Funafuti Entry Requirements
Visa, immigration, and customs information
Visa Requirements
Entry permissions vary by nationality. Find your category below.
Tuvalu operates a three-tier visa regime: visa-free, Electronic Travel Authority (ETA), and traditional visa obtained in advance. Maximum stay is normally 30 days, extendable to 90 days for a fee.
Passport holders from Pacific Islands Forum countries plus a small group of other nations may enter Tuvalu without prior authorization.
Entry stamp issued on arrival; free of charge.
Most visitors, including tourists from the United States, United Kingdom, EU/Schengen states, Canada, Australia, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and UAE, must obtain an ETA online before boarding their flight to Funafuti.
Cost: USD 50 standard, USD 80 urgent
Print or save the ETA approval on your phone; airlines will ask for it at check-in. ETA is valid for 90 days from issue, so apply after you have confirmed flights and funafuti hotels.
Citizens of countries not eligible for visa-free or ETA must secure a visa in advance from the nearest Tuvalu diplomatic mission or honorary consulate.
Visa fee USD 100. No visa-on-arrival facility for these nationalities.
Arrival Process
Funafuti International Airport sees only a handful of flights each week, so the arrival hall is small and informal. Nevertheless, have paperwork ready to avoid delays.
Documents to Have Ready
Tips for Smooth Entry
Customs & Duty-Free
Tuvalu’s duty-free allowances are modest and strictly enforced to protect local revenue and biosecurity.
Prohibited Items
- Illicit drugs – heavy penalties including imprisonment
- Weapons, ammunition, and explosives
- Pornographic material
- Fresh poultry products (due to avian flu controls)
Restricted Items
- Plant material and seeds – require biosecurity permit from Tuvalu Agriculture Department in advance
- Pets – advance approval and health certificate mandatory (see Special Situations)
Health Requirements
No vaccinations are mandatory for entry unless arriving from a yellow-fever endemic area. Health care facilities are basic; travel insurance is strongly recommended.
Required Vaccinations
- Yellow fever – if arriving from or transiting through an endemic country within 6 days
Recommended Vaccinations
- Hepatitis A & B
- Typhoid
- Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR)
- Tetanus-diphtheria
- Influenza (seasonal)
Health Insurance
Not compulsory but medical evacuation to Fiji or Australia is expensive; ensure coverage for emergency flights.
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Special Situations
Additional requirements for specific circumstances.
Bring birth certificate showing parents’ names; if only one parent is traveling, carry notarized consent letter from the other parent. No separate visa fee for under-12s.
Dogs and cats permitted only from rabies-free countries; apply for an import permit at least 30 days ahead, provide veterinary health certificate issued within 7 days of travel, and book 30-day home quarantine on Funafuti.
Apply at the Tuvalu Immigration Office in Vaiaku before the initial 30 days expire; extension costs AUD 50 per 30 days up to a total of 90 days. Longer stays require local sponsorship and a special residence visa.
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