GoVanuatu Visa Requirements

Visa Entry

Chinese citizens holding regular passports and round-trip air tickets can apply for a visitor visa upon entry to the Republic of Vanuatu, with a maximum stay of 120 days. According to the China Vanuatu Mutual Visa Exemption Agreement, starting from April 19, 2020, Chinese citizens holding diplomatic, official, or service ordinary passports who enter, exit, or transit Vanuatu and stay for no more than 30 days from the date of entry are exempt from visa requirements. Those who transit through third countries such as Australia and have visa requirements for Chinese citizens must obtain a transit visa for that country in advance. When transferring to a third country or region for check-in and entering Vanuatu, a valid passport, return or connecting flight ticket must be provided. If there is no return or connecting flight ticket, a residence visa issued by the Vanuatu Immigration Department must be submitted (which must be applied for within Vanuatu and issued by the Vanuatu Immigration Department).

If the purchased return flight ticket is within 120 days, the immigration officer will determine your departure date based on your return flight ticket. Attention should be paid to the departure time on the entry stamp. If you need to change your flight ticket to postpone your departure, you can apply for a visa extension at the immigration office. After completing the entry procedures and retrieving the luggage, customs and health inspection and quarantine procedures should be carried out.

Check in procedures begin 2 and a half hours before flight departure and stop 40 minutes before departure. Passengers should arrive at the airport at least 2 hours before departure.

For specific matters regarding visa entry, please consult the Embassy of Vanuatu in China or the Department of Vanuatu Immigration and Passport Services. Address of Vanuatu Embassy in China: Room 11, Unit 1, Building 3, Sanlitun Diplomatic Apartments, Chaoyang District, Beijing; Phone: (010) 65320337; Fax: (010) 65320336. Vanuatu Immigration Office Address: PO Box 9092，Kumul Highway, Tamarama Building，Port Vila, Efate, Shefa Province，Vanuatu; Phone: (00678) 22354; website: https://immigration.gov.vu ; Email: immigration@vanuatu.gov.vu .

Customs epidemic prevention and control

The ecological environment of Wa is fragile, and customs inspection and quarantine follow strict standards similar to those in Australia. When entering the country, passengers are required to truthfully declare the contents of the entry declaration form. If there is any concealment, the consequences shall be borne by themselves. When customs personnel request an open box inspection, cooperation should be provided.

If carrying cash, transferable bonds or equivalent foreign currency with you exceeds 1000000 Vatu (approximately 61000 RMB at the November 2023 exchange rate), you need to proactively declare customs.

Each passenger over the age of 18 can bring the following limited goods into the country duty-free: 250 cigarettes or 100 cigars or 25 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco, 2.25 liters of spirits or 9 liters of beer or 2.25 liters of wine, 250 ml of Eau De Toilet or 100 ml of perfume. The total value of used or unused duty-free items purchased from foreign or Vanuatu stores cannot exceed 50000 Vatu (approximately RMB 3050 at the November 2023 exchange rate). Exceeding the above quantity or amount must be declared on the entry card.

When entering the country, passengers are required to truthfully declare whether they have visited farms, slaughterhouses, meat processing plants, or had contact with animals outside of Vanuatu within the 30 days prior to arrival; Whether to carry food, crops, fruits, seeds, spices, and vegetables other than biscuits, candies, cakes, and beverages; Whether to carry agricultural machinery and camping equipment; Soil or items containing soil; Animals and animal products.

The following items are prohibited from entering the country: weapons, ammunition, explosives, and dangerous drugs. Plant seeds (such as grass seeds, bean seeds, vegetable seeds, flower seeds, etc.); Fruits and vegetables (apples, oranges, mangoes, cantaloupes, papayas, pineapples, carrots, soybeans, tomatoes, etc.); Living plants (flowers, potted plants, seedlings, leaves, flower buds, etc.); Animals and animal products (milk, cheese, yogurt, sausages, live animals, animal fur, feathers, honey, etc.).

Special reminder: It is prohibited to bring local corals, shells, live sea cucumbers, coconut crabs, and undeclared wooden products out of the country.

Violation of carrying items or failure to declare in accordance with regulations will result in a fine of 1000000 Vatu. The airport lobby is equipped with quarantine boxes for discarding prohibited items.

