When you expand your business to a new country, you might choose to send some of your current employees abroad to encourage success and strengthen processes at your new location. In these circumstances, you’ll need to make sure your nonnational workers have the correct visas and permits for legal employment.
Types of Work Visas in Tuvalu
In Tuvalu, there are two types of permits available to nonnationals:
- Visitor permit: These permits are distributed on arrival and can last up to 30 days. Visitor permits do not allow for business activity, employment, or studying with an educational institution. The Immigration Office can extend these permits for up to 30 days.
- Permit to enter and reside: The permit to enter and reside is for business activity, employment, education, research, or religious purposes. These permits last up to a year and can be extended up to three times in a five-year period.
When you hire nonnationals for your Tuvalu business, you will want to ensure they have a permit to enter and reside for legal employment.
Requirements to Obtain Tuvalu Work Visas
When a person wishes to enter the country for employment, they’ll need to submit various materials along with the appropriate application. Applicants will need to pay a fee and provide:
- A legal passport
- Two passport-sized photos
- Proof of financial capacity
- An employer sponsorship
Applicants will also need to provide evidence that supports their fitness for employment, such as a CV or educational certificates that prove the ability to fulfill the position. If the applicant intends to stay longer than one year, they must also submit:
- A medical examination
- A radiological examination
- Police reports from relevant jurisdictions in the past five years
Application Process
Permits to enter and reside in Tuvalu are distributed on arrival, but applicants should have all necessary materials with them when they cross the border. Before entering the country, applications will need to get a sponsorship or employment letter from their employer. They should also receive any necessary medical examinations and request a police report if the employment period is longer than a year.
The Immigration Office will only grant a permit to enter and reside to individuals with good health and character and all necessary application materials. Applicants also need to possess a valid outward bound ticket or a paid bond to cover the cost of returning home.
The fees for a permit to enter and reside depend on a few factors, including whether the applicant stays outside the country and if they have dependents with them. For those living outside Tuvalu, the fee is AUD 600 and AUD 150 for each dependent. Nonnationals lodging in the country must pay an application fee of AUD 1,200 and AUD 300 for each dependent.
Other Important Considerations
The Minister may cancel a permit to enter and reside at any point if the permit holder:
- Fails to enter the country when specified in their permit
- Is convicted in the country or elsewhere and sentenced to imprisonment for a year or more without a free pardon
- Provides misleading information
- Undertakes unauthorized employment
- Breaches terms and conditions included with the permit
- Acts in a manner inconsistent with their stated purpose
- Acts in a way that is detrimental to peace, order, or good governance
- Is without sufficient lawful support for themselves and their dependents
- Ceases their employment at any time
Partner With Globalization Partners
Globalization Partners has the worldwide resources and localized expertise to manage your company’s compliance as you expand to Tuvalu. Get in touch with us today to learn more about our Global PEO services.