Tonga signs short-stay visa waiver with EU [1]
Tuesday, November 24, 2015 - 17:22
Tongan citizens will now benefit with a short-stay visa free travel to European Countries (EU) after a Schengen Visa Waiver Agreement was signed on 20 November in Brussels.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Delegation of the EU for the Pacific office in Suva announced the signing of the agreement today, Tuesday 24 November.
The new visa regime provides visa free travel for all Tongan citizens when travelling to the EU (Schengen area) for 90-days in any six-months period.
Ireland and the United Kingdom will not be subject to the application of this agreement and visas there remains subject to their national legislation.
The visa travel free applies to all Tongan citizens, who must have a valid ordinary, diplomatic, or service/official passport for any kind of travel purposes like tourism, cultural visit, family visit, business, scientific activities, but excluding those who travel to carry out paid activities.
The agreement which came into effect on a provisional basis on 21 November was signed by HE Ambassador Christian Braun, Permanent Representative of Luxembourg to the EU in his capacity of President-in-Office of the EU and Belina Pyke Director for Migration and Mobility with Sonata Tupou, Charge d’Affaires of Tonga’s Embassy in London.
EU stated that the agreement will encourage people to people contacts, boost tourism and invigorate business between the EU and Tonga.
For Tonga, the signing of this agreement marked an important milestone in its strong and cordial relations with the EU.