Visa to Vanuatu

Vanuatu’s visa policy strictly defines the rules for the arrival of foreigners and establishes the requirements for obtaining a visa. Entry and residence in the country are regulated by the National Law No.17 “On Immigration”, with the relevant amendments and decrees.

When entering the country for a period exceeding a short-term tourist or business visit, a visa request must be applied for. The issuance of permits is strictly controlled and granted to persons capable of having a positive impact on the economy or culture of the Republic.

A visa is not required if the foreigner visits his/ her family or holds short-term business meetings.

Vanuatu allows to the citizens of 112 countries to stay on their territory without a visa for a period of 30 to 90 days (depending on the citizenship).

Freelancer Visa

Foreigners wishing to apply for a digital nomad visa should understand that Vanuatu does not have a special program for remote workers. However, the government allows you to get a visitor visa and stay in the country for remote work. Citizens of individual states have the right to visa-free stay from 30 to 90 days.

The visitor visa is valid for 120 days. This type of visa does not provide for an extension and its holder is obliged to leave the country before its expiration.

One of the advantages of the Vanuatu freelancer visa is that there are no requirements specific to the visa programs of other countries. For example, you do not need to prove your remote income and there are no limits for the minimum income. It is enough to provide information about the income sources and the expected amounts of earnings. However, there are some basic requirements:

• To carry out activities only in the interests of a foreign company.
• It is not allowed to engage in any paid activity on the territory of Vanuatu.
  
• It is not permitted to search for work in local companies and apply for work.
  
• It is compulsory to have a return ticket.
  

How much does the visa cost?

If citizens of the country are not exempted from the need to obtain a visa and pay visa fees, then the cost starts at 5150 VUV ($43). The fee must be paid when applying for the corresponding type of visa.

It is important to note that the amount of visa fees and requirements for the applicant may vary. Therefore, before applying for the visa, the relevance of state duties and procedures should be checked through official government sources or the Embassy of Vanuatu.

Types of Visas

A Vanuatu visa can be obtained for tourism, visiting family or friends, business travel, medical examination or treatment, training. As of mid-2024, several types of permits are available to foreigners:

• Tourist visa. Visa for a single visit and stay in the country for up to 120 days (depending on the citizenship of the applicant) for tourist purposes. Renewal, extension and change of status are not allowed. Commercial/business activities and employment are prohibited.
•   Business visa. Allows the stay in the Republic for a period of up to 1 year with the right of multiple entries in order to attend business events – meetings, seminars, conferences. Employment is prohibited.
•   Student visa. Permits the right to study at accredited educational institutions for up to 1 year with subsequent extension every year. Changing the status is not allowed. Commercial/business activities and employment are prohibited.
•   Work visa. It is issued by the Ministry of Labor to foreigners who have an employment contract with a local company. The validity period is 12 months with the possibility of extension. Allows multiple departures from the country.
•   Family visa. It is issued to foreign citizens who have a spouse or a dependent child with local citizenship in Vanuatu. It is valid for a period of up to 12 months. Prohibits commercial/business activities and employment.
•   Retirement visa. It is intended for citizens over 50 years of age who plan to stay in the Republic to live in retirement. Valid for up to 10 years. Permits change of visa status and its extension. Commercial/business activities and employment are prohibited.
•   Diplomatic visa. It is provided to foreigners who have a diplomatic passport and are staying in a country with a diplomatic mission. Allows to include family members in the entry application. The validity period is agreed upon individually. A change of status is not allowed, as well as the conduct of any paid activity.  

Student visa

Designed for foreign citizens intending to study in Vanuatu for up to 1 year. With a longer course of study, annual extensions are allowed. The application is allowed to include close relatives and dependents who will accompany the student during the period of study.

During the validity period, multiple departures from the country are allowed. However, changing the status and getting new privileges is not allowed.

The main requirement for the application is confirmation of admission for the course within any secondary or higher educational institution. However, the applicant must also prove that he/ she has the means to live in Vanuatu. You can find out more about the conditions for granting and requirements for the candidate on the relevant page of the Department of Immigration and Passport Service.

Tourist Visa

Short-term visa for travelers visiting the country for tourism, recreation or social visits. The maximum length of stay is 120 days, after which the foreigner must leave Vanuatu, as there are no opportunities for extension. You can get a visa on arrival or through a preliminary application (if there is no visa waiver agreement).

This type of visa does not allow a change in permission status. At the same time, the recipient is strictly prohibited from any commercial or entrepreneurial activity, as well as employment. You can familiarize yourself with all the criteria for visa issuance on the official website of the Department of Immigration and Passport Service.

Business visa (for business trips)

Several categories of applicants can apply for entry on the basis of a business visa – investors and entrepreneurs. Foreigners intending to invest in Vanuatu or in the process of setting up a business can obtain a permit for up to 10 years. Each application is reviewed individually by the Director of Immigration Service Department.

For visits to the Republic for business meetings, the applicant may obtain a single-entry (up to 3 months) or multiple-entry (up to 10 months) business visa. Depending on the intended type of activity and individual characteristics of the foreigner, it is allowed to extend and change the status of the visa for the subsequent acquisition of Vanuatu citizenship.

Work visa (to work legally in the country)

Designed for foreign citizens arriving in the Republic to perform qualified work for a period longer than 2 months. Employment must be arranged with a local organization. Subject to special requirements, the program can also be used by specialists for the work of non-governmental organizations, both international and regional.

The application must be made by the company that employ the foreign person and sent to the Ministry of Labor and Employment Services. 

The maximum period of validity is 12 months with the right of multiple departures from the country. Extension of the visa is allowed under the condition of preservation of the employment contract with the company at the request of which the visa was issued. A change of status is also allowed, but only on one of the suitable types of investor visas.

List of visa-free countries

On the interactive map with a list of visa-free countries for citizens of Vanuatu, you can find information on the current types of visas and the duration of possible stay upon receipt of the relevant permit.

Documents Required

The Vanuatu Department of Immigration and Passport Services establishes clear criteria and requirements for the applicant's file. However, the committee reserves the right to request additional documents for further in-depth verification if necessary. In a standard situation, the following documents will be required in order to apply for a visa:

• Completed application form.
• A certified passport copy.
  
• Two passport-size photographs.
  
• Confirmation of the availability of accommodation (hotel reservation or rental of accommodation).
  
• Copy of the ticket.
  
• Proof of funds for accommodation (bank statements).
  
• Confirmation of payment of state duties.
  

You can apply and send the package of documents for consideration online on the official portal of the Department of Immigration. The term for application review is up to 21 days.

Recent changes in the visa issue with Vanuatu

An important change in the process of granting visas in recent years has been the introduction of the procedure for processing applications in electronic form through the official website of the Department of Immigration. The transition to the online application system is aimed at optimizing and improving the application process for foreigners who are at a considerable distance from the nearest embassies.

From February 01, 2023, a decree changing the processing time for visa applications from 3 to 14 working days came into force. The change is associated with an increase in the flow of applications and is aimed at maintaining the quality of verification of applicants' documents.