VISA ATLASWork visas & talent mobility
From→ToFind a corridor EN
☰

Tonga

Nationality · visas, permits and migration

Moved to OECD countries, 2023
3,084
Top destination, 2023
New Zealand
U.S. non-immigrant visas, FY2025
1,383
UK visas issued, 2025
10
NationalityTOISO 3166
Year by year
Data as at 2025
NA<TOTONGA<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
TO5<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<0

Visa requirements for a short visit

Whether citizens of Tonga need a visa for a short tourist or business visit, according to the legal lists. Rules change; check the official source before travelling.

DestinationShort visitLegal basis
Schengen areaNo visa for stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day periodRegulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30.12.2025)
United KingdomNo visa; electronic travel authorisation (ETA) requiredImmigration Rules, Appendix Visitor / ETA National List
CanadaTemporary resident visa requiredIRPR s. 190, Schedule 1.1
Hong KongDepends on the passport held; some passports need a visaImmigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements, 31.12.2025
Source: Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30 Dec 2025); UK Immigration Rules, Appendix Visitor and ETA National List; Canada IRPR s. 190 and Schedule 1.1; Immigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements as at 31 Dec 2025Data as at Oct 2026

Where people from Tonga move

Inflows of foreign nationals by country of nationality, as recorded by each destination (OECD).

Inflows to OECD countries, 2023
  1. New Zealand2,658
  2. United States230
  3. Australia116
  4. Japan65
  5. France10
  6. Sweden3
  7. Italy2

Inflows to all OECD countries by year

1,5423,084200020032006200920122015201820212023
1,5423,0842000200420082012201620202023
Data table
20001,454
20011,673
20021,680
20031,664
20042,171
20052,333
20062,545
20072,545
20082,770
20092,237
20101,790
20111,744
20121,470
20131,644
20141,627
20151,843
20161,764
20171,863
20181,765
20192,651
20201,464
2021577
20221,478
20233,084
Share going to the top destination
86.2%
Destinations recording arrivals
7
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Living abroad

People born in Tonga who live in another country: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA). Where a destination records citizenship rather than country of birth, its foreign citizens are counted.

Largest destinations, 2024
  1. New Zealand29,981
  2. Australia19,464
  3. Fiji1,389
  4. American Samoa1,296
  5. Guinea901
  6. Samoa57
  7. Niue47
  8. Vanuatu31
  9. Papua New Guinea26
  10. Denmark18
  11. Micronesia17
  12. Norway6

Living abroad by year

27k53k19901995200020052010201520202024
27k53k19902000201020202024
Data table
199019,954
199523,967
200028,245
200531,622
201034,619
201540,233
202047,094
202453,237
Living abroad, 2024
53,237
Change since 2000
+88.5%
Share living in the largest destination, 2024
56.3%
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024

United States

Visas issued to citizens of Tonga by U.S. consulates (fiscal years, October–September) and certified PERM labor certifications.

Non-immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. B1/B21,145
  2. R175
  3. J160
  4. A254
  5. A19
  6. J27
  7. C17
  8. F16
  9. A33
  10. G43

Non-immigrant visas by fiscal year

6921,383201720182019202020212022202320242025
6921,38320172019202120232025
Data table
20171,015
20181,162
20191,224
2020473
202150
2022391
20231,036
20241,182
20251,383
Immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. DV44
  2. IR115
  3. IR29
  4. FX7
  5. CR16
  6. F45
  7. IR55
  8. F2B1
Immigrant visas, FY2025
95
Certified PERM labor certifications, FY2024 (latest year with citizenship)
0
Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, monthly visa issuances (public domain); U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC PERM disclosure data (public domain)Data as at FY2025

Green cards and U.S. citizenship

People born in Tonga who became U.S. lawful permanent residents (green cards) or U.S. citizens, and admissions of citizens of Tonga with an I-94 record (DHS, fiscal years).

Green cards by fiscal year

1653302015201620172018201920202021202220232024
165330201520172019202120232024
Data table
2015330
2016280
2017260
2018230
2019260
2020200
2021170
2022210
2023250
2024310
Green cards by class of admission, FY2024
  1. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens230
  2. Diversity visa lottery50
  3. Family-sponsored preferences30
Green cards, FY2024 (born in Tonga)
310
Naturalizations, FY2024 (born in Tonga)
310
I-94 admissions, FY2024 (citizenship)
2,990
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Homeland Security Statistics, Yearbook of Immigration Statistics 2024 (public domain)Data as at FY2024

United Kingdom

Entry clearance visas issued to nationals of Tonga (Home Office) and students with a permanent address in Tonga (HESA).

