Australian High Commission
Kingdom of Tonga

Visas and Immigration

Visas and Immigration

We do not provide a visa and citizenship counter service. Australian High Commission staff are unable to assist with general visa or citizenship enquiries. 

Visa and citizenship applications are managed by the Department of Home Affairs.  

Visit the Home Affairs website for further information regarding visas or citizenship. The website also has useful definitions and tools to help you understand the department’s requirements. Visit the website at Immigration and citizenship. 

You can apply online for most Australian visas and citizenship through an ImmiAccount. This is the preferred and most efficient way to apply. Technical assistance is available on the  ImmiAccount Technical Assistance webpage. 

If you have an ongoing application outside global processing times, you can complete the Australian immigration enquiry form.  

Global Service Centre 

If you require additional information, you may telephone the Global Service Centre on +61 2 6196 0196, Monday to Friday, from 9:00am to 5:00pm your local time. 

International calls may be subject to charges imposed by your local carrier. You may wish to consider using a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) provider to avoid potentially high charges. 

Using an interpreter 

When you call the GSC, select option 6 to engage a Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) interpreter in your language. Option 6 can be selected straight after dialling the GSC number. 

Alternatively, a TIS interpreter can also be engaged directly via: 

Providing biometrics  

All visa applicants in Tonga must submit biometrics for each application lodged, regardless of their nationality, unless they are excluded or exempt from the program. Applicants who have previously provided their biometrics for an Australian visa may be able to submit their biometrics via the free to download Australian Immi App. These applicants will be notified of this option via email shortly after they lodge their visa application. 

First time visa applicants who have not previously submitted biometrics must do so at the Australian Biometrics Collection Centre in Nuku'alofa, 

     Ground Floor of the General Post Office 
     Corner Taufa'ahau and Salote Roads,   
     Nuku'alofa, Tonga. 
 

The Pacific Engagement Visa 

This visa allows citizens of Pacific island countries and Timor-Leste to live and work in Australia permanently. Applicants must be selected in a ballot to apply. 

For information about how to register for the ballot, visit the Department of Home Affairs: How to register (homeaffairs.gov.au). 

Before you use an agent or anyone else to help you with this application, please first visit: Who can help you with your application?(homeaffairs.gov.au) 
 
For more information and up-to-date announcements on the PEV, follow: https://www.facebook.com/PacificEngagementVisa. 
 

Stay safe from visa scams

STAY INFORMED. YOUR VISA, YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.

Protect yourself from visa scams and false promises.

Beware of scams that guarantee a visa in exchange for money. You are at risk of losing money, having your identity stolen, and being lured into unsafe work conditions and exploited.

There is only one official Australian Government provider of visas – the Department of Home Affairs.

Thinking of applying for an Australian visa? Read this first.

Every year, thousands of hopeful Tongans are tricked by false promises and fake agents claiming to offer “easy” ways into Australia. Some are told that there’s a simple way to change visa once in Australia.

The information here is to protect you and your family, and help you understand your real, legal visa options.

Not all visas allow you to work in Australia

To work legally in Australia, you must have a visa with work rights and understand the work conditions that apply to you. Some visas, such as student visas, have restrictions on the number of hours you’re allowed to work.

Scammers often claim you can enter Australia for work on a visitor visa or transit visa – this is illegal and you will be refused entry and returned to the country you came from.

Beware of scam agents

Scam agents often pretend to be legitimate migration professionals and encourage people to work in Australia illegally.

If someone guarantees you an Australian visa, be cautious. Scam agents frequently charge high fees and submit applications with false information and documents, which can lead to large fines, visa cancellation, detention and removal from Australia for the visa applicant.

If someone promises you a visa or permanent residency in Australia, or demands a large upfront payment to "fast-track" your application, it’s a guaranteed scam. Make an anonymous report to Australia’s Border Watch Online Report.

You can also phone the Australian Department of Home Affairs Global Call Centre. Interpreter services are available.

Your Australian visa is your responsibility

Never allow someone to apply for a visa on your behalf without making sure all the information in the application is true and accurate. This includes information about:

  • your identity (name, date of birth)
  • citizenship, passport number)
  • relationship status
  • travel history
  • criminal history.

If you are involved in a visa scam (even if you didn’t realise it) this may exclude you from future Australian visas and for visas to other countries.

Learn more about who can legally provide immigration assistance in Australia.

Top 10 ways to spot a scam

  1. They contact you via social media or apps like WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger.
  2. They guarantee you an Australian visa.
  3. They say you can leave your PALM scheme employer at any time without telling the Australian Government.
  4. They ask for large upfront payments or pressure you to act quickly.
  5. They tell you to lie in your visa application.
  6. They don’t explain what visa you’re applying for.
  7. They charge a lot more for the visa than the cost listed on the Australian Department of Home Affairs website.
  8. They say you can do paid work in Australia on a Visitor visa.
  9. They refuse to share your visa application with you in ImmiAccount – the Australian Department of Home Affairs immigration portal and the only official website to use when applying for an Australian visa.
  10. They claim to be registered in Australia but do not have a Migration Agent Registration Number (MARN) or are not listed on the Office of Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA) website.

Learn more about how to spot a scam at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visascams.

False information will risk your future

There is a lot of false visa information online, especially on social media, including scams and fake success stories. Bad advice from false sources can lead to removal from Australia at your cost and being refused future visas.

If someone suggests you take an indirect or unusual route to Australia, such as flights via another country or by taking a boat to avoid checkpoints, you are being scammed. This travel is illegal under Australian law. Trying to enter Australia by boat without a valid visa will result in you being removed and permanently banned from entering Australia.

Do you know the facts about Protection visas?

Some scam agents are telling people to apply for a Protection visa once they arrive in Australia so they can stay and work. This is not the purpose of a Protection visa.

Protection visas are for people who are seeking asylum in Australia because they face a real risk of significant harm or persecution in their home country. Protection visas are not a way to stay and work in Australia. Fake Protection visa claims are now processed fast and quickly refused. If you are refused a Protection visa:

  • You and your family may find it harder to visit Australia in the future.
  • Your refusal will stay on your immigration record for life.
  • It can impact future visa applications to other countries.
  • You may face large fines and jail time if your application included false or misleading information and documents.

Don't take the risk. Learn more about Protection visa eligibility.

The number 1 rule for any Australian visa

Only use official government sources when looking at what visa to apply for.

These are:

Not all official Australian Government websites are available in Tongan. You might want to use translation tools to review information but consider that the translation might not be completely accurate.