Residency and Naturalization

After entering the country, Chinese citizens can apply for a visitor visa to stay in Vanuatu for 4 months with a valid passport, return or connecting ticket.

Individuals residing in Vanuatu on a visitor visa who wish to apply for a Special Category Visa must re-enter the country after leaving the country. Please consult the Wa Immigration Bureau for specific procedures.

For the first time applying for a residence permit in Vanuatu, if the conditions are met, a standard residence permit valid for one year will be issued, which will be renewed annually.

In principle, foreigners can apply for Vanuatu nationality only after they have lived in Vanuatu continuously for more than 10 years.

The residency and citizenship policy in Vanuatu may be adjusted at any time. The application requirements, required materials, and fees can be consulted with the Vanuatu Immigration Bureau.

Vanuatu risk level is blue (low risk)

public security

Wa people are simple and honest, and the people are friendly to foreign tourists. However, in recent years, the number of vicious crimes, such as burglary and even murder, has increased, and so far there is no crime especially against Chinese people.

When traveling to Vanuatu, it is advisable to avoid going out alone at night. If it is necessary to travel, it is best to take a car or travel in groups. When going out, you should carry your passport and other valid identification documents with you, and avoid carrying large amounts of cash. It is best to have a copy of the passport and keep it separate from the original passport. Avoid renting accommodation in remote areas and take good care of personal belongings when staying in hotels.

It is best to swim or snorkel together when going out to sea, avoiding areas with undercurrents or eddies. It is strictly prohibited to step on or excavate coral reefs. To prevent being scratched by coral or bitten or stung by sea snakes, lionfish, jellyfish, etc., it is best to wear diving suits and specially made rubber soled shoes (also known as "reef shoes", which can be purchased from local stores). Once bitten or stung, seek medical attention immediately.

Conus is a marine mollusk that contains toxins and is distributed in tropical and subtropical waters. The symptoms of poisoning include vomiting, severe pain, and in severe cases, difficulty breathing. Contact should be avoided.

natural disaster

Vanuatu is located in the Pacific Rim seismic zone and experiences frequent earthquakes. In the event of an earthquake, one should try to run to an open outdoor area or choose to hide under a sturdy table or other object with a lower center of gravity, and try to protect their head as much as possible. A strong earthquake may trigger a tsunami. When a significant earthquake is felt at the seaside, one should quickly evacuate to higher ground or a safe place for refuge.

Wa belongs to the tropical marine climate, with high temperatures and heavy rainfall throughout the year, high air humidity, and an average annual temperature of about 26 degrees. Long term intense exercise should be avoided. The rainy season is from November to April of the following year, and there are often tropical cyclones. During this period, please closely monitor weather changes and prevent tropical cyclone attacks. If any weather anomalies are found, please regularly log in to the website of the Vanuatu Meteorological and Geological Hazards Agency (www.vmgd. gov.vu) and closely track the relevant changes.

FDA

Boiling local tap water is drinkable, but it has a high calcium content, so it is best to soften it before drinking. Local people often drink rainwater, which can be safely consumed after being filtered and boiled. Local vegetable food is relatively safe, natural, and pollution-free.

Eating tropical fish should be purchased from supermarkets or markets, as publicly available fish are usually safer. Some deep-sea fish contain ciguatoxin due to their consumption of tropical and subtropical coral reefs, so it is recommended to avoid consuming deep-sea fish organs. If you experience abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, or numbness in your tongue or lips after consumption, seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Sea cucumbers are protected species in the Wa genus and are not allowed to be picked up or consumed. Some sea cucumbers are highly toxic. If ingested, seek medical attention immediately.

Urgent Help

In case of emergency situations such as personal or property damage, please call the local police station as soon as possible to report to the police (Port Vila police hotline: 00678-22222, Santo Island police hotline: 00678-36222). If you need consular assistance and protection, please call the "12308" hotline of the Global Consular Protection and Service Emergency Call Center of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (phone numbers:+86-10-12308 or+86-10-659612308), or contact the Chinese Embassy in Vanuatu (embassy switchboard: 00678-23598, consular protection phone number: 00678-7796032).

