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Cars 4 Rental Information on Tonga

General

Area: 748 sq km (289 sq miles).

Population: 100,281 (official estimate 2000).

Population Density: 134.1 per sq km.

Capital: Nuku'alofa. Population: 22,400 (1996).

GEOGRAPHY: Tonga is an archipelago of 172 islands in the South Pacific, most of which are uninhabited, covering an area of 7700 sq km (3000 sq miles). The major island groups are 'Eua, Ha'apai, the Niuas, Tongatapu and Vava'u. Tonga's high volcanic and low coral forms give the islands a unique character. Some volcanoes are still active and Falcon Island in the Vava'u group is a submerged volcano that erupts periodically, its lava and ash rising above sea level forming a visible island which disappears when the eruption is over. Nuku'alofa, on Tongatapu Island, has a reef-protected harbour lined with palms. The island is flat with a large lagoon, but no running streams, and many surrounding smaller islands. 'Eua Island is hilly and forested with high cliffs and beautiful beaches. The Ha'apai Islands, a curving archipelago 160km (100 miles) north of Tongatapu, have excellent beaches. Tofua, the largest island in the group, is an active volcano with a hot steaming lake in its crater. The Vava'u Islands, 90km (50 miles) north of Ha'apai, are hilly, densely wooded and interspersed with a maze of narrow channels. They are known for their stalagmite-filled caves.

Government: Constitutional monarchy. Gained full independence within the Commonwealth in 1970. Head of State: King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV since 1965. Head of Government: Prime Minister HRH Prince 'Ulukalala-Lavaka-Ata since 2000.

Language: Tongan and English.

Religion: Wesleyan Church, Roman Catholic and Anglican. Small denominations of Muslim, Baha'i and Mormon faiths.

Time: GMT + 13.

Electricity: 240 volts AC, 50Hz.

Communications:

Telephone

IDD is available. Country code: 676. There are no area codes. Outgoing international code: 00.

Mobile telephone

GSM 900. Network operators include Tonga Communications Corporation (website: www.tcc.to).

Fax

Services are provided by Cable & Wireless.

Internet

ISPs include Tonga Communications Corporation (website: www.tcc.to).

Post

Main post office hours (located in the centre of Nuku'alofa): Mon-Fri 0830-1600. All mail must be collected from the post office. Airmail to Europe takes approximately 10 days. There are branch offices on Ha'apai and Vava'u.

Press

The Matangi Tonga, The Times of Tonga and Tonga Chronicle are the English-language newspapers.

Radio: BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online.

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Money

Currency: Pa'anga (T$) = 100 seniti. Notes are in denominations of T$50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1. Coins are in denominations of 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 seniti.

Currency exchange: Foreign exchange is available at banks and at major hotels.

Credit & debit cards: Limited use of both Diners Club and Visa.

Travellers cheques: Accepted at banks and at some hotels and tourist shops. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in Australian Dollars or Pounds Sterling.

Currency restrictions: There are no restrictions on the import or export of foreign or local currencies.

Exchange rate indicators
The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the Pa’anga against Sterling and the US Dollar:

Date Aug ’03 Nov ’03 Feb ’04 May ’04
£1.00= 3.42 2.39 3.58 3.53
$1.00= 2.14 1.40 1.97 1.97

Banking hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1600, Sat 0830-1130.

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Health

Special Precautions Certificate Required
Yellow Fever No 1
Cholera No No
Typhoid and Polio 2 N/A
Malaria No N/A

1: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over 1 year of age arriving from infected areas.

2: Vaccination against typhoid is advised.

Food & drink: Mains water is chlorinated and safe to drink in the main towns. Elsewhere, drinking water should be considered a potential health risk and sterilisation is advisable. Bottled water is available and is advised for the first few weeks of the stay. Milk is pasteurised and dairy products are safe for consumption. Local meat, poultry and seafood are generally considered safe to eat. To prevent serious stomach ailments, wash vegetables and fruit with boiled water and boil any questionable drinking water before use.

