Yes, Tongan citizens need a visa for Vietnam. Tonga is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list, so the simplest choice is the Vietnam visa for Tongan citizens issued online: a 90-day e-visa costing US$25 for single entry or US$50 for multiple entry, usually ready in about 3 working days.
Tonga has allowed dual citizenship since 2007, and many Tongans also hold a New Zealand, Australian or US passport. None of those is on Vietnam’s exemption list either, so an e-visa is still needed. This page covers the steps, payment, the time difference, flights, costs and who to contact.
Vietnam visa for Tongan citizens: quick facts (November 2026)
- Visa needed: yes. Tonga is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list.
- New Zealand, Australian or US passport: e-visa needed as well.
- Best option: e-visa, up to 90 days, single or multiple entry, US$25 or US$50.
- Processing: about 3 working days, longer around Tet.
- Time difference: Vietnam is 6 hours behind Nuku’alofa.
- Embassies: neither country has an embassy in the other.
How many Tongan visitors go to Vietnam
Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security counted 37 arrivals on Tongan passports in 2019. Only 1 arrived in 2021, when Vietnam’s borders were closed, and 11 came in 2022. January 2023 brought another 2.
Vietnam visa for Tongan citizens: your options
| Option | Length | Government fee | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-entry e-visa | Up to 90 days | US$25 | One holiday, study or work trip |
| Multiple-entry e-visa | Up to 90 days | US$50 | Several trips, or side trips to Cambodia or Thailand |
| Visa on arrival (approval letter) | As stated on the letter | US$25 / US$50 cash + letter fee | Some urgent air arrivals |
| Phu Quoc exemption | Up to 30 days | Free | Phu Quoc island only |
Only a passport on the Vietnam visa exemption list, such as a British one, would let you travel visa-free. Whichever passport you use, use it for check-in, arrival and departure.
How to apply for a Vietnam visa as a Tongan citizen
- Check your passport. It must be valid for at least six months after arrival, with blank pages.
- Enter your name exactly as your passport splits it. Copy the given names and surname from the two lines of letters at the bottom of your data page, without apostrophes or the glottal stop mark.
- Prepare a 4×6 cm portrait on a white background, no glasses, plus a full scan of the data page. See our Vietnam visa photo guide.
- Apply on evisa.gov.vn or through our service if you want your form checked before it is sent.
- Choose your entry gate from the list of e-visa ports of entry, matching the airport where you land.
Cost of the Vietnam visa for Tongan citizens
The government fee is US$25 for single entry and US$50 for multiple entry, the same for every nationality. Pay by international Visa or Mastercard; if your local card cannot make online payments in US dollars, a relative abroad can pay for you. With a service, you pay the government fee plus a service fee, and the full total appears before payment. Compare all routes in our Vietnam visa cost guide.
When to apply: holidays, Tet and the time difference
Vietnam is 6 hours behind Tonga. The 3 working days are counted on Hanoi time, so a form sent at 2 pm on a Friday in Nuku’alofa arrives at 8 am on Friday in Hanoi, and processing can start the same day. Read more in our Vietnam visa processing time guide.
- Christmas and school holidays: December and January are busy. Apply at least 2 weeks before you fly.
- Tet: Vietnam’s Lunar New Year starts on 6 February 2027. Processing slows or pauses around it; in 2026 the pause ran from 14 to 22 February. Apply in January for a February trip.
- Flights: there are no direct flights. Most travelers fly from Nuku’alofa through Auckland, Sydney or Nadi, then on to Asia. Check the transit rules where you change planes.
Embassies covering both countries
Vietnam for Tonga. There is no Vietnamese embassy in Nuku’alofa. If you need a paper visa, contact the Vietnamese embassy in the country where you live, for example in Wellington or Canberra. You do not need any embassy for an e-visa.
Tonga for Vietnam. Tonga has no embassy or consulate in Vietnam. In an emergency, such as a lost passport, contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nuku’alofa, which will tell you which Tongan mission can help.
Worked examples
- Couple from Nuku’alofa, 2 weeks in Hanoi and Ha Long Bay: two single-entry e-visas (US$25 each), flying through Auckland.
- Tongan-Australian nurse from Sydney, 10 days in Da Nang: an e-visa on either passport, since neither is exempt.
- Teacher from Vava’u on a 3-week course in Ho Chi Minh City: a single-entry e-visa, with the course organiser’s details on the form.
FAQ: Vietnam visa for Tongan citizens
Do Tongan citizens need a visa for Vietnam?
Yes. Tonga is not on Vietnam’s visa exemption list, so you need an e-visa or another visa.
Is there a Vietnamese embassy in Tonga?
No. For most trips, apply for the e-visa online; no embassy visit is needed.
Can I get a visa on arrival?
Only with an approval letter arranged before the flight, and only at international airports. See our guide to Vietnam visa on arrival.
Do I need the Digital Arrival Card?
If you land in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang, Phu Quoc or Cam Ranh, submit the free card within 72 hours before arrival. It is not a visa. Learn more about the Vietnam e-visa.
Checking a different passport? Our Vietnam visa requirements by nationality list covers all 196 passports from A to Z.
Sources: Vietnam Government Resolutions 44/NQ-CP, 229/NQ-CP, 127/NQ-CP and 389/NQ-CP; Vietnam Ministry of Public Security arrival figures. Last reviewed: 10 November 2026. We are an independent visa service, not a government website.
