining the safety and security of Australia’s borders.”
As Kaniva News reported yesterday, the lack of passports is due to high local demand and from Tongans living overseas.
A government spokesman said the situation was “regrettable,” but said new stocks should arrive about mid-October.
Temporary passports were still available for TP$57.
Tongans have been advised to have a certificate of identity with them.
They were also advised to also take other identification papers, a driver’s licence, green card or their expired passport.
The main points
New Zealand and Australia are working with Tongan immigration officials to overcome problems caused by the kingdom running out of passports.
As Kaniva News reported yesterday, the lack of passports is due to high local demand and from Tongans living overseas.
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