Polynesia · UN member
Tuvalu: Travel Guide & Requirements
Tuvalu is a country in Polynesia with its capital in Funafuti. It has a population of 9,492 (#216 in the world) and covers 26 km². The official languages are English and Tuvaluan. The currency is the Tuvaluan dollar (TVD, $).
Where is Tuvalu? Map of Tuvalu
Oceania, island group consisting of nine coral atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way from Hawaii to Australia.
- Region
- Polynesia
- Coordinates
- 8° S, 178° E
- Neighbours
- none (no land borders)
- Coastline
- 24 km
- Tuvalu
- Capital
Travel requirements
What you need to travel to Tuvalu
- Passport
Tuvalu's mission to the UN says entry permits are issued on arrival to visitors with a valid passport (at least for 6 months from the date of arrival).
- Visa or eTA
Depends on your passport: of 198 passports, 198 need no visa. Check yours or see Tuvalu entry requirements for every passport.
- Return or onward ticket
Tuvalu's mission to the UN says entry permits for a maximum one-month stay are issued on arrival providing you have a valid passport, sufficient funds, proof of accommodation and a return or onward ticket.
- Proof of funds
Tuvalu's mission to the UN says entry permits are issued on arrival provided you have a valid passport, sufficient funds, proof of accommodation and a return or onward ticket.
- Travel insurance
No official requirement. Canada's travel advice says to make sure you get travel insurance that includes coverage for medical evacuation and hospital stays.
- Arrival card
Tuvalu's Immigration Regulations 2014 say every person arriving by air or by sea, except the crew of commercial aircraft or commercial vessels, must complete an Arrival Card (Form 11 of Schedule 2), and every person dep…
- Customs allowance
No official requirement. The UK Foreign Office says you must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.
- Travel advice
Safe to visit — US and UK advice.
Entry rules: TravelRequirements.info — Entry Requirements Dataset (CC BY 4.0), each rule cited to an official government source. Always confirm with the airline and the official source before you travel.
Before you go
9 things to know before you travel to Tuvalu
- Safety: Yes — Tuvalu is generally safe to visit: the US State Department rates Tuvalu Level 1 (“Exercise Normal Precautions”), and the UK Foreign Office has no warnings against travel there.
- Best time to go: April to October — when daytime highs in Funafuti are around 29°C.
- Money: the Tuvaluan dollar (TVD) — 1 US dollar is about 1.4226 TVD.
- Plugs: type I, 230 V, 50 Hz — standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
- Emergency numbers: Police 911, Ambulance 911, Fire 911.
- Language: English and Tuvaluan are official.
- Driving: on the left — speed limits are 40 km/h outside built-up areas.
- Time zone: UTC+12 in Funafuti.
- Capital: Funafuti. About 9,492 people live in Tuvalu.
Key facts
Tuvalu at a glance
Languages spoken: Tuvaluan (official), English (official), Samoan, Kiribati (on the island of Nui)
Geography & history
About Tuvalu
Voyagers from either Samoa or Tonga first populated Tuvalu in the first millennium A.D., and the islands provided a stepping-stone for various Polynesian communities that subsequently settled in Melanesia and Micronesia. Tuvalu eventually came under Samoan and Tongan spheres of influence, although proximity to Micronesia allowed some Micronesian communities to flourish in Tuvalu, in particular on Nui Atoll. In the late 1700s and early 1800s, a series of American, British, Dutch, and Russian ships visited the islands, which were named the Ellice Islands in 1819. The UK declared a protectorate over islands in 1892 and merged them with the Micronesian Gilbert Islands. The Gilbert and Ellice Is…
Read the full history
Voyagers from either Samoa or Tonga first populated Tuvalu in the first millennium A.D., and the islands provided a stepping-stone for various Polynesian communities that subsequently settled in Melanesia and Micronesia. Tuvalu eventually came under Samoan and Tongan spheres of influence, although proximity to Micronesia allowed some Micronesian communities to flourish in Tuvalu, in particular on Nui Atoll. In the late 1700s and early 1800s, a series of American, British, Dutch, and Russian ships visited the islands, which were named the Ellice Islands in 1819. The UK declared a protectorate over islands in 1892 and merged them with the Micronesian Gilbert Islands. The Gilbert and Ellice Islands Protectorate became a colony in 1916. During World War II, the US set up military bases on a few islands, and in 1943, after Japan captured many of the northern Gilbert Islands, the UK transferred administration of the colony southward to Funafuti. After the war, Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands was once again made the colony’s capital, and the center of power was firmly in the Gilbert Islands, including the colony’s only secondary school. Amid growing tensions with the Gilbertese, Tuvaluans voted to secede from the colony in 1974, were granted self-rule in 1975, and gained independence in 1978 as Tuvalu. In 1979, the US relinquished its claims to the Tuvaluan islands in a treaty of friendship.
