Vanuatu citizens need no visa to enter and live in their own country. But not every member of a family is necessarily a citizen, and a foreign investor or employee also needs a residence status. This article explains Vanuatu's visa types based on the "Movement of natural persons" section of the "Vanuatu Trade Portal", the Government's official portal for administrative procedures. The pages were checked on 24 October 2026.
Visa types
The trade portal lists these visas under "Movement of natural persons":
- Visitors Visa;
- Extended Visitors Visa;
- Business Visa;
- Residence Visa;
- Permanent Residence Visa;
- Interim Visa;
- Special Category Visa;
- Student Visa;
- Transit Visa.
All of them are handled by the Department of Immigration and Passport Services, and their common legal basis is the "Immigration Act, 2010" and the "Immigration Visa Regulation Order No. 180 of 2011".
Comparing the five main visas
| Visa | For what | Estimated fee | Time or duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visitor | a short trip | VT 3,600 | duration not given on the page |
| Extended visitor | staying longer as a visitor | VT 6,000 | visa for up to 4 months; processing 2 to 4 days |
| Business | travel on behalf of an employer or organisation | VT 20,000, single entry | processing 3 to 6 days |
| Residence | partner, child, employee, self-funded resident, foreign investor, land owner | VT 57,600 for a one-year visa, for applicants aged 18 or over | processing time not given on the page |
| Permanent residence | — | not given on the page | not given on the page |
The visitor visa
The documents the portal lists:
- application form;
- visa payment;
- passport copy;
- return ticket;
- evidence of funds or support;
- evidence of a genuine intention to leave Vanuatu within 30 days.
Its legal basis, besides the 2010 Act, is the "Immigration (Amendment) Act No. 11 of 2016". Which nationalities are exempt or covered on arrival is not stated on this page; ask the Department of Immigration.
The extended visitor visa
For someone who wants to stay beyond the initial period. Documents:
- extension application form;
- passport and photos;
- return ticket;
- evidence of the reasons for the application;
- evidence of funds and support;
- payment receipt.
The portal gives this visa's validity as "up to 4 months" and its fee as VT 6,000.
The business visa
For someone travelling on behalf of an employer or organisation. The main documents:
- application form, passport copy and photos;
- a visa or proof of residence in the country you apply from;
- the employer's letter on your position and the purpose of the visit, and the employer's letter of acceptance;
- the employer's business registration or licence.
The residence visa
This visa is for longer stays by non-citizens. The portal names the supported categories: partner, child, employee, self-funded resident, foreign investor and land owner.
| Document | Note |
|---|---|
| Residence application form | official form |
| Passport and photos | |
| Security deposit | the portal does not give the amount |
| Certified civil certificates | birth, marriage, death or divorce, depending on the situation |
| Category documents | for example for a partner, child, employee, investor or land owner |
| Medical examination | by a registered medical practitioner |
| Police clearance |
The portal gives the fee as VT 57,600 for an applicant aged 18 or over and a one-year visa, adding "including dependants included in the application". Ask the Department of Immigration what this means exactly for families.
The permanent residence visa
The portal's page only gives two stages (submit the application, receive the visa), the application form (August 2016 version) and the two governing laws. Conditions, fees and duration are not given.
The student visa and the transit visa
| Topic | Student visa | Transit visa |
|---|---|---|
| Estimated fee | VT 2,880 | VT 1,800 |
| Main documents | form, passport, photos, evidence of enrolment, security deposit, evidence of funds, medical examination, consent | form, passport, travel itinerary, supporting documents |
| Stages | submit the application, receive the visa | submit the application, receive the visa |
| Duration | not given on the page | not given on the page |
For the student visa, the portal has a note about an "applicant under 18" but does not say how this affects the fee. The "consent" in the list of documents is probably for young students; ask the Department of Immigration.
An example: a family where only one member is a citizen
Suppose a father has become a Vanuatu citizen by investment, but his wife was not in the application, and the family wants to live in Port Vila for a while:
| Member | Status | Option |
|---|---|---|
| Father | Vanuatu citizen | needs no visa |
| Wife | non-citizen | a visitor visa for a short trip; for a longer stay, a residence visa in the "partner" category |
| Child under 18 included in the citizenship application | citizen | needs no visa |
In the citizenship programme, the spouse and children included in the application become citizens with the main applicant. If a member was not in the application, the visa options above apply to their stay.
Practical points
- Foreign civil certificates usually need translation and legalisation or an apostille.
- A police clearance has a validity date; do not obtain it too early.
- Living in Vanuatu may have tax consequences; see the article "Taxes in Vanuatu: an overview".
- Do not confuse visas for entering Vanuatu with the visa rules of other countries; travelling on a Vanuatu passport is a separate subject.
This article is general information and not legal or immigration advice. Decisions on every visa rest with Vanuatu's Department of Immigration and Passport Services.
Sources
- Vanuatu Trade Portal, visitors visa — https://tradeportal.gov.vu/procedure/257?l=en (checked on 24 October 2026)
- Vanuatu Trade Portal, extended visitors visa — https://tradeportal.gov.vu/procedure/301?l=en (checked on 24 October 2026)
- Vanuatu Trade Portal, business visa — https://tradeportal.gov.vu/procedure/262?l=en (checked on 24 October 2026)
- Vanuatu Trade Portal, residence visa — https://tradeportal.gov.vu/procedure/302?l=en (checked on 24 October 2026)
- Vanuatu Trade Portal, permanent residence visa — https://tradeportal.gov.vu/procedure/256?l=en (checked on 24 October 2026)
- Vanuatu Trade Portal, student visa — https://tradeportal.gov.vu/procedure/253?l=en (checked on 24 October 2026)
- Vanuatu Trade Portal, transit visa — https://tradeportal.gov.vu/procedure/261?l=en (checked on 24 October 2026)
- Vanuatu Trade Portal, home page and list of procedures — https://tradeportal.gov.vu/?l=en (checked on 24 October 2026)