US travel restrictions for Tongan citizens now in effect

By James C. Pearce

Tonga is among more than 20 countries to face U.S. visa and entry restrictions effective Jan. 1, 2026, as the Trump administration continues its crackdown on immigration.

President Donald Trump issued an executive order in December, strengthening entry restrictions for countries with deficiencies in screening, vetting and information sharing.

The U.S. said it would restrict and limit the entry of foreign nationals from five countries in the Middle East and Africa to protect the country from “national security and public safety threats”.

The White House initially said a swathe of countries would see restrictions "country-specific" due to "each country's unique circumstances."

It also issued “partial restrictions and entry limitations” on 15 additional countries with unreliable civil documents and criminal records, nonexistent birth registration systems and high visa-overstay rates. The list also includes countries that refuse to share data and repatriate deportees.

Tonga is the only Pacific island nation to make the list, raising eyebrows and triggering outrage across the Pacific. It also threatens to draw the Polynesian kingdom closer to China, which has invested millions in the tiny nation in recent years.

Washington said the restrictions were justified by a high rate of visa overstays among Tongans. The White House reported that Tonga had a 6.45 percent overstay rate for tourist and business visas and 14.44 percent for student, vocational, and cultural exchange visas. 

While Tonga falls under the "partial restrictions" category, visa issuance will be limited to Tongans working for the U.S. embassy, U.S. programs and missionaries.

Tonga has a population of 100,000 and a large diaspora in the U.S., which holds the largest number of Tongan migrants worldwide.

An estimated 70,000 Tongans live in the U.S., including those who claim Tongan ancestry. Most Tongans are based in San Francisco, California and Salt Lake City, Utah, many of whom are members of the Mormon Church of Latter Day Saints.

Tongans in the U.S. work in different sectors such as healthcare, construction, physical labor and professional sports. Tongan voters are predominantly Republican and often hold more socially conservative views than other Pacific islanders.

In the United Nations, the majority of the Tongan government’s votes align

with the U.S.

In 2023, the U.S., under Joe Biden's administration, opened an embassy in Tonga, “symbolizing the renewal” of America’s “bilateral relations and commitment to the people of Tonga, and to our partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region.”

During the 150th anniversary of the Tongan Constitution on Nov. 3, 2025, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. and Tonga "share a deep and enduring partnership."

"A century of cooperation to promote security and economic development for our two peoples stands as a testament to the strength of our relationship. As we look to the future, we celebrate the bonds that unite us and look forward to continued cooperation," Rubio said.

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Tevita Kaili, a Tongan professor at Brigham Young University in Hawaii, said

Tongans are not a threat to U.S. security.

"The claim that the US is protecting its security by restricting Tongans from travelling to the U.S. is unfounded," he told The Guardian.

Kaili noted that the Tongan government deployed troops to Iraq and Afghanistan to support U.S. security efforts.

The restrictions do not only affect those wishing to travel to the U.S., but also Tongans already on work or student visas. If they leave, they may not be allowed to reenter U.S. soil. There is also a risk of being rounded up by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which may lead to deportation and lengthy, costly legal battles.

Kaili expressed concern that at graduation ceremonies, no parents or relatives would be able to travel to the US to celebrate with their children.

“It will be sad to see a decline in the number of Tongan students at my university in January 2026 due to the travel restrictions. Currently, Tongans constitute the second-largest international student population at my university,” Kaili said.

Hawaii State Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole denounced Tonga's inclusion on this list.

"Singling out Tonga is unjustified and deeply offensive to the people of Hawaii, where Polynesian identity is foundational," he said.

There are about 150,000 Tongans outside Tonga, making it one of the growing number of countries with more passport holders abroad than within its borders.

Thousands of Tongans migrate to Australia, New Zealand and Japan in search of better job opportunities.

Around 98,000 Tongans live in New Zealand and 40,000 in Australia. Those numbers could increase if the U.S. ceases to be an option for migration–and that could prove politically problematic.

Australia’s anti-immigrant party, One Nation, is surging in the polls. Australia is also receiving the first climate refugees from Tuvalu this year. One Nation has been known to whip up hate and racist sentiment against Pacific island immigrants in the past.

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