Living in Tonga - Pros and Cons

Hello everybody,

I am German and seriously thinking about emigration. I would like to live a simple life with subsistence farming and/or animals (bees, horses, donkeys) in the future. One of the places on my potential list (which is still quite long) of emigration destinations is Tonga. Unfortunately I havent had the opportunity of visiting the country yet.
That is why I would appreciate any comments of visitors to Tonga, native Tongans or expatriates who could simply tell me about their experience while being/living in this country. Good points as well as not so good points, just your honest opinion/impression. From the reading I have done so far it looks like the Ha`apai Group could be my favorite place!?
Thank you very much in advance for any message!

Klaus

PS. If you know about life in Vanuatu please check the Vanuatu thread on this forum as I have posted the same message in there, too.

Klaus,

If you check the visa requirements for immigrants, your list of countries will fast be reduced, probably to the EU. I doubt that Vanuatu and Tonga need people living off the land that belongs to native families. They both need tourists with money.

If you happen to be an agri-engineer or a road-, bridgebuilding engineer, you are welcome in New Zealand as far as I know.

Why do all Germans who want to come to tropical islands to live out the rest of their existence all want to raise donkeys?

shrugs shoulders

Donkeys are lovely, useful and quite easy to take care of. Great animals which can become faithful friends and helpers for many daily chores. That is my opinion. No idea what other Germans are thinking.

On tripadvisor.com Tonga forum there's a discussion about ex-pats living on Vava'u-very enlightening.

I myself know two doing more or less what Klaus wants but they both have money and the most successful one is married to a Tongan woman-has lived/worked as a professional in various S Pac islands for over forty (40) years.

We have a lot of Germans living in our sub-tropical coast and hinterland part of Australia. They vary from excellent professionals and academics to extreme hippies. Go figure.

If you live in Germany, you realize soon that its often grey skies make people dream of sunny and warm islands. Quite a few Germans retire in Spain, Southern France or Italy. Some buy a second home in Florida. And some dream big = the South Pacific. :-)

As to donkeys, a Swiss-American told me today that Sicilian miniature donkeys are very tame and cuddly. Didn't test it though.

I could happily spend the rest of my (Aussie) days in Nuku'alofa.

I bit of a garden growing stuff, the golf club, the Royal Nuku'alofa club, and the Fishing club would fill my days.

Plus, maybe, chasing a few of the local lasses around.

Maybe they sold it, but weren't the owners of the Fafa island resort German? (BTW, my avatar on the left is ashot taken from the Alfreco dining room of Fafa.)

I don't know about donkeys, but I know that Tongatapu has cows. I've seen both of them.

For the OP, the food is mixture of Polynesian, Chinese, and Aussie/Kiwi. salt and pepper Lobster is magical.

Yes, you can get fish and chips, and a reasonable pie.

The beer's OK, too. (My beer collection

Where Fiji got the Indians, Tonga got the Chinese.

Funny, I recently spent a week cruising down the Rhine through Germany, and the skies were grey the whole time.
Incidentally, Harry, were the chips with the fish English (or German) potato, or kumara?

English and the fish was sailfish.

Good to hear that you consider Tonga as a destination and I recommend Tonga to you. I'm a New Zealand based Tonga for over 30 years and travel between the two countries about 12 times a year.
check out the following websites to find out more:
www.tonganz.net
www.pmo.gov.to
www.palaceoffice.gov.to
www.decisionmakerdestinations.com
If you need more information contact me directly as I can be of some help.
Melino

might not have been sailfish. ;-)

although, at the time there was a new member of the fishing club and his first catch was a 42kg sailfish. he couldn't win because it was his firat time. The winning fish didn't weigh a kilo.

They did that to me at the golf club, too. They wouldn't let me win last prize (The most golf) because it was my first day out with them.

