Arrival at Nuku’alofa Airport, Tonga: A Step-by-Step Guide

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Step 1: Complete the Tonga Passenger Arrival Card

The first part of the arrival process into Tonga comes with completing the Tonga Passenger Arrival Card, also known as the Passenger Declaration Card. The form is displayed on a narrow double-sided card, handed out by airline staff during your flight to Tonga.

The card must be completed for each individual passenger including children and must also be completed in English.

Hold onto your Passenger Arrival Card, as you will need to show it at Passport Control, as well as Quarantine and Customs when you arrive at Fua’amotu International Airport.

To see what the Passenger Arrival Card looks like, as well as tips for completing it, in the guide to The Passenger Arrival Card for Tonga.

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Step 2: Go Through Passport Control

You’ve landed at Fua’amotu International Airport! You’ll walk into the arrivals area of the airport, where there is a duty-free shop (remember your Tonga duty-free allowance), currency exchange, as well as restrooms. You’ll also notice Quarantine Amnesty Bins, where you have the opportunity to dispose of any risk items that you don’t want to take through Customs, such as food.

When you’re ready, queue up for Passport Control, following the signs for “Non-Tongan Passport Holders” if you are from overseas.

Passport Control Desk

At Passport Control, hand over your passport, passenger arrival card and evidence relating to your visa, if applicable. If you’re just visiting Tonga on a holiday and are from one of the visa-exempt countries, you will be granted a free Visitor Visa for Tonga valid for one month (or three, if from a Schengen member country). Find out which are the visa-exempt countries and Schengen countries, as well as more information in our guide, Tonga Tourist Visa: Do You Need a Visa to Visit Tonga?

Any other paperwork that may be required at the border is kept updated in What Documents Do I Need to Travel to Tonga?

The Customs Officer will check your passport and Passenger Arrival Card and may ask some questions regarding the answers you have given on the card. The officer will then either tell you if any further action is required or simply return your passport and the Arrival Card for you to move to the Baggage Claim area.

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Step 3: Pick Up Your Baggage from the Baggage Claim Area

Walk into the next area which is the Baggage Claim area. This is arguably the easiest part of the arrival process, which most travellers are familiar with.

Luckily, there is one carousel to collect baggage, so finding your baggage is as easy as waiting for it to appear on the carousel. Baggage trollies are available to transport multiple bags.

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Step 4: Declare Any “Declarable Items” at Quarantine and Customs

After you have all of your baggage, the next step is to queue up to go through Quarantine. Here, a Quarantine Officer will look at your Passenger Arrival Card and may ask you questions regarding your answers. This is also your last opportunity to verbally declare any “declarable items” that you may have in your possession or in any of your baggage.

You will also be given the opportunity to dispose of items that are likely to be considered “risk items” that you won’t be able to bring into Tonga, most commonly fresh food. There are amnesty bins for this.

Not sure what you’re supposed to declare? Check out What to Declare When Arriving in Tonga.

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Step 5: Scan Baggage in Quarantine X-Rays

This step may come after you have seen the Quarantine Officer, while you’re queuing to see the Quarantine Officer, or not at all. Random Quarantine checks are done for every flight arriving in Tonga, where baggage is placed in X-ray machines to check for potential risk, restricted or prohibited goods. Airport staff will prompt you over to the X-ray area if chosen.

Alternatively, after talking to the Quarantine Officer, you may be asked to put your baggage through the X-ray machines. If a risk item is found in your baggage, you may be given the opportunity to re-export it to your chosen overseas address at your expense, have the item treated if possible at your expense, or dispose of the item.

If an undeclared item is found, whether it’s restricted, prohibited or just considered a declarable item, you may receive a penalty or even face prosecution.

For more quarantine advice, see Arriving in Tonga: Airport Customs, Biosecurity & Arrival Process.

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Step 6: Enter the Public Arrivals Area and Get Your Airport Transfer

After passing through Customs and Quarantine, you are officially in Tonga! The arrivals area leads out to a large parking and pick-up area where signposts indicate where to pick up car rentals, where to catch airport shuttles and where to get a taxi. There are also the offices of the local phone networks, an ATM and a Visitor Information Centre. Information on these facilities can be found in Tonga Arrival Airports: Which Airport to Fly into Tonga.

Finally, to leave Fua’amotu International Airport, you’ll need to catch one of the taxis or pre-arranged accommodation transfers. There are also taxis to transport passengers to the Domestic Terminal, should you be catching a flight to one of the outer islands – see Domestic Flights in Tonga: A Guide to Interisland Flights.

Check out the How to Get an Airport Transfer in Tonga for more advice on transport from Fua’amotu International Airport.