Tuvalu travel guide

Travel Advice

It is more important than ever to get travel insurance and check it provides sufficient cover. See the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)’s guidance on foreign travel insurance.

Cyclone season is normally between November and April but cyclones can occur throughout the year. Severe weather may result in flooding, landslides, and the disruption of essential services and infrastructure. See Natural disasters.

There’s no British Consulate in Tuvalu. Consular support is severely limited, however, the British High Commission Suva in Fiji can provide some consular support to British nationals.

Most visits to Tuvalu are trouble-free.

Although there’s no recent history of terrorism in Tuvalu, attacks can’t be ruled out. See Terrorism

Coronavirus travel health

Check the latest information on risk from COVID-19 for Tuvalu on the TravelHealthPro website

See the TravelHealthPro website for further advice on travel abroad and reducing spread of respiratory viruses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

No travel is risk-free during COVID-19. Countries may further restrict travel or bring in new rules at short notice, for example due to a new COVID-19 variant. Check with your travel company or airline for any transport changes which may delay your journey home.

If you test positive for COVID-19, you may need to stay where you are until you test negative. You may also need to seek treatment there.

Plan ahead and make sure you:

• can access money
• understand what your insurance will cover
• can make arrangements to extend your stay and be away for longer than planned

International travel

Commercial flights to and from Tuvalu have resumed with direct flights operated by Fiji Airways from Nadi and Air Kiribati from Tarawa. Flights are infrequent, check online or with your travel company for the latest information.

Entry and borders

See Entry requirements to find out what you will need to do when you arrive in Tuvalu.

Travel in Tuvalu

Although travel restrictions have been eased within Tuvalu, please ensure you check the latest rules carefully when making travel plans. More information on the latest restrictions are available on the Tuvalu government website.

Healthcare in Tuvalu

Your emotional and mental wellbeing is important. Read guidance on how to look after your mental wellbeing and mental health

Finance

For information on financial support you can access whilst abroad, visit our financial assistance guidance.

Further information

If you need urgent consular assistance, contact your nearest British embassy, high commission or consulate. All telephone numbers are available 24/7.

Air travel

There are limited flights in and out of Tuvalu, and these can sometimes be unreliable.

Political situation

Tuvalu is a Parliamentary Democracy and a Commonwealth Realm. His Majesty King Charles III is Head of State. The King is represented in Tuvalu by a Governor General, Honourable Sir Iakoba Italeli.

There are no political parties; politics are based on personal, family and island loyalties. Parliamentary elections are held every four years. The current Prime Minister, Kausea Natano, has been in office since 19 September 2019.

Passports

In the event of a lost or stolen passport, the Tuvalu authorities can issue emergency travel documents which will allow you to travel as far as Fiji, where you will then need to apply for a replacement passport, from the Regional Passport Processing Centre in New Zealand.

If your need to travel falls within the minimum full validity passport processing time of 3-4 weeks, you should contact the British High Commission in Suva and they will do their best to help you. You may be eligible for an Emergency Travel Document (ETD).

Keep a photocopy of the relevant pages of your passport to avoid any complications.

Telephone services

There is one local mobile network in Tuvalu; other international networks will not work while in Tuvalu. Local SIM cards can be purchased in Funafuti.

Swimming

Take great care when swimming off the outer coasts of Tuvalu’s atolls as there are very strong rip currents along coast and reef areas. You should wear safety equipment at all times during boating trips.

Swimming in Funafuti lagoon is not recommended as it is highly polluted.

Although there’s no recent history of terrorism in Tuvalu, attacks can’t be ruled out.

There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. You should remain vigilant at all times.

UK Counter Terrorism Policing has information and advice on staying safe abroad and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack. Find out how to reduce your risk from terrorism while abroad.

Drug taking in all forms is illegal. Importing or exporting illegal drugs attracts strict penalties. Those found guilty of cultivating or distributing illegal drugs are likely to receive similarly severe punishment.

Homosexuality is illegal in Tuvalu. Those found guilty of consensual sex between adult males could face up to 14 years imprisonment. See our information and advice page for the LGBT community before you travel.

This page reflects the UK government’s understanding of current rules for people travelling on a full ‘British Citizen’ passport, for the most common types of travel.

The authorities in Tuvalu set and enforce entry rules. For further information contact the embassy, high commission or consulate of the country or territory you’re travelling to. You should also consider checking with your transport provider or travel company to make sure your passport and other travel documents meet their requirements.

Entry rules in response to coronavirus (COVID-19)

There are limited commercial flights to Tuvalu from Fiji. Your airline or travel agent will be able to provide advice on the latest requirements for travel to Tuvalu, which currently include pre-departure testing and seven-day quarantine on arrival in Tuvalu.

Regular entry requirements

Passport validity

Your passport should be valid for a minimum period of six months from the date of entry into the country.

In the event of a lost or stolen passport, the Tuvalu authorities can issue emergency travel documents which will allow you to travel as far as Fiji. If you need to travel within the minimum full validity passport processing time of 3-4 weeks, you should contact the British High Commission in Suva. You may be eligible for an Emergency Travel Document (ETD).

