Moving to Tonga from Japan

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Japan to Tonga — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Japan to Tonga, and you’d need to navigate life in English and Tongan.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Japan to Tonga, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
65 ↓ 7% vs 2015

people born in Japan live in Tonga · UN DESA

Who's moving to Tonga?

Top countries of origin for Tonga's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Japan to Tonga.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

JP
0.2
TO
0.9
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

JP
2.7
TO
8.5

Japan performs better than Tonga across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

JP
$5,365
TO
$512
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

JP
26.1
TO
10.1

Japan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Tonga leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

JP
12.0
TO
24.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

JP
7.8t
TO
1.6t

Japan generally does better on environment, though Tonga leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

JP
37.2
TO
8.0

Japan performs better than Tonga across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

JP
2.6%
TO
2.3%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

JP
$46,300
TO
$6,600

Japan generally does better on employment & economy, though Tonga leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

JP
84.8 yrs
TO
77.5 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

JP
1.9
TO
12.4

Japan generally does better on family life, though Tonga leads in education spending.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Japan and Tonga. To live, work, or study long-term in Tonga, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Tonga's immigration authority.

Japan passport

Japan passport holder visiting Tonga

Visa on Arrival
Japan passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Tonga.
Tonga passport

Tonga passport holder visiting Japan

Visa Required
Tonga passport holders need a visa to enter Japan.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Tonga?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Tonga has 8.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Tonga safe for expats?

Japan performs better than Tonga across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Tonga is 0.9 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.2 in Japan.

How is healthcare in Tonga compared to Japan?

Japan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Tonga leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 10.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Tonga, compared to 26.1 in Japan. Tonga scores 57 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Japan: 83).

What language do they speak in Tonga?

The official languages in Tonga are English and Tongan. In Japan, the official language is Japanese.

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At a Glance

JP TO
Population 124,214,766 105,517
Currency Japanese Yen (¥) Tongan Paʻanga (TOP)
Languages Japanese English, Tongan
Driving side Left Left
Calling code +81 +676
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 110