Tuvalu - Facts
Tuvalu FAQs
Pre-Arrival Boat: No advance notification required. See Clearance for details.
Pre-Arrival Crew: None – VOA. See Immigration for details.
Where can I enter? Funafuti is the only port of entry.
Are fees high to enter by yacht? There is no charge for clearance during working hours – see Fees for details.
What security concerns should I know about? None. See Security for more info.
Tuvalu Facts for Sailors
- Formerly the Ellice Islands, the name Tuvalu means “cluster of eight”, although the group, in fact, consists of nine low-lying coral atolls. Only eight of them were inhabited when the name was chosen, but a small community now lives on previously uninhabited Niurakita, the southernmost island of the archipelago.
- The islands lie just below the equator and west of the Dateline, their nearest neighbours being Kiribati, 200 miles to the north, and Fiji, 600 miles south. With a total land area of only 11 sq miles (26 sq km), Tuvalu is one of the smallest countries in the world, spread out in half a million square miles of ocean.
- The small island communities still lead a very traditional lifestyle. See Local Customs.
- The nation’s largest source of income comes from the leasing of its unique country code domain name, “.tv”
- With the exception of the main island of Funafuti, yachts rarely visit the islands (on average 12 a year). Although some only have precarious anchorages in the lee of a fringing reef, the lagoon is accessible in at least two islands, at Nukufetau and Nanumea, and there are plans to open passes into some of the other lagoons. See Outer Atolls.
- Whilst in the past it was possible to request permission to visit some of the other islands, this concession has been abused by some yachts and the procedure is now much more complicated with permits no longer be automatically granted.
- For information on supplies and provisions, see Yachting Essentials.
- Water is scarce, as the islands rely on rainfall. In the rainy season, rain can be heavy and one can easily collect enough.
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November 2019
No longer possible to visit any of the islands outside of Funafuti lagoon. We asked several times, but were refused permission.
You also require a ‘cruising permit’ to visit any of the other islands/ areas within the lagoon but outside of the main anchorage area.
This costs $100 aud and is obtained by visiting the council office ( about 20 mins walk north of the government offices)
Port control advised we berth to new wharf and await clearance. After a couple of hours we had visits from customs and immigration. All stamped and cleared we were advised to visit health people at hospital. Next day was fine. Skipper went alone and completed documents. He was advised there would be a $25 charge but health people said this is no longer the case. No charges for entry or exit.
The seven motus south of the commercial passage are now conservation areas. A fee plus a guide are required to visit. Everywhere else in the lagoon is open for visiting.
Still no possibility of visiting other atolls without returning to Funafuti to clear out.
Wifi is available at the telecom building $20 for 1.5gig
There is a market for fresh vegetables open 6am Saturday and Tuesday.wait at the farm gate on other side of airport terminal.put name on list for your share of distribution cost us $15 for six distributions.take the crew as each person collect their pile after the staff shares it out. Was a great place to talk to locals while it all came together.
Beer available at steel cage window located front of hotel down the road from bank.
November 2018:
Check-in is easy, first Immigration, then Health (cost 25 AUD) in the Hospital and Customs at the Wharf at the end of the town (30 min walk) After that it is highly recommended also go to the Town Council. There you get the permit to cruise in the lagoon. Without this permit the police boat comes and you get fined.
Cost of the permit:
Cruising 50 AUD
Snorkeling 10 AUD per person
Going ashore 50 AUD
You get this price list from the Town Council
No chance at all to get a permit to visit other atolls.
The impression was that the officials are not willing to change this in the future