Employment and Business Visa / Arbeitsvisum für Tonga

[mahimahi]

Seit Februar 2010 gilt eine verschärfte Einhaltung der Verordnungen zur Ausstellung von Arbeitsvisa in Tonga. Diese können nur noch von ausserhalb Tongas NEU beantragt werden (also Erstanträge, dies betrifft nicht Verlängerungen bestehender Visa)

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
IMMIGRATION NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC

The Public are hereby informed that [...]

Employment and Business Visas

The Principal Immigration Officer hereby reminds all employers and businesses in Tonga that a policy directive strengthening existing policy was issued on 15th September, 2009 and is in force relating to employment visas and business visas for all Non Tongans.


EMPLOYMENT VISAS:

ANY FOREIGN NATIONAL HOLDING A TONGAN VISITOR’S VISA IS PROHIBITED FROM TAKING UP EMPLOYMENT WHILST IN THE KINGDOM. Any person in breach of this law shall be prosecuted or subject to having their visitor’s visa cancelled and forcibly removed from the Kingdom.

Application for an employment visa for a foreign national must be made PRIOR to entry into the Kingdom.

All applications by foreign nationals to transfer a visitor’s visa to an employment visa, whilst the applicant is in the Kingdom shall be declined by the Immigration Division, UNLESS WRITTEN PERMISSION BY THE PRINCIPAL IMMIGRATION OFFICER HAS BEEN GRANTED TO TRANSFER, PRIOR TO ENTRY INTO THE KINGDOM.

Tonga has a very high unemployment rate, particularly amongst it’s youth. In order to help combat this problem the Tongan Government has attempted to protect the Tongan labour market for Tongans by preventing foreign nationals from entering the Kingdom and looking for job opportunities.

Companies/Businesses registered and operating in Tonga may bring foreign national employees into the country, provided that the foreign national holds a specialized skill. In order to have professional skills assessed please contact the Ministry of Labour, Commerce & Industries (MLCI), Government of Tonga for further information.

The Ministry of Labour Commerce and Industries is the Ministry responsible for the labour markets that are open for foreign nationals to take up employment whilst in the Kingdom NOT the Immigration Division.


BUSINESS VISAS:

ANY FOREIGN NATIONAL HOLDING A TONGAN VISITOR’S VISA IS PROHIBITED FROM UNDERTAKING BUSINESS ACTIVITIES WHILST IN THE KINGDOM. Any person in breach of this law shall be prosecuted or subject to having their visitor’s visa cancelled and being removed from the Kingdom.

All applications by foreign nationals to transfer a visitor’s visa to a business visa, whilst the applicant is in the Kingdom shall be declined by the Immigration Division, UNLESS WRITTEN PERMISSION BY THE PRINCIPAL IMMIGRATION OFFICER HAS BEEN GRANTED TO THE FOREIGN NATIONAL TO TRANSFER, PRIOR TO ENTRY INTO THE KINGDOM.

Application for a business visa for a foreign national must be made PRIOR to entry into the Kingdom.

Please note that there are certain business sectors in the Kingdom that are restricted exclusively to those persons who are Tongan nationals. Policies relating to business markets in the Kingdom are established by the Ministry of Labour, Commerce & Industries (MLCI). Foreign nationals who wish to invest in a business/company in Tonga are advised to contact the Ministry of Labour, Commerce & Industries to seek advice on the business markets that are available for foreign investment. ANY FOREIGNER OPERATING A BUSINESS THAT IS IN THE RESTRICTED BUSINESS CATEGORY FOR TONGANS ONLY, SHALL BE SUBJECT TO PROSECUTION OR TO HAVING THEIR CURRENT BUSINESS VISA CANCELLED AND THEIR REMOVAL FROM TONGA.

GENERAL REMINDER TO ALL FOREIGN NATIONALS

All foreign nationals are reminded to keep their visas VALID whilst in the Kingdom. Any person who remains in Tonga on an expired visa is subject to prosecution or removal from the Kingdom.

The Public are also informed that all fees for matters relating to Immigration, Passports and Naturalizations shall soon be increased.

Any queries relating to Immigration matters should be made to the following persons at the Immigration Division:

Mr. Tupou Vaipulu – Visa Requirements;
Mr. ‘Otto Tuitupou – Tongan Passports

Thank you.

Va’inga Tone
Secretary for Foreign Affairs
Principal Immigration Officer
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
NUKU’ALOFA