Tuvalu: visa and entry rules

Tuvalu's borders: every crossing point

The country has no land borders — it is a group of islands.

All entry is by air and by sea. The only airport is Funafuti, with flights from Fiji several times a week.

There are few flights, and they shape a trip more than the visa rules do. Most countries in the region are reached via Fiji, Australia or New Zealand, and connections run only once every few days.

Travel between the islands within the country is by light aircraft and boats, with no border formalities involved.

The runway at Funafuti doubles as a town square: between flights people walk and play on it, and it is cleared by siren before a plane lands.

Bringing a car into Tuvalu

You cannot drive here under your own steam — there are no land borders.

Tourists get around in rental cars, and the fleet is small: it is worth booking ahead.

Traffic drives on the left.

A local temporary driving permit is often required — it is issued on the spot for a small fee.

For how temporary vehicle import into Tuvalu is handled, ask customs directly. The procedure changes and reference guides do not keep up with it.

Travelling to Tuvalu with a pet

The rules are strict: island states protect their own ecosystems, and biosecurity here is tougher than immigration control.

An import permit is arranged in advance, and the requirements depend on the country you are travelling from.

A rabies vaccination must be valid on the date of entry.

Quarantine applies.

Find out the timings and requirements for bringing an animal into Tuvalu long before the trip, not just before the flight: the paperwork for an animal takes weeks.

Overstaying your visa in Tuvalu

A fine is charged for exceeding your permitted stay and is paid on departure.

You will have to pay at the border, and that is where you will be told how much. There is no way to find out the amount in Tuvalu in advance, so do not book a tight connection and keep cash on you.

An extension is arranged in advance, before the permitted stay expires.

Infrequent flights are a risk in their own right. Overstaying here happens not through ill intent but because the next plane is four days away: plan your departure with time to spare.