New US travel restrictions on Tongans have officially commenced, in force from New Year's day 1 January 2026.
Under the new restrictions, visa issuance for short-term visits, tourism and business purposes have been suspended, and severely limited for those eligible to enter.
The new restrictions are the result of a Presidential Proclamation 10998 by US President Donald Trump. According to the proclamation, the new regulations would "protect the security of the United States".
The White House has stated the regulations are "country specific" and have cited relatively high overstaying rates for Tongans visiting the US.
According to official figures, America's Tongan diaspora numbers at least 78,000 with many Tongan Americans having non-citizen parents.
Meanwhile, Matangi Tonga Online has reached out to the Tongan diplomatic mission in New York for comment.
There has been no official Tongan response to the new US restrictions.
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Editor's Note: If you identify as a US-Tonga or a Tongan who frequently travels to the US, please let us know how this new travel restriction affects you. matangi [at] matangitonga [dot] to
