Trip checklist: Tuvalu

For South African passport holders. Last checked 5 October 2026.

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Visa requirement

We're still confirming this with official sources. What we've found so far: Visa on arrival. Check with the embassy before you rely on it.

Permitted stay

You can stay up to 30 days per visit, and you can apply to extend.

Before you go

• Purpose of visit

  Tourism. Work, study and business need an extension or permit from the Department of Immigration in Funafuti.

• Passport validity

  At least 6 months.

• How to apply

  If visa on arrival applies: issued at Funafuti International Airport on arrival, fee AUD 100 (the general fee; some nationalities are exempt from the fee). If a prior visa is needed, it must be arranged with the Department of Immigration, Funafuti; process not published.

• Where South Africans apply

  No Tuvalu mission in South Africa. The GSA says South Africa's representation for Tuvalu is from Canberra, Australia. Tuvalu Immigration is in Funafuti.

• Return or onward ticket

  Onward or return ticket required.

• Proof of funds

  Proof of sufficient funds for your stay. No amount published. There are no ATMs, so bring cash. Currency limit AUD 3,000 on entry and exit.

• Vaccinations, including yellow fever on return to South Africa

  The US State Department lists no required vaccinations. South Africa's rule: you need a yellow fever certificate to enter South Africa only if you arrive from or transited a yellow-fever-risk country. Tuvalu is not a risk country, so a direct return needs none, but a routing through a risk country in Africa or South America would trigger it.

• Extending your stay and overstaying

  Extensions beyond 1 month from the Department of Immigration, Funafuti. Overstay penalties not published.

• Transit

  Flights to Tuvalu go via Fiji (Suva or Nadi), so check Fiji entry or transit rules too. Hub rules: via Australia, South Africans may use Transit Without Visa (air arrival, onward flight to a third country within 8 hours, stay airside); otherwise an Australian Transit (771) or Visitor visa is needed. Via Auckland, South Africans need a New Zealand Transit Visa (from NZD 235, up to 24 hours airside) unless they already hold a NZ visa.

• Confirm with the embassy

  Rules change. Check the official source before you book.

Where to apply

• US Department of State https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Tuvalu.html

Research sources

1. 1. Australian Department of Home Affairs (Official, immi.homeaffairs.gov.au) https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/transit-771/travellers-eligible-to-transit-without-visa
2. 2. Immigration New Zealand (Official, immigration.govt.nz) https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/visas/visa/transit-visa
3. 3. US Department of State (Other government, travel.state.gov) https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Tuvalu.html
4. 4. UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (Other government, gov.uk) https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/tuvalu/entry-requirements
5. 5. Australian Government Smartraveller (Other government, smartraveller.gov.au) https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/africa/south-africa
6. 6. Wikipedia (Reference, en.wikipedia.org) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_policy_of_Tuvalu
7. 7. Wikipedia (Reference, en.wikipedia.org) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_requirements_for_South_African_citizens
8. 8. The GSA (South African visa agency) (Commercial, thegsa.co.za) https://www.thegsa.co.za/visa-and-country-info/2618-tuvalu-country-guide

From doineedavisa.co.za/tuvalu. Always confirm with the embassy before you travel.