Other risks: Hepatitis A and B occur. Sporadic outbreaks of Japanese encephalitis occur; dengue fever may also occur.

Health care: The Government provides comprehensive medical and dental facilities for residents and visitors. There are hospitals in Vaiola (Tongatapu), Hihifo (Ha'apai) and Neiafu (Vava'u), which will treat minor ailments and dispense medicines. There are also clinics, dispensaries, chemists and pharmacies. However, serious medical problems should be taken to Australia, Hawaii, New Zealand or Pago Pago (American Samoa). Visitors only pay a token fee for medicines. There are also competent private medical practitioners. Health insurance is recommended. For emergency services, dial 911.

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Climate

Tonga's climate is marginally cooler than most tropical areas. The best time to visit is from May to November. Heavy rains occur from December to March.

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Passport

Passport Required Visa Required Return Ticket Required
British Yes No Yes
Australian Yes No Yes
Canadian Yes No Yes
USA Yes No Yes
OtherEU Yes No/1 Yes
Japanese Yes No Yes

PASSPORTS: Passport valid for at least 6 months required by all.

Note: Ordinary, diplomatic or official Tongan or Tonga National passport holders may enter the Kingdom with passports valid for the date of arrival in Tonga.

VISAS: Visas required by all except the following:
(a) 1. nationals of countries mentioned in the table above (except nationals of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovak Republic and Slovenia who do need a visa);
(b) nationals of the following countries, to whom a Visitors Pass will be issued on arrival at no cost: The Bahamas, Barbados, Brazil, Brunei, Cook Islands, Dominica, Fiji, Kiribati, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Norway, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Russian Federation, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & Grenadines, Samoa, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Switzerland, Tahiti and Her Islands, Turkey, Tuvalu, Ukraine, Vanuatu and Wallis & Futuna, provided holding a valid return ticket to a country where they have citizenship or a valid endorsement in their passport, granting them residency in a country that is not their country of nationality;
(c) those continuing their journey by the same or first connecting flight within less than 24 hours and not leaving the airport.

Note: Visas, valid on arrival and allowing multiple entry into Tonga, are required by all non-Tongan passport holders who are travelling on a one-way ticket, except for the following:
(a) holders of ordinary, diplomatic or official Tongan passports; (b) holders of Tongan National passports; (c) holders of a letter of authority issued by one of Tonga's overseas diplomatic missions and bearing the official stamp of that Tongan diplomatic mission, or a letter of authority issued by the Immigration Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Government of Tonga, bearing the official stamp of either the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Principal Immigration Officer.

Types of visa and cost: Visitors: T$40 per month. Business: T$200. Employment: T$150. Transit: If transit period exceeds 24 hours an airport tax of T$25 is payable by all nationals over 2 years of age.

Note: Companies and businesses registered and operating in Tonga may bring non-national citizens into the country on an employment visa provided that the said non-citizen holds a specialised skill. Persons undertaking voluntary and charitable work in Tonga are also required to hold an Employment visa.

Validity: Visitors are allowed stays of up to 31 days. Extensions for a maximum of 3 months or in exceptional circumstances 6 months require permission from the Principal Immigration Officer. Business/Employment visas are valid for up to 2 years and are renewable.

Application to: Applications for visas must be made prior to arrival. For enquiries, contact the Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy or High Commission) or the Visa Section, Immigration Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Headquarters in Nuku'alofa (fax: 26970 or 23360).

Application Requirements: (a) Valid Passport. (b) Two passport-size photos. (c) Completed application form. (d) Fee, if applicable, accompanied by letter permitting entry into the kingdom and permission to obtain a visa. (e) Onward or return tickets with reserved seats, including valid visa for onward destination if applicable. (f) Proof of adequate funds for duration of stay. Business/Employment: (a)-(d) and, (e) Medical certificate issued by a doctor specified by the Immigration Division. (f) Two character references. (g) Police certificate from national's own country of residence.

Working days required: Approximately 2 to 3.

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