Other emergency contact phone numbers:

Promedical ambulance phone: 115 or 00678-25566

Port Vila Hospital Ambulance Phone: 00678-112 or 22306

Santo Hospital emergency hotline: 00678-112 or 7742488

Fire alarm hotline: 00678-113 or 22333

air traffic

There is no direct flight between China and Vanuatu, and Chinese tourists traveling to Vanuatu must transit through Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, or New Caledonia.

The capital city of Vanuatu, Port Vila, has direct international flights to Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne in Australia, Auckland in New Zealand, as well as Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and New Caledonia. Air Vanuatu is the only company in Vanuatu that operates international routes and currently shares a code with Qantas.

Australian Virgin Airlines, Fiji Airways, and New Caledonian Airlines also have flights to and from Port Vila, but not every day.

Each major island has a simple airport, and there are nearly 10 major domestic air routes. There are international airports in Port Vila and Luganville on Santo Island. The only means of transportation to and from the airport is by car.

Attention: Some airports in Vanuatu require a construction fee of 200 Vanuatu dollars.

land transport

Wa is the only left-hand drive country among the South Pacific island nations. Chinese driver's license must be replaced with a local driver's license before it can be used. A driver's license replacement application form (which can be obtained at the local police station), a domestic driver's license, and an English translation (please have the driver's license notarized and translated in China in advance) must be presented to the local police station for processing. Then, you can go to the customs to take a photo of the document, and the certificate can be issued on the same day. The total cost is 10000 Vatu (approximately 610 RMB). The road conditions in the urban area of Port Vila are poor, with many potholes on the road surface, so driving should be careful. The transportation system in Wa is outdated, with no traffic lights, and the traffic rules are "give way to the left" and "give way to the main road on small roads". The road system is relatively simple, and local people follow the rules when driving, resulting in good safety conditions.

water communication

Vila Port and Santo Port are international seaports that can accommodate 10000 ton merchant ships. The shipping routes between China and Vanuatu include Tianjin Port Vila, Qingdao Port Vila, Tianjin or Qingdao Singapore Auckland Port Vila, Tianjin or Qingdao Shenzhen Auckland Port Vila, Shanghai or Guangzhou Busan Port Vila, Shanghai Auckland Port Vila, Guangzhou Shenzhen Auckland Port Vila, Tianjin Santo, Qingdao Santo, Shanghai Busan Santo, Shanghai Auckland Santo, Guangzhou Busan Santo, Guangzhou Shenzhen Auckland Santo, and so on.   

Urban transportation

The transportation in Wa is underdeveloped, with no subway or urban rail, and no specially regulated public transportation system. There are private minibuses and taxis in the town, and the identification method is: the first letter of the minibus license plate is B, and the first letter of the taxi license plate is T. The starting price of a minibus in Port Vila is 200 Vatu, and the price for long-distance travel needs to be negotiated with the driver. Not all taxis have a meter, so it's best to negotiate the price with the taxi driver before boarding. There are not many airport minibuses and taxis, so it is best for tourists to contact the local travel agency in advance in China and take the travel agency bus directly to the hotel upon arrival. There are several international chain car rental company branches in the capital city of Port Vila, such as Budget, Hertz, Avis, etc. Long term rentals can be discounted.

major city

Port Vila: The capital of Vanuatu, located on Efate Island in Shefa Province, with a population of approximately 60000. It is the political, cultural, commercial, aviation, and maritime center of Vanuatu.

Luganville: located on Santo Island in the province of Sanma, with a population of approximately 30000, it is the economic and transportation center of northern Vanuatu.

Commodity prices

（1） Main products

Vanuatu is rich in tropical fruits such as bananas, coconuts, papayas, mangoes, avocados, grapefruits, breadfruit, passion fruit, pineapples, as well as tropical economic crops such as cassava, taro, kava, cocoa, coffee, sandalwood, and cherries. Animal husbandry mainly focuses on raising cattle and pigs. Pigs are considered a symbol of wealth in traditional Wa culture.

Wa also has a rare species called coconut crab, named after eating coconuts. Like a spider, it grows in the sea as a juvenile and crawls on land as an adult. Its shell is hard and its claws are thick, making it easy to pick up the coconut shell and eat its flesh.

