Neiafu (Vava’u) - Clearance
ARRIVAL PROCEDURES
General Clearance:
Advanced Notice of Arrival (ANOA) is mandatory. Fines for not completing this prior to your arrival will be enforced, so do not ignore this requirement.
See Tonga/Formalities for full clearance details and fees.
Fly your “Q” Flag, call Vava’u Customs on VHF Channel 26 and wait for Customs, Health and Immigration to check ytou in.
International Clearance:
Berthing Note:
If this is your first Tongan port, you will be instructed to tie up to the main wharf on the west side, in front of a container, lined up with your bow towards the main shore. This area is fenced off from the rest of the wharf.
A dock hand will (should) direct you into position and assist with line-handling. It is advisable to sling your finders horizontally to protect your vessel from the hard rubber wharf bumpers which are spaced well apart. If the weather is bad, call Customs to confirm.
Clearing-in:
If you arrive at the weekend, it is recommended to fly your Q flag and go to the wharf on Monday by 09:00. Strictly speaking, you cannot go ashore before Monday, however, if you must report to the Police station. Call VHF Channel 26 VVMRA in an emergency (monitored 24/7). VHF Channel 26 is also monitored by Police, Customs and other Government departments.
Post COVID-19, you will be escorted to the Customs officials. Once you have filled out their forms and they have sighted your documents, you will be sent back to your boat to await the Quarantine officials. Once you have received the paperwork you will have to go a local ATM to get the $100 Pratique fee (local currency) before going back to the wharf to Immigration.
Clearance is reported to be quick and efficient – between two – three hours and once completed you will received plenty of smiles and well wishes.
- Customs are located by the main wharf, also cover Immigration.
- Vava’u marine and ports is upstairs above Customs.
- Quarantine will charge a rubbish fee (this tends to vary).
- Health clearance is $100 (local currency.)
There are ATMs close by to pay for the fees in cash (Tongan dollars). All Government departments will give receipts with the Tongan Crest on the top – anything else is not an official receipt. Officials are reported to be efficient and friendly but be sure to remove any shiny objects from view on board (fishing lures and alcohol) to reduce possible corruption.
Clearing-out:
When leaving for a foreign port, you will need to clear out at the fishing pier where you arrived. Go to Immigration first, and then the Port Captain to pay harbor fees (see directions above). You then need to take your boat to the fishing pier and clear out with Customs. After Customs you are expected to leave immediately.
Domestic Clearance:
If clearing to move to or arriving from another island group, it is permissible to anchor and dinghy ashore to visit the relevant offices.
Day sailing within the island groups is not restricted, but a Local Movement Report (Small Craft) is required when moving between groups served by customs offices (see Documents for details).
Any harbor dues should be paid prior to visiting Customs as the receipt needs to be shown to obtain the Local Movement Report. Go to Immigration first (no fee), and then the Port Captain to pay harbor fees (10-minute walk, road opposite Bank of South Pacific heading north, fourth turn, end of tarred road, turn right, follow the road, ministry of Infrastructure on right with major road working machinery). Customs by the main wharf must then be visited to obtain the Local Movement Report provided free on showing payment of Harbour Dues.
There is no need to take your boat back to the fishing pier for a domestic check-out. On arrival at the next island group, one must contact Customs on arrival. When traveling between Nuku’alofa and Vava’u, or vice versa, one can request that the Local Movement Report includes Ha’apai if intending to stop in that island group.
Clearance Hours:
Boats are cleared between 08:30 and 16:30 Monday to Friday. They are closed for lunch, usually 12:30-13:30. Lunchtime, after-hours, and Saturday check-ins are sometimes available by special arrangement and for a fee.
If arriving after hours or at weekends and you prefer to wait until normal office opening times, boats are allowed to stay at anchor, flying the Q flag, but may not go ashore until clearance is completed. Report to the wharf at 09:00 on Monday morning. If you must go ashore before then, you are required to report to the police station.
Clearance Assistance:
The local radio net, VHF Ch. 26, 08:30, 7 days a week, will help provide useful information, run by various local marine operators.
VHF Ch. 26 is also monitored by Police, Customs and other Government departments. It is monitored 24/7 and can also be used for emergencies (call VVMRA).
Last updated: February 2023
Marine and Ports – at the wharf
If you have information for this section, or feedback on businesses used, please let us know at editor@noonsite.com. We also welcome new information about businesses you have used (see Related Businesses).
Next Section: Profile: Docking
Related to following destinations: Neiafu (Vava'u), Tonga
Port Navigation
Courtesy Flag Discounts
YachtFlags.com provides high quality courtesy flags that are manufactured in durable Knitted Polyester fabric. Knitted so that the fabric itself does not deteriorate in the constant movement that marine flags are usually exposed to, and polyester so that the flag does not weaken in the strong UV-light usually found in the main sailing areas of the world.
YachtFlags.com offers a discount to Noonsite members.
Use the coupon code NOONSITE_5A2B when checking out to get 10% off today.
Buy Now On YachtFlags.comMain Ports - Tonga
Courtesy Flag Discounts
YachtFlags.com provides high quality courtesy flags that are manufactured in durable Knitted Polyester fabric. Knitted so that the fabric itself does not deteriorate in the constant movement that marine flags are usually exposed to, and polyester so that the flag does not weaken in the strong UV-light usually found in the main sailing areas of the world.
YachtFlags.com offers a discount to Noonsite members.
Use the coupon code NOONSITE_5A2B when checking out to get 10% off today.
Buy Now On YachtFlags.com
Cruisers should be aware. On September 10th, 2019, the co-owner of the hideaway bar in neiafu physically attacked a customer at their establishment. During a conversation, she choked and tackled my wife. My wife now has bruises all over and is suffering neck and back pain from being tackled to the deck. We have reported the incident to the police, but thought the cruising community should know.
This was not a Tongan, but an expat who owns a business. This should not be a reflection of neiafu or the people here. The community is wonderful and this is an incident not at all to do with the people of neiafu
Brief updates from Royce Reid:
Wanted to briefly update a couple of things regarding Tonga.
The check-in in Vava’u was fast and simple. They told us how to extend our boat permit from 4 months to 12. the Customs guy also said there is a proposal under consideration to extend the cruising permit from 12 months to at least 18 months.
The immigration people were friendly and fast and told us where to go to extend our 30-day entry visas. We hauled out in Vava’u at the boatyard there and it was fast efficient and friendly.
We also got a quote for the bottom job and it was almost half price VS. New Zealand. they have also opened a chandlery there. If they don’t have it on hand they can order it tax-free from NZ and it arrives fast with fed ex ( within 7 days we were told ) or cheap by boat.
But takes three weeks. We replaced flares and brought interior paint and some nuts and bolts. Not a huge shop but it has the necessities and arranges for specifics! All in all, it was an awesome easy experience and that’s not even commenting on how amazing the cruising there is!
Royce Reid.
I had arrived Saturday (the 3rd of Nov.) at 1530 local time and managed to get cleared. I was told by the Customs agent that they stay on a stand-by basis every Saturday till 1600.
I managed to call when we were 30 miles away raising awareness of our arrival, and also contacted Vava’u Radio on VHF Ch 26 twice before arriving.
Posted on behalf of Clare Sudlow:
Vava’u Bluewater Festival
Calling all South Pacific Cruisers! – Don’t miss the 2016 Vava’u Blue Water Festival! A fun-filled week in Vava’u, Tonga from October 1st- 8th.
Enjoy the friendliest of welcomes & a week of local festivities, parades, informative talks & parties centered around a mid-week fun cruisers race day.
For full info visit: http://www.vavau.to/bluewaterfestival