Getting Married in Tonga

Non Tongan passport holders who wish to get married in Tonga.

There is a law that anybody holding a visitor's visa in Tonga (i.e. foreign passport holders), must apply to the Principal Immigration Officer (Minister for Foreign Affairs – address see below) for permission to marry (Section 10 of the Immigration Act).

NB: If a person holds a valid visa (Not a visitor's visa) s/he is quite free to marry in Tonga without going through these formalities.

• The non-Tongan passport holder lodges a letter with the VISA Section of Immigration stating that s/he is a citizen of (whatever country) and wishes to marry a Tongan subject in Tonga (or a foreign subject in Tonga).
  
  
• S/he must submit an affidavit (a statement on oath) stating that s/he is free to marry, has no criminal record etc; The affidavit may be done in Tonga or if done overseas, the original must be signed by a notary public.
  
  
• Their passport must accompany the application
  
  
• Application fee of $5O.OO (if it is two foreigners wishing to marry in Tonga and both have visitor's visas then the fee is $50.OO each)
  
  
• If the person is marrying a Tongan subject - we require the Tongan subject's Birth Certificate or Tongan passport with the application.
  
  
• Both applicants need to have their original Birth Certificates for the Registrar of the Supreme Court (Not the Immigration division) for the Marriage Certificate.
  
  
• The whole process can be completed within 2 days or less.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
PO Box 821
Salote Road
Nuku'alofa, Tongatapu
Kingdom of Tonga

Phone: +676 23-600
Fax: +676 23-360