Local Laws

Criminal Penalties:   You are subject to local laws. If you violate local laws, even unknowingly, you may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. 

Furthermore, some laws are also prosecutable in the United States, regardless of local law.  For examples, see our website on crimes against minors abroad and the Department of Justice website.

Arrest Notification:   If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify the U.S. Embassy immediately. See our Arrest webpage for further information.

Customs: The Tuvalu Custom Act states that all visitors arriving and departing the country may not carry more than AUD$1,000.00 cash.

Currency: The Australian dollar is the legal currency in Tuvalu. The Tuvalu National Bank accepts traveler’s checks and most major currencies, including U.S. dollars.

You should be prepared to pay cash for hotel bills and all other services, since credit card services are not available. There are no ATMs on Tuvalu, so it may not be possible to withdraw cash from overseas bank accounts.

Citizenship Documents: U.S. citizens are encouraged to carry a copy of their U.S. passports with them at all times so they can readily provide proof of identity and U.S. citizenship

Faith-Based Travelers:  See the Department of State’s International Religious Freedom Report.

LGBTI Travelers:   Sexual conduct between males is illegal, with maximum penalties of seven to 15 years’ imprisonment,, depending on the nature of the offense.  We are not aware of any recent reports of violence against persons based on sexual orientation or gender identity or prosecutions of consenting adults under these provisions.

See our LGBTI Travel Information page and section 6 of the Department of State's Human Rights report for further details.

Persons with Mobility Issues: Tuvalu prohibits discrimination on the basis of physical, sensory, intellectual, or mental disability. Supplementary state services to address the special needs of persons with disabilities are very limited.

There are no mandated building accessibility provisions for persons with disabilities. The only multi-story government building has elevators, but they are not operational. There are no elevators in private multi-story buildings.

The Fusi Alofa Association (Tuvalu National Disabled Persons Organization) and the Tuvalu Red Cross are useful points of contact for additional accessibility questions. The Community Affairs Department in the Ministry of Home Affairs and Rural Development is responsible for protecting the rights of persons with disabilities.

Students:  See our Students Abroad page and FBI travel tips.

Women Travelers:  See our travel tips for Women Travelers.