In Tonga

Getting Married in Tonga

Posted by: Samiuela LV Taufa on April 14, 2007 4:10:33 PM

Go all the way to the Austria Embassy in Australia to find out about getting married in Tonga ?

Getting Married in Tonga

Non Tongan passport holders who wish to get married in Tonga.

There is a law that anybody holding a visitor's visa in Tonga (i.e. foreign passport holders), must apply to the Principal Immigration Officer (Minister for Foreign Affairs address see below) for permission to marry (Section 10 of the Immigration Act).

NB: If a person holds a valid visa (Not a visitor's visa) s/he is quite free to marry in Tonga without going through these formalities.

You'll have to verify things yourself before attempting to take action on these matters, but there you go, there are formal proceedings to marrying in Tonga on your visitors visa.

Procedure

The non-Tongan passport holder lodges a letter with the VISA Section of Immigration stating that s/he is a citizen of (whatever country) and wishes to marry a Tongan subject in Tonga (or a foreign subject in Tonga).
S/he must submit an affidavit (a statement on oath) stating that s/he is free to marry, has no criminal record etc; The affidavit may be done in Tonga or if done overseas, the original must be signed by a notary public.
Their passport must accompany the application
Application fee of $5O.OO (if it is two foreigners wishing to marry in Tonga and both have visitor's visas then the fee is $50.OO each)
If the person is marrying a Tongan subject - we require the Tongan subject's Birth Certificate or Tongan passport with the application.
Both applicants need to have their original Birth Certificates for the Registrar of the Supreme Court (Not the Immigration division) for the Marriage Certificate.
The whole process can be completed within 2 days or less.

Address of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tonga

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
PO Box 821
Salote Road
Nuku'alofa, Tongatapu
Kingdom of Tonga

Phone: +676 23-600
Fax: +676 23-360

For those interested

in finding that special person, I don't really have any recommendations about individuals, but there are some places that are renowned for available partners, apart from checking the local clubs.

If you're heading out of town and you go by the Royal Tombs, take the road to the Samaritan and you might just see the place, she borders two sides of the Royal Tombs.