Location
Oceania, island group consisting of nine coral atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way from Hawaii to Australia
Climate
tropical; moderated by easterly trade winds (March to November); westerly gales and heavy rain (November to March)
Terrain
low-lying and narrow coral atolls
Highest point
unnamed location 5 m
Natural resources
fish, coconut (copra)
Natural hazards
severe tropical storms are usually rare, but in 1997 there were three cyclones; low levels of islands make them sensitive to changes in sea level
National symbols
maneapa (native meeting house)
Driving
Speed limits & road rules in Tuvalu
The default speed limits in Tuvalu are 40 km/h outside built-up areas. Posted signs always take priority over these defaults.
- 4040 km/hOutside built-up areasCountry roads
- International Driving PermitNot a party to the IDP conventionsCheck with the embassy whether your licence is accepted
- Driving sideDrive on the leftOvertake on the right
- Road deaths (2021)17.9 per 100,000 peopleHigher than most countries (median 12.4)
Speed limits: OpenStreetMap wiki — Default speed limits (CC BY-SA 2.0). Road-safety laws: WHO Global Health Observatory. Compare speed limits and alcohol limits by country. Defaults for cars; local signs, weather and vehicle type can lower them.
Safety
Is Tuvalu safe to visit?
Yes — Tuvalu is generally safe to visit: the US State Department rates Tuvalu Level 1 (“Exercise Normal Precautions”), and the UK Foreign Office has no warnings against travel there.
US State Department
UK Foreign Office (FCDO)Latest update: Updated information about global travel impacts due to escalation in the Middle East (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).
Updated 19 Mar 2026 · Full travel advice
Sources: US Department of State travel advisories (public domain) and UK FCDO foreign travel advice (contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0). Checked daily. Advice can change quickly — always read the official page before you travel.
Weather
Best time to visit Tuvalu
The best time to visit Tuvalu is April to October, when daytime highs in Funafuti are around 29°C. January is the warmest month (29°C by day), March the coldest (28°C at night), and January the wettest with about 325 mm of rain.
- Jan29°C28°C
- Feb29°C28°C
- Mar29°C28°C
- Apr29°C28°C
- May29°C28°C
- Jun29°C28°C
- Jul29°C28°C
- Aug29°C28°C
- Sep29°C28°C
- Oct29°C28°C
- Nov29°C28°C
- Dec29°C28°C
Best time Good Less ideal
Before you go
Plugs, voltage & emergency numbers in Tuvalu
Plugs & sockets
230 V, 50 Hz · Standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
Emergency numbers
Save the local numbers before you travel — 112 or 911 may not connect here. All countries →
Sources: Wikipedia — Mains electricity by country and List of emergency telephone numbers (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Currency · 26 October 2026
Tuvaluan dollar exchange rates today
Tuvalu uses the Tuvaluan dollar (TVD, $). One US dollar buys 1.4226 TVD; over the last 30 days the TVD has gained 0.1% against the dollar.
What other currencies cost in TVD
Currency converter
Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0), 26 Oct 2026. Banks and exchange offices add a margin.
World rankings
Where Tuvalu ranks
How Tuvalu compares with the rest of the world — open any card for the full ranking.
Airports
Airports in Tuvalu
1 airports and airfields — 0 large, 1 medium and 0 small, plus 0 heliports. 1 have scheduled passenger flights.
Borders
No land borders
Tuvalu has no land borders with other countries. Coastline: 24 km.
People
Population & society
Religion
Largest cities: Funafuti (7,000)
Economy
Economy
Main industries
fishing
Export partners
Thailand 88%, Japan 6%, Philippines 3%, Ireland 1%, USA 1% (2023)
Top exports
fish (2023)
Travel tools
Handy before every trip to Tuvalu
Next public holiday
Christmas Day — Friday, 25 December 2026. Then St. Stephen's Day (26 Dec).
Tuvaluan passport
Ranked #74: 82 countries visa-free, 30 with visa on arrival, 4 with an eTA and 38 with an eVisa.
Tuvaluan passport photo
Exact size, head position and background for Tuvalu's passport and visa photos — make one free with AI checks.
Calling Tuvalu
Dial +688 before the local number. Internet domain .tv.
Climate footprint
0.0 million tonnes of CO₂ in 2024 — 1.18 t per person.
Entry requirements
Visa rules for every passport visiting Tuvalu: visa-free stays, eVisas, visas on arrival and documents to bring.
News
Latest travel news about Tuvalu
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Frequently asked questions about Tuvalu
What do I need to travel to Tuvalu?
How long must my passport be valid for Tuvalu?
Where is Tuvalu?
What is the capital of Tuvalu?
What language is spoken in Tuvalu?
What currency does Tuvalu use?
What is the calling code of Tuvalu?
Does Tuvalu have land borders?
How strong is the Tuvaluan passport?
What is the speed limit in Tuvalu?
Is Tuvalu safe to visit?
When is the best time to visit Tuvalu?
What plug type does Tuvalu use?
How many airports does Tuvalu have?
Sources: CIA World Factbook (public domain); World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0); names, languages and currencies: mledoze/countries (ODbL); flag: flag-icons (MIT); coat of arms: Wikimedia Commons (file page); exchange rates: Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0); airports: OurAirports.