Business opportunities
The Opportunities Online website may be a useful addition to your information sources. The database established by Austrade aims to deliver international sales leads ('export opportunities'), including tenders, generated by our overseas network to Australian businesses.
Registering is simple and once this is done you will have the option of accessing a weekly newsletter featuring the most recent opportunities uploaded onto the system in industry sectors of interest to you. Another feature is the ability to view, and also print, the complete page of opportunity details.
For general inquiries concerning Austrade’s services, please contact Austrade Direct on 13 28 78.
Business etiquette
Please note: Bribery of foreign public officials is a crime. Australian individuals and companies can be prosecuted in Australia for bribing foreign officials when overseas. For more information, go to the Attorney General's Department on foreign bribery.
Tariffs and regulations
Import restrictions
Most goods are imported under Open General Licence.
Pharamceuticals must secure a prior written confirmation from the Minsitry of Health before other appropriate authorisation is granted.
Fertilisers and other agricultural chemicals must be accompanied by an import permit issued by the Minstry of Agriculture and Forestry.
Imports of motor vehicles (including cycles and scooters) require an import licence issued by the Ministry of Labour, Commerce and Industries. Left-hand drive vehicles require prior permission from the Traffic Department of the Ministry of Police.
Restricted imports:
- Brandy and whisky unless certified to the satisfaction of the Collector that it has been matured in wood for three years
- eggs except with a licence issued by the Minister of Finance
- Fertilisers and other agricultural chemicals must be accompanied by an import permit by the Ministry of Agricultural and Forestry.
Tariff
Standard international Trade Classification. Duties are mainly ad valorem, assessed on the CIF value (Incoterms 2000).
Customs authority contact details:
Commissioner of Revenue
PO Box 146
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tel: +676 23 651
Fax: +676 24 124
Packing, marking and labelling
No special packing requirements but goods should be securely packed to withstand possible rough handling and humid conditions.
Outer package should bear the consignee's mark and port mark and should be numbered (to accord with the packing list) unless their contents can be otherwise readily identified.
Weights and measures
The metric system.
Insurance
Normal commercial practice.
Methods of quoting and payment
Plants and animal products likely to contain pests or diseases may not be imported. Foodstuffs, drugs and pharmaceutical products are strictly controlled.
Public health requirements
Only orginal document is accepted. Number of copies is usually stipulated by importer. In addition to usual details, the following information must be included:
- Freight costs
- Individual weights and measures of packages
- Freight rebates or discounts (shown as deductions from gross freight)
- Amount and rate of each type of insurance
- Exact nature of any discount
Documentation
Particular attention should be given to facilitating fast delivery of documents necessary for clearing goods through customs in view of the short shipping time between Australia and Tonga.
Fax signatures are not permitted.
Certificate of origin
Only original document is accepted. The number of copies is usually stipulated by importer. In addition to usual details, the following information must be included:
- Freight costs
- Individual weights and measures of packages
- Freight rebates or discounts (shown as deductions from gross freight)
- Amount and rate of each type of insurance
- Exact nature of any discount
To assist the importer, the correct Harmonized System (HS) classification of the products should be indicated.
Bill of lading
Quality of goods, nature and description must be specified in the Bill of Lading.
Packing list
Requested to facilitate documents.
Special certificates
Phytosanitary certificates must accompany plants and plant materials.
A sanitary certificate must accompany.
Spirits require a certificate of age to the effect that they are not less than three years old.
Taxation
A ports and services tax of 20 per cent, assessed on the CIF value, is levied on all imports, except the following:
- Insecticides, pesticides and fungicides, for use in agriculture
- Medals and decorations to be worn by persons in the Kingdom
- Machinery and implements, agricultural, including hand tools and timber milling machinery
- Machinery, plant and equipment imported exclusively for public lighting and power processes
- Newspapers and periodicals imported for reading
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