Keep a photocopy of the relevant pages of your passport to avoid any complications.

Visas

Visas are not required for British nationals visiting for periods of up to one month. An extension of stay for a maximum period of three months is available from the Department of Immigration.

For further information contact the Department of Immigration at:

Chief Immigration Officer (acting)
Department of Immigration
Private Mail Bag
Vaiaku, Funafuti, Tuvalu
Telephone: (+688) 20240

The tropical cyclone season normally runs from November to April but cyclones can occur throughout the year. During this period there is a greater risk of strong winds and heavy rains flooding, landslides and road closures. In March 2015, Tropical Cyclone Pam caused significant damage to Tuvalu’s coastlines, reconstruction work will take some time.

You should monitor local and international weather updates from the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), from the Tuvalu Meteorological Service, in local newspapers and on Tuvalu Media Department Radio on 621 AM.

See our tropical cyclones page for advice about what to do if you’re caught up in a storm.

If you have a health condition, or you are pregnant, you may need specialist healthcare abroad. Check whether your destination country can provide the healthcare you may need and ensure you have appropriate travel insurance for unexpected medical evacuation or local treatment.

Health advice

At least 8 weeks before your trip, check the latest country-specific health advice from the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) on the TravelHealthPro website. Each country-specific page has information on vaccine recommendations, any current health risks or outbreaks, and factsheets with information on staying healthy abroad. Guidance is also available from NHS (Scotland) on the FitForTravel website.

General information on travel vaccinations and a travel health checklist is available on the NHS website. You may then wish to contact your health adviser or pharmacy for advice on other preventive measures and managing any pre-existing medical conditions while you’re abroad.

The legal status and regulation of some medicines prescribed or purchased in the UK can be different in other countries. If you’re travelling with prescription or over-the-counter medicine, read this guidance from NaTHNaC on best practice when travelling with medicines.

While travel can be enjoyable, it can sometimes be challenging. There are clear links between mental and physical health, so looking after yourself during travel and when abroad is important. Information on travelling with mental health conditions is available in our guidance page. Further information is also available from the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC).

Tuvalu’s only hospital is on Funafuti.The outer islands are served by trained nurses. Medical facilities are generally adequate for routine medical treatment. For more serious or complicated problems medical evacuation to Fiji, or beyond to Australia may be required. Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation.

You should boil all drinking water or drink bottled water while in Tuvalu.

Dengue fever occurs in Tuvalu.

If you need emergency medical assistance during your trip, dial 911. You should contact your insurance/medical assistance company promptly if you are referred to a medical facility for treatment.

There are no ATMs in Tuvalu, and credit/debit card payments are not accepted. You should take sufficient cash for the duration of your trip. The currency used in Tuvalu is the Australian dollar.

Foreign travel checklist

Read our foreign travel checklist to help you plan for your trip abroad and stay safe while you’re there.

Travel safety

The FCDO travel advice helps you make your own decisions about foreign travel. Your safety is our main concern, but we can’t provide tailored advice for individual trips. If you’re concerned about whether or not it’s safe for you to travel, you should read the travel advice for the country or territory you’re travelling to, together with information from other sources you’ve identified, before making your own decision on whether to travel. Only you can decide whether it’s safe for you to travel.

When we judge the level of risk to British nationals in a particular place has become unacceptably high, we’ll state on the travel advice page for that country or territory that we advise against all or all but essential travel. Read more about how the FCDO assesses and categorises risk in foreign travel advice.

Our crisis overseas page suggests additional things you can do before and during foreign travel to help you stay safe.

Refunds and cancellations

If you wish to cancel or change a holiday that you’ve booked, you should contact your travel company. The question of refunds and cancellations is a matter for you and your travel company. Travel companies make their own decisions about whether or not to offer customers a refund. Many of them use our travel advice to help them reach these decisions, but we do not instruct travel companies on when they can or can’t offer a refund to their customers.

For more information about your rights if you wish to cancel a holiday, visit the Citizen’s Advice Bureau website. For help resolving problems with a flight booking, visit the website of the Civil Aviation Authority. For questions about travel insurance, contact your insurance provider and if you’re not happy with their response, you can complain to the Financial Ombudsman Service.

Registering your travel details with us

We’re no longer asking people to register with us before travel. Our foreign travel checklist and crisis overseas page suggest things you can do before and during foreign travel to plan your trip and stay safe.

Previous versions of FCDO travel advice

If you’re looking for a previous version of the FCDO travel advice, visit the National Archives website. Versions prior to 2 September 2020 will be archived as FCO travel advice. If you can’t find the page you’re looking for there, send the Travel Advice team a request.

Further help

If you’re a British national and you have a question about travelling abroad that isn’t covered in our foreign travel advice or elsewhere on GOV.UK, you can submit an enquiry, ), or contact us on Twitter or Facebook. We’re not able to provide tailored advice for specific trips.