I am looking for work, guys. Hurry up. ;-)

Yeoow... fried sailfish? your a tough man Harry! I've had smoked sail but fried.... it's about par with boiled Bonito

One of the best days of my life was sailing down the Rhein on a warm German summer's day. There is NOTHING IN THE WORLD like a lovely warm German summer with its consistent, dry sunny heat and clean air. I swore I was Siegfried on my way to my Brunnhilde, and looking down into the legendary blue river I wondered if I'd see the Rheinmaidens protecting a ring of pure gold! But alas, I had to stop dreamng sooner or later. I have some great photos though which always take me back to that lovely day.

Anyway Klaus I'm not sure about Tonga, I'm sure all will seem fine until you need that pain in the intestines checked out or a root canal or wisdom tooth removed. Maybe Thailand? Loads of expats there and still has the medical facilities (be them a bit pricey with no insurance) in the big cities that tonga etc won't have. No idea about any of that legal visa business though.

Hi Klaus,
I am married to a Tongan and living in Tonga since I came here in 1997. Like every place it has advantages and disadvantages. But the fact that I am still here tells you that for me and my family the advantages are far bigger than the disadvantages.
Tonga will be easy for immigration (6 months no problems), after that you need a resident visa, which should not be a problem either.

Most people do not have the courage or possibility to do a step like that. But you know its only a 30 hours flight back to Germany if things do not work out for you. While coming here, I do not suggest to engage in any business activities as you only will loose money for sure and go frustrated back like many others.

No, come here and take time to learn from the people, learn the custom and the rules. Do not invest anything for 6 months.

I love this place, the people are great, the weather can not be better. If you wanna know more feel free to write to me or give me a phonecall.

Ofa atu,
Felix

Felix, that sounds great, but if not married to a Tongan who has land rights, how would someone support themselves while getting to know the place for 6 months, and how would someone qualify for a residence Visa?

ah, good question, Ozziegiraffe. Harry wishes to learn this too.

When I was working there it was a simple matter to get a 2 year visa. I imagine changing that to residence wouldn't be too hard.

So, how does someone NOT working there get more than the 30 day tourist? (I'm Aussie, BTW)

IIRC, OP, there are quite a few Germans in Tonga. When I was there the owners of Fafa were German. (Lovely people).

Never mind.

"So, how does someone NOT working there get more than the 30 day tourist?"

Reapply every 30 days and politely remind the Immigration Officer that you're awaiting an upgrade in your status.

That is if you are waiting for a status change.

I know ou can't do that in Solomon Islands, but you can stay up to 3 months on a tourist Visa. However, you can't upgrade it to resident unless you leave the country.

However, you can't upgrade it to resident unless you leave the country.

Which was the case in Tonga when I was last there, hence my question.

Hi Melino,

My husband & I currently live in Sedona, Arizona, U.S. & have been longing our entire lives to live in a foreign land. We are considering a visit to Tonga this coming December/January to see if this could be our future home. What island do you recommend for living? We appreciate your help & great websites too. Thanks! Janice

Living or visiting?

Because you should spend a number of months in any place first.

Anyway Tonga isn't #1 on many people's list for many reasons-look to Vava'u.

http://www.escapeartist.com/

http://boomersabroad.com/

Edited by: an old escape artist

Hello Klaus

I found your posting really interesting. Am a Korean but for the past several years I was working in London and then Sydney.. Just like yourself thought moving to somewhere in the south Pacific was not a bad idea in this 21st century.

I am just wondering if you made any move yet? What happened to you since then? =)

I am all ears!

Hope you have a great week too!

Jaekoo
P.S: In case you prefer more private communication, pls feel free to email me at: avanade@kaist.ac.kr

Hey Janice. Did you take a visit to Tonga as you originally plannned?

If yes, how did you find it? I am all ears as I am very much interested in visiting / spending rest of my life in the S. Pacific.

Had too hectic life in Europe and here in Australia. Wanna go somewhere like Tonga

More than welcomed to contact me via email : avanade@kaist.ac.kr

For hose who have visited Tonga..... did the place smell different than other SP Islands? or is it just me?

Maybe it's all the Chinese cooking going on?

Tonga is often dusty and the red dust does have a certain smell Yes.