The suspension of the United States visa, previously enjoyed by Tongan visitors to the US, was triggered by high percentages of visa overstayers, the Minister for His Majesty’s Diplomatic Services, Crown Prince Tupouto’a ‘Ulukalala, told reporters yesterday, when he was questioned on the issue.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (now styled “His Majesty’s Diplomatic Services”) has made no official statement on the visa issue since the US announced new restrictive visa requirements that came into force on 21 January 2026. 

As the United States moves to crack down on illegal immigrants, Tongans [2] who are looking to travel to the United States on short-term visas are now required to post bonds of up to USD $15,000 ($36,774 TOP) for a B1/B2 visa.

At a media briefing on 30 January with the Prime Minister, Lord Fakafanua, the Crown Prince noted that the visa restrictions "will not affect US relations."

On whether the Ministry has reports of separations of families hit by the visa conditions, he noted, “I do not have much knowledge on these issues..."

"But I believe it will not contribute to distant relations with the US,” he said.

The Crown Prince said that the Ministry had yet to release an official statement on the situtation because they: "need to have private discussions."

First media briefing

Yesterday's meeting was the first official media briefing held by the new Cabinet.

They said that the Prime Minister Lord Fakafanua had invited the US Deputy Secretary of State, Christopher Landau, to make an official visit to Tonga for "high-level discussions".

Lord Fakafanua said the US Deputy Secretary of State had accepted his invitation to visit Tonga, but further discussions were expected to take place during an upcoming meeting in Hawaii.

No date has been announced for a possible visit to Tonga.

In September last year, Deputy Secretary Christopher Landau delivered keynote remarks at the U.S.-Pacific Islands Business Forum, on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City. At the time, he announced $60 million funding for the PIFFA in relation to the the South Pacific Tuna Treaty, which allows U.S.-flagged vessels to fish in the exclusive economic zones of 16 PICs. Landau also emphasized the opportunities available following the Millennium Challenge Corporation’s recent selection of Fiji as eligible for a compact program and Tonga as eligible for a threshold program

Other business

The media briefing yesterday was an opportunity for Tongan Cabinet members to discuss their “100-day Plans".

Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Trade and Economic Development  and Minister of Justice, Hon. Dr Viliami Latu, revealed big plans for his ministries.

MTED plans to build a packhouse, primarily for pineapple export, focusing on Vava’u pineapples.

The Ministry is also drafting a Kava Bill to submit to Parliament. He said its intention is to help develop the kava sector, and kava market.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Justice, had a project to build a new court house and offices for judges. To help clear backlogs of cases, they would build new facilities, including court houses for Hihifo, Tongatapu and ‘Eua, he said.