The Ministry of Revenue & Customs has issued a notice that, effective from 21 February 2026, the importation of passenger vehicles under tariff heading HS 8703 with a model year equal to or more than ten years from the date of import will be prohibited in Tonga.

The measure will apply to vehicles principally designed for the transport of persons and re-activates a policy decision first made on 21 February 2025.

Under the Customs Excise Management Act 2022, Section 95 creates the offence of importing or exporting prohibited goods, punishable by a fine up to TOP 100,000 or up to ten years’ imprisonment, or both.

The Ministry has urged shipping agents and freight forwarders to decline shipments of such vehicles at the port of loading, to ease enforcement at Tonga’s international ports and reduce bottlenecks.

While some sources have previously reported no age restriction on vehicle imports, this official notice demonstrates a clear shift toward tighter regulation aimed at curbing older-vehicle inflows and the associated storage and handling costs.

This step is part of government’s broader efforts to streamline port logistics and safeguard revenue.

Importers and shipping agents must ensure compliance by the date specified to avoid legal liability.