Russian tourists arriving in the country for a period of not more than 31 days do not need to apply for a visa in advance. It is placed free of charge at the airport upon arrival. You must have a passport with you, valid for at least 6 months from the end of the trip, round-trip tickets and a tourist voucher. The visa can be extended at the Immigration Department. To do this, you must present new return tickets and an extension of the hotel reservation.
You can also apply for a visa in advance in Russia at the British Embassy, which issues visas to the Commonwealth countries. Documents for a visa are submitted to the British Visa Application Center located in Moscow at Bolshoy Savvinsky lane, 12, building 18. Information service telephone: 784-71-44. The service operates from Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 21:00, calls to the call center are paid. Visa processing can take up to 4 weeks.
Import and export of national or foreign currency is not limited. Persons over 16 years of age are allowed duty-free import of 500 gr. leaf tobacco or an equivalent amount of cigarettes and cigars, persons over 18 years of age – 2.25 liters of spirits, or 4.5 liters of wine, or 4.5 liters of beer. It is forbidden to import weapons, ammunition, pornography, as well as drugs and drug-containing medicines without a permit. It is forbidden to export representatives of flora and fauna, some valuable handicrafts, as well as corals raised from the bottom of the sea.
Embassy in in Tonga
Tonga, Embassy in Moscow
Visas to the Kingdom of Tonga in Russia are issued by the British Embassy.
Address: Smolenskaya embankment, 10.
Tel.: 956-72-00.
Documents for a visa are submitted to the British Visa Application Center located in Moscow at Bolshoy Savvinsky lane, 12, building 18. Information service: 784-71-44. The service operates from Monday to Friday from 9.00 to 21.00, calls to the call center are paid.
Tonga, Russian Embassy in the country:
There is no Russian Embassy in the Kingdom of Tonga. The nearest embassies are in Australia and New Zealand.
Embassy of the Russian Federation in Australia:
Canberra, 78 Canberra Avenue, Griffis ACT2603.
Tel.: (8-10-61-62) 95-90-38,
95-18-47.
Embassy of the Russian Federation in New Zealand:
Wellington, Karori, Messines highway, 57.
Tel.: (8-10-644) 476-61-13.
Fax: (8-10-644) 476-38-43.
Communication in in Tonga
On the streets of large cities you can see pay phones that work with phone cards. They can be purchased at post offices, newsstands and convenience stores. You can also call abroad from a hotel, however, a call from a room will cost you more.
In order to call from Russia to the Kingdom of Tonga, you need to dial 8 – 10 – 676 (country code) – the subscriber’s number.
In order to call from the Kingdom of Tonga to Russia, you need to dial 00 – 7 – area code – subscriber number.
Emergency Phones in in Tonga
Unified Rescue Service – 911
HOLIDAYS AND WEEKENDS
January 1 – New Year’s Day
March 25 – World War I
Memorial Day June 4 – Independence Day
July 12 – King Tupou IV
Day August 1 – Birthday of the current King Tupou V
November 4 – Constitution Day
December 4 – First King’s Day Tupou I
December 25 – Christmas
On Sunday, almost all the inhabitants of the kingdom go to church services, so shops, restaurants and other establishments are mostly closed on this day of the week.
New Year holidays are widely celebrated on the archipelago, when festive events last for a whole week, Easter, during which the Easter Festival, Independence Day and the days of the kings are held.
Of the festivals, one can single out the Pacific Blue-Vavau Festival, which takes place in early February on the island of Vavau, the March Music Festival in Nuku’alofa, the Haapai Festival, held on the island group of the same name in early June, the Eua National Park Festival (late June – early July) and the Tongan International Fishing Tournament, held on the island of Vavau in September.
USEFUL THINGS
Tourists should follow basic safety rules: do not travel around the outskirts of cities alone, do not carry large sums of money and documents with you, keep all cash and documents in hotel safes.
Wearing beachwear outside the beach area is not welcome, when leaving the beach, it is necessary to cover bare areas of the body, and it is better for women to wear long skirts, and for men – light trousers.
SHOPPING
According to thembaprograms, large stores are open Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 17:00, on Saturdays from 08:00 to 12:00.
TIPS
Tipping in the archipelago is akin to gifts that are presented here for any reason and even without it, so the service staff always expects encouragement.
NATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS
Local people are very friendly, however, they do not accept defiant behavior. On Sundays, all Tongans go to Sunday services in the church, this is a holy day for almost every inhabitant of the archipelago, so tourists should behave with restraint on Sundays.
ELECTRICITY
240V, 50Hz;
HEALTH CARE
Before traveling, it is strongly recommended to take out medical insurance, as serious injuries are not dealt with in Tongan hospitals, the victims are sent to hospitals in Australia, New Zealand or Hawaii. It is also recommended to vaccinate against diphtheria, hepatitis A and B, typhoid, rabies and tuberculosis.
Only boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice. Meat, fish and other seafood must be cooked, vegetables must be thoroughly washed and scalded with boiling water, and fruits must be peeled.
Due to increased solar activity, before going out, it is worth putting on hats, light cotton clothes covering the whole body, and sunglasses, as well as wearing sunscreen and always having drinking water with you.
