Arrival at Nuku’alofa Airport: Step-by-Step

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Step 1: Complete the Tonga Passenger Arrival Card

The first part of the arrivals process into Tonga comes with complete 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 direct flight to Tonga. The card must be completed for each individual passenger including children and must also be completed in English.

What Does the Tonga Passenger Arrival Card Ask?

The Tonga Passenger Arrival Card requires you to fill out personal details, such as your name, address, passport number, occupation, as well as your flight number/name of the ship. For non-residents, there a multiple-choice question to indicated what is your main reason for visiting Tonga (holiday, business, etc.). On the back of the Tonga Arrival Card, there are multiple “yes” or “no” questions about items that you have on your possession or in any of your baggage concerning Customs, Health and Quarantine.

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. Find out which are the visa-exempt countries, as well as more information in Do You Need a Visa to Visit Tonga?

The Customs Officer will check your passport and Passenger Arrival Card and may ask some questions in regard to 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 (Biosecurity)

After you have all of your baggage, the next step is to queue up to go through Biosecurity/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.

What are Declarable Items

If you have any of the following items in your possession or packed in any of your baggage, then you must declare them:

• Goods that may be prohibited, such as drugs, weapons or obscene articles or printed matter
• Cigarettes or alcohol above the duty-free allowance for Tonga
• Goods for commercial purposes
• Personal goods which exceed TOP$500 (excluding personal items that would be reasonably expected in luggage)
• Currency with the combined value of TOP$10,000 or more
• Food of any kind
• Animals or any kind of animal products
• Plants or any kind of plant products
• Biological specimens
• Equipment used with animals, water or plants
• Equipment used outdoors equipment like camping gear, hiking shoes, hunting equipment, golfing equipment, etc.
• Any items used in a farm, forest or a place with farm animals, abattoirs or packing premises.

The general rule for declaring items is that: if you’re unsure, declare it! Failure to declare a potential risk item in your baggage can result in penalties. For more information, see 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 Arrival Advice: Biosecurity and Customs in Tonga.

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Step 6: 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.

Check out the Tonga Airports: Your Airport Transfer Options for more advice on transport from Fua’amotu International Airport.