In the early 20th century, it was under the administration of France and the United Kingdom. It became independent in 1980. It is a member of the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Nations, the Pacific Islands Forum, and the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie.
Visa
Short-term tourist and business visits to Vanuatu from 30 to 90 days generally do not require a visa. If the purpose of the visit to the Republic is different, the stay exceeds the minimum allowable period, or the current citizenship of the foreigner does not provide for visa-free entry, it is necessary to obtain a visa corresponding to the visit.
There is a visa-free regime for citizens of certain countries. This allows you to stay in Vanuatu for up to 90 days within six months.
Currently, foreign citizens, depending on the purpose of arrival and the duration of stay, have the right to obtain one of the following types of visas:
- Tourist (guest) visa.
- Business visa.
- Student visa.
- Work visa.
- Family visa.
- Retirement visa.
- Diplomatic visa.
The target article covers all types of entry and residence permits, the conditions for their issuance, durations, and restrictions.
Residence Permit
Loyal residency programs allow to obtain permission for temporary or permanent residence for a period of 1 year relatively easily. Any foreigner (and his/her family members) can obtain a residence permit if they meet the requirements of the selected program. In practice, it is possible to take advantage of each of them.
At present the National Immigration Law defines the procedure for obtaining the following residence permits in the Republic:
- For investment.
- Student.
- For digital nomads.
- On the basis of marriage to a citizen/family reunification.
- For employment.
- For business.
Providing a correctly formed dossier and application, in just 2-3 months you can obtain a permit for long-term residence and engage in necessary activities.
In the article, we told about all options of temporary residence permit and permanent residence permit of the Republic, current conditions and current restrictions.
Passport
A Vanuatu passport allows visa-free travel to 112 countries, including those in the Schengen Area. The Republic is well-known for its accessible residency programs, which offer options both with and without financial investments. Foreign nationals can obtain a passport through one of the current programs:
- For investments starting from $130,000.
- Through naturalization.
- Through marriage to a citizen.
- By descent.
- Through a restoration procedure.
Each program can be utilized. The main condition for each is reliability and a desire to have a positive impact on the economic, cultural, and social spheres of life.
Find out more about how to join the suitable program, what additional criteria you need to meet, and which documents are required to obtain a Vanuatu passport with minimal effort.
Citizenship
Once a foreigner becomes a resident of the Republic, they gain access to various personal benefits, including freedom of travel worldwide and the absence of personal taxes. By meeting the requirements of the chosen program and providing a complete set of documents, it is possible to obtain citizenship in just 2-3 months. The easiest method is through investment, though there are also free options available.
At present, the Citizenship Law defines several methods for obtaining citizenship:
- For investment.
- Naturalisation.
- Marriage to a citizen.
- By right of "blood" or "soul".
The Republic allows dual citizenship. There are no strict requirements for mandatory residence in the country.
Learn more about all the methods, requirements, conditions, restrictions, and timelines for obtaining residency.
Climate Conditions
Due to its extensive length from north to south, Vanuatu features various tropical climate variations—hot and humid in the north and mild and dry in the south. Generally, there are 9 months of hot, rainy weather, with the possibility of cyclones of varying intensity occurring from December to March.
In the capital, average temperatures are +27°C in July and +30°C in January. At night, temperatures can drop to +12°C. The southern islands are in a zone with average annual temperatures ranging from 17 to 29°C.
The humidity level throughout the year fluctuates between 70-82%. Vanuatu is characterized by a long rainy season with significant precipitation. The wettest period is from December to April, with rainfall exceeding 2360 mm. During particularly rainy periods, the amount of precipitation can reach up to 4000 mm.
Demographics
The last population census was conducted in 2009. According to official data, the country had a population of 243,304. Unofficial estimates for the end of 2023 suggest a population of 308,043. The capital city has a population of 51,437, while the largest city, Luganville, has 16,312 residents. The majority of the population lives in rural areas (over 75%).
The average annual population growth rate is 2.3%. The average fertility rate has been steadily declining and was 3.74 children per woman at the end of 2021. Despite the consistent decrease in the number of births, the birth rate in Vanuatu is nearly twice as high as in most developed countries in Europe and America. The mortality rate is 5.39 per 1,000 people. The average life expectancy is between 65 and 69 years.
Adults (ages 15 to 60) make up the majority of the population—over 55%. Children under 14 account for more than 39%.
The indigenous people are called Ni-Vanuatu. 98.5% of the local population identifies as indigenous. The remaining portion consists of descendants of European colonizers and other Oceanic peoples. The national language is Bislama (a Creole language based on English). English and French are also recognized as official languages. Additionally, there are 113 indigenous languages spoken on the islands, with each language having up to 2,000 speakers.
Christianity of various denominations is the predominant religion, with Presbyterianism (31%), Roman Catholicism (13%), and Anglicanism (13%) being the largest branches. Traditional local religion is practiced by 5.5% of the population. Almost 10% identify with Buddhism and Confucianism.
Economy
The economy of Vanuatu is based on four main sectors: agriculture, tourism, financial services, and livestock farming. Over 70% of the population is employed in these areas. The unemployment rate in 2023 was 5.22%.
There are practically no mineral deposits in the country (previously insignificant amounts of manganese were mined). Light industry is aimed at serving the local market.
The economic development of Vanuatu is influenced by its distance from major economic centers, significant distances between the islands of the archipelago, and minimal raw material exports. As of the end of 2023, Vanuatu's GDP is $1.056 billion, with a GDP per capita of $2,970. The annual growth rate is 2.2%. The primary driver of economic development has been tourism and the growth of the hospitality industry, which provides the main influx of foreign currency. The inflation rate in 2023 was 14.4%. In the 2023 Economic Freedom Index, the country ranked 70th.
Exports make up over 23% of Vanuatu's trade, primarily consisting of agricultural products. The main importing countries are Thailand, India, and Japan. Vanuatu's imports mainly include food, equipment, fuel, and chemical products.
Freedom of Travel (visa-free countries)
Vanuatu is ranked 50th in the world ranking of passport strength, sharing the position with Guyana, Fiji and Thailand. In terms of freedom of travel, Vanuatu ranks higher than China, which is 51st, and Belarus, which is 52nd.
The freedom of travel index is 96. This means that citizens of the country have the right to travel visa-free to 48 countries with a length of stay of up to 180 days. 44 countries allow visa on arrival (up to 120 days) and 4 countries allow electronic authorisation (up to 90 days). Visa-free entry permits apply to many countries in South America, Africa, Europe (Schengen area), and the UK. In the USA, Vanuatu citizens are granted a visitor's visa for 5 years with the possibility of staying in the country for up to 6 months a year.