Mr. Sateki Finau of Fo'ui, and Mrs. Temaleti Fulivai Faka'osi of Kolomotu'a became the first Tongans to reclaim their Tonga citizenship during a short ceremony at the Prime Minister's Office on Monday 25th February 2008..

Mr. Finau, who is an American citizen, and Mrs. Faka'osi, who is an Australian citizen, had applied separately to the Minister responsible for Immigration for certificates of re-admission to Tongan nationality under the Nationality (Amendment) Act 2007 which became law in August 2007.

Prior to the amendment coming into force, a Tongan subject who voluntarily became a naturalized citizen of another country was deemed to have ceased to be a Tongan citizen. Similarly a female Tongan subject who married a foreigner and voluntarily acquired the nationality of her husband also ceased to be a Tongan subject.

Under the Nationality (Amendment) Act 2007 any person who ceased to be a Tongan subject prior to August 2007 may apply to the Minister responsible for Immigration for a certificate of re-admission to Tongan nationality.

The Nationality (Amendment) Act 2007 also defines persons "deemed to be Tongan subjects" as: any person born in Tonga to a Tongan parent; any person born abroad to a Tongan father; any person born abroad of a Tongan mother; any non-Tongan who marries a Tongan (provided he declares his wish to become a Tongan subject and take the oath of allegiance); and any person naturalized under this Act.

In the short ceremony in the Prime Minister's Office, the Hon Prime Minister signed their Certificates of Re-Admission to Tongan Nationality and then witnessed their taking the Oath of Allegiance which was administered by Leonaitasi Kuluni of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration. PM Office, 27/02/08.