Visa waiver for Emiratis awaits Cabinet confirmation [1]
Friday, April 27, 2018 - 18:41
By May 24, the United Arab Emirates UAE could become the 73rd country whose citizens may enter Tonga without a pre-entry visa - or may be not.
However, as of today 27 April, Matangi Tonga has not been able to confirm either with the Prime Minister’s Office or the Principal Immigration Officer, whether or not the MOU has been tabled/approved by Cabinet, and signed off by the Prime Minister as required under Section 7(1)(k) of the Immigration Act.
The visa free Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed by a Special Envoy of the King of Tonga to the UAE, ‘Akau’ola and the UAE Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for International Organisation Affairs, Yacoub Yousef Al Hosani on 23 April and anticipated to come into effect on 24 May.
Under the MOU that has been signed, Emiratis may enter Tonga without a pre-entry visa, and may stay in the country visa free for 60 days.
At the moment citizens of 72 countries may enter Tonga without an entry visa. About 30 of these countries are members of the European Union who may stay in Tonga for 90 days without a visa.
The citizens of the remaining 42 countries May enter Tonga without an entry visa, and stay without a visa for 31 days.
It is not yet clear what will happen to Emiratis arriving at Tonga's borders without visas after May 24.