Prime Minister Dr ʻAisake Eke has announced that a new Tongan consulate in Fiji is scheduled to open in January, aimed at easing lengthy visa processing that forces delays in processing visas for students studying in Fiji and Vanuatu.
Tongan students studying in Fiji and Vanuatu have experienced prolonged visa delays—sometimes up to four months—leading to missed classes and disrupted education. Tongan officials raised concerns at recent regional forums.
At last Friday’s press conference, Dr Eke said the consulate “will serve students and the Tongan community” in Fiji. The move follows interventions from Education Minister Hon. Dr. ʻUhilamoelangi Fasi, who highlighted the issue while meeting Pacific education ministers and Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka last month.
Recent reports show Tongan students have been turned away at borders despite visa-free agreements, intensifying pressure on authorities to act. The consulate is expected to handle visa applications and community support directly, reducing administrative burdens.
The initiative is part of broader regional responses in Fiji and Vanuatu to border refusals faced by Tongans . Establishing a local diplomatic office could improve support and avoid current travel-and-return visa processes.
The announcement signals a renewed focus on Pacific student mobility with a progress report expected ahead of the January opening.