New E-Government Portal, TongaPass Digital ID, and API Platform set to enhance citizen experience of e-government.
The Government of Tonga announced a leap forward in its national digital transformation journey with the launch of a new e-government portal, the TongaPass digital identification system, and a sophisticated API integration platform on 29 May 2025. These initiatives are set to improve the delivery of public services and enhance the end-user experience for all Tongans.
Spearheaded by the Digital Transformation Department under the Prime Minister’s Office, in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Health, the intiative has crucial support from the World Bank and expert technology partners,
The new e-government portal at https://www.gov.to will serve as a centralized hub for citizens to access a growing array of online government services. This will eliminate the need for citizens to physically visit multiple ministries for a single task. For instance, processes like business license renewals, which previously required visits to both the Ministry of Trade and Economic Development and the Revenue services, can now be streamlined.
At the heart of this transformation is TongaPass, Tonga’s digital identification system, which also upgraded the nation's Civil Registration system. TongaPass will provide every registered individual in the Civil Registration System with a unique ID number. This initiative, driven by the Ministry of Justice—the custodian of citizens' 'single source of truth' data— digitizes the foundational requirement of identity verification for accessing government services.
The advanced API (Application Programming Interface) platform is a crucial enabler. VSIS also handled the vital integrations of the Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Health systems with this platform. This API technology allows secure data transmission and seamless interaction between different government ministry systems, for the delivery of complex, multi-ministerial e-services to citizens through a single, streamlined online workflow. Citizens will now be able to discover relevant government services more easily and access tailored service packages for specific life circumstances, regardless of their understanding of government structures.
The foundational elements for this digital leap were meticulously planned. Legal expertise was secured to draft and provide consultations on the legislative frameworks necessary for robust digital governance. Furthermore, international digital governance specialists were instrumental in developing Tonga's Cybersecurity Framework, the Tonga Enterprise Architecture Framework, a Cloud First Policy, and the Data Exchange/Interoperability Framework, ensuring a secure, coherent, and future-proof digital ecosystem.
The Prime Minister, Hon. ‘Aisake Eke, emphasized the government's commitment: "The purpose of this initiative is to make Government services more accessible to the public."
From a largely disconnected kingdom in the early 2000s, Tonga has evolved into a significantly more connected digital society, with nearly universal mobile phone access and increasing internet adoption. This progress has been underpinned by strategic telecom reforms, major infrastructure developments including submarine fiber-optic cables, and a clear vision outlined in the Digital Government Strategic Framework.
The World Bank has been a key funding partner in this endeavor, providing support to the Government of Tonga in establishing this comprehensive digitization effort.
Following the official launch at the end of May 2025, new digital e-services will be progressively rolled out as more Ministries are onboarded to these new platforms. The government anticipates that these technologies will foster greater efficiency, transparency, and accessibility in public administration.
Citizens are encouraged to visit the new e-government portal at https://gov.to and follow the official Government of Tonga Facebook page for further updates and information on newly available e-services.
About the Digital Transformation Department:
The Digital Transformation Department, under the Prime Minister’s Office, leads the strategic implementation of digital initiatives across the Tongan Government. Its mission is to leverage technology to enhance public service delivery, foster innovation, and improve the lives of all Tongans through a connected and efficient digital government.
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