Visas issued by group, 2025
  1. Other4
  2. Work4
  3. Study2

Visas issued by year

1631201020122014201620182020202220242025
1631201020132016201920222025
Data table
201018
201118
201210
201325
201431
201527
201616
201713
201825
201918
202012
20216
20226
202317
202421
202510
Students at UK universities, 2024/25
0
Source: Home Office, Immigration system statistics (year ending June 2026), Open Government Licence v3.0Data as at 2025

Australia

Temporary skilled visas (subclass 457 to 2018, then 482) granted to primary applicants who are citizens of Tonga, by financial year ending 30 June (Home Affairs).

Primary visas granted by financial year

19382005–062007–082009–102011–122013–142015–162017–182019–202021–222023–242025–26
19382005–062009–102013–142017–182021–222025–26
Data table
2005–066
2006–075
2007–0810
2008–096
2009–108
2010–114
2011–1212
2012–136
2013–141
2014–153
2015–161
2016–177
2017–185
2018–191
2019–202
2020–213
2021–221
2022–2325
2023–2414
2024–2522
2025–2638
By stream, 2025–26
  1. Labour Agreement33
  2. Core Skills5
Granted, 2025–26
38
Share of all Australian grants, 2025–26
0.1%
Source: Department of Home Affairs (Australia), BP0014 Temporary Resident (skilled) visas granted, data locked at 30 Sep 2026 (data.gov.au, CC BY)Data as at 2025–26

Japan

Citizens of Tonga living in Japan at the end of each December, by status of residence (Immigration Services Agency of Japan). 2020 and 2021 were published only as database tables.

Foreign residents in Japan

1032062012201420162018202220242025
1032062012201420162018202220242025
Data table
2012113
2013122
2014117
2015114
2016124
2017134
2018150
2019161
2022179
2023187
2024200
2025206
By status of residence, December 2025
  1. Student74
  2. Entertainer44
  3. Permanent Resident26
  4. Dependent21
  5. Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services16
  6. Spouse or Child of Japanese National15
  7. Designated Activities5
  8. Long-Term Resident2
  9. Instructor2
  10. Trainee1
Residents, December 2025
206
In work-related statuses
62
Share in work-related statuses
30.1%
Students
74
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Statistics on Foreign Residents (在留外国人統計), Table 1, end of December (e-Stat; Government of Japan Standard Terms of Use 2.0)Data as at Dec 2025

Residence permits in Europe

First residence permits issued to citizens of Tonga in EU and EFTA countries, 2025 (Eurostat).

First permits by reason
  1. Family6
  2. Work6
  3. Other reasons4
  4. Education2
First permits by country
  1. France10
  2. Austria2
  3. Germany2
  4. Spain1
  5. Ireland1
  6. Romania1
  7. Norway1
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. Highly skilled workers (national schemes)2
  2. Researchers1
  3. Other paid activities3
EU Blue Cards granted, 2024
0
Citizenships acquired in the EU, 2024
1
Students in EU/EFTA tertiary education, 2024
5
Refused entry at EU external borders, 2025
0
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
208
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
4
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2024–2025

National statistics in Europe

Citizens of Tonga in the figures of national statistics offices: residence permits granted in Denmark, immigrations by grounds for settlement in Sweden and immigrants with a non-EU/EFTA nationality by migration motive in the Netherlands; Finland and Austria publish immigration and emigration by citizenship only.

CountryYearImmigrationEmigrationNet migration
Austria2025202
Source: Danmarks Statistik, Statistikbanken VAN66 and VAN77M (CC BY 4.0); SCB (Statistics Sweden), Statistikdatabasen TAB1614 and TAB6670 (CC0); CBS (Statistics Netherlands), StatLine 84809NED (CC BY 4.0); Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus), StatFin 11a8 (CC BY 4.0); Statistik Austria, OGD_bevwan020_AUSSENWAND_100 (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

Foreign embassies and consulates in Tonga

Countries with an embassy or consulate in Tonga, as recorded in Wikidata.

CountryEmbassiesConsulates-generalConsulates
China1——
Japan1——
Countries
2
Missions
2
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Remittances

Money that migrants send home: personal remittances received by Tonga, in current US dollars (World Bank).

Remittances received by year, US$ million

134267200120042007201020132016201920222025
134267200120062011201620212025
Data table
200153
200262
200359
200465
200569
200678
200782
2008103
200982
201074
201184
201291
2013123
2014119
2015129
2016126
2017159
2018173
2019182
2020190
2021218
2022217
2023254
2024255
2025267
Remittances received, 2025
US$267 million
Share of GDP, 2025
39.3%
Average cost of sending US$200 to Tonga, 2023
4.1%
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

All corridors from Tonga

Destinations with a dedicated page for citizens of this country.

  • Tonga → New Zealand
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more