Tonga

See the Department of State’s Fact Sheet on Tonga for additional information on  U.S. – Tonga relations.

Transportation

Road Conditions and Safety:  Road conditions vary throughout the country.  A driver must look out for changes in traffic, road and weather conditions, and reduce speed accordingly.  . The information below concerning Tonga is provided for general reference only and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.

No roadside assistance is available.  Traffic moves on the left in Tonga.  While roads in Nuku’alofa are paved, most other roads are not.  Animals and unwary pedestrians walking in the road make night driving on unlit secondary roads hazardous.  There are no stop lights in the country; drivers are required to stop at all roundabouts and allow vehicles on the right side to proceed.  For specific information concerning Tonga driving permits, vehicle inspection, road tax, and mandatory insurance, please contact the Consulate General of Tonga in San Francisco.

Traffic Laws: Contact local authorities if you are involved in a road accident.

Public Transportation: Buses and taxis are the only public transport available in Tonga. Bicycles must be registered with the Police Office before being used on public roads.

Please refer to our Road Safety page and Ministry of Transport in Tonga for more information. 

Aviation Safety Oversight:  As there is no direct commercial air service to the United States by carriers registered in Tonga, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not assessed the government of Tonga’s Civil Aviation Authority for compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards.  Further information may be found on the FAA’s safety assessment page.

Safety and Security

Crime:  Although Tonga has a low crime rate, house break-ins and property theft do occur.  Though rare, sexual assaults against foreigners have occurred, including on public beaches.  You should avoid going out alone at night or to isolated locations.  You should not be complacent regarding your personal safety or the protection of your valuables. 

See the Department of State and the FBI pages for information on scams.

Victims of Crime:  Tonga Police has worked with various NGOs such as the Women and Children Crisis Centre (WCCC) Tonga to provide shelter and counseling for abused women, girls, and boys who are under the age of 14.  Churches such as the Free Wesleyan Church operate a hotline for women, and the Salvation Army also offers counseling and rehabilitation programs.

U.S. citizen victims of sexual assault should first contact the U.S. Embassy. 

Report crimes to the local police at 922 and contact the U.S. Embassy at +(679) 772-8049.

Remember that local authorities are responsible for investigating and prosecuting the crime.

See our webpage on help for U.S. victims of crime overseas.

We can:

• help you find appropriate medical care
• assist you in reporting a crime to the police
• contact relatives or friends with your written consent
• explain the local criminal justice process in general terms
• provide a list of local attorneys
• provide our information on victim’s compensation programs in the U.S.
• provide an emergency loan for repatriation to the United States and/or limited medical
• support in cases of destitution
• help you find accommodation and arrange flights home
• replace a stolen or lost passport

Domestic Violence:  U.S. citizen victims of domestic violence may contact the U.S. Embassy for assistance.

For further information:

• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. 
• Call us in Washington at 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or 1-202-501-4444 from other countries from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
• See the State Department's travel website for Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, and Travel Alerts.
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• See our Traveler's Checklist for useful travel tips.