Kava, the national liquor, is not actually wine, but a mild beverage made from the roots of Kava pepper. The locals have a tradition of drinking kava during important events. Due to the presence of kava ketone, it has the effects of relaxing muscles, numbing painful nerves, hypnosis, and lowering blood pressure after drinking. However, excessive consumption or mixing with alcoholic beverages is harmful to health.

National dish "Laplapu": the most popular grilled national dish in Wa. Cut taro, yam, sweet potato, banana and other ingredients into small pieces or grind them together, soak them in coconut milk, and add local cabbage. Then put them in banana leaves, wrap them flat, and finally grill them on hot stones until cooked. Sometimes small pieces of pork, beef, chicken, fish, shrimp, etc. can also be added.

（2） Product price

Wa has a relatively complete range of daily consumer goods, but they are mostly imported and expensive. There are many small supermarkets and grocery stores opened by Chinese merchants on Vila Port and Efate Island. The largest supermarket in the area is Au Bon Marche, with 6 chain stores.

（3） Accommodation prices

Resort hotels. Built based on the sea view or bay, creating a tropical island garden landscape with beautiful scenery and complete entertainment facilities. Provide services such as catering, wedding, conference venues, currency exchange, and travel guidance. The prices of different types of rooms vary, starting at around $200 per night, with the most expensive suite costing around $1000 per night.

Ordinary hotel. Built without relying on sea views, without tropical island garden landscapes. The service facilities are complete, including breakfast and even entertainment facilities such as a casino. The price of this type of hotel varies depending on the room type and is cheaper than resort hotels.

motel. The conditions are simple, equipped with basic service facilities, breakfast is not provided, and the room price is about $60 to $80 per night.

The local currency is Vatu. 1 US dollar is equivalent to 111 Vatu (as of December 2021).

Payment method: All types of stores can use Vatu cash for checkout, and some private stores may charge Australian dollars and US dollars. Credit cards such as Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Diners&JCB can be used at larger tourist attractions, hotels, restaurants, or shops, but with a 3% -5% transaction fee.

Insurance Medical

The larger insurance companies in Vanuatu include TOWER Insurance Vanuatu Limited and QBE Insurance Vanuatu Limited, which provide services such as travel accident insurance, property insurance, and car insurance.

Common diseases:

There are mainly common diseases such as influenza, rheumatism, malaria, dengue fever, etc.

Special reminder: There has been an imported dengue fever outbreak in Vanuatu. If symptoms such as fever and headache occur, seek medical attention promptly.

Main hospitals and pharmacies:

The main hospitals in Vanuatu are the Central Hospital located in the capital city of Vila and the Northern Province Hospital located on Santo Island. The Vila Central Hospital currently has Chinese doctors and nurses stationed in Vanuatu. The hospital has departments such as internal medicine, surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, emergency department, physical therapy, radiology, and laboratory. However, the medical facilities in the hospital are relatively backward and there is a shortage of drugs. There is another local company in Vila that provides 24-hour emergency services, called "Promedical". Local people can call the company's hotline to provide emergency transportation for emergency patients. Family members can be transported to Port Vila by a chartered flight company with random emergency personnel and equipment.

The main pharmacies include Drug Store and Healthwise, which sell imported drugs from countries such as Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia.

Customs taboos

Special etiquette: Thumb up, representing praise.

Main taboos:

The locals do not have the habit of collecting tips. In Melanesian customs, tipping and begging are considered uncivilized behaviors. But in recent years, with the increasing number of tourists and the continuous development of the service industry, if guests voluntarily give tips, locals will also gladly accept them.

When taking photos (especially in local villages), permission from others should be obtained in advance. Before entering the village, permission from the villagers should be obtained first. Do not wear overly revealing clothes in the village. Knocking on the door directly at the villager's house is considered impolite behavior.

Vegetables, fruits, and other plants grown on the roadside are mostly private property and should not be picked casually.

Women are advised not to drink kava outside of Port Vila.

We attach great importance to ecological environment protection. Sea cucumbers, corals, and other protected species should not be picked up or destroyed.

Communications Power

Power interface type: three-phase plug (Australian standard), some hotels have double hole circular adapters.

Voltage: 240V, 50Hz, all domestic appliances can be used.

The 2G mobile phone uses GSM, the 3G uses UMTS, and 4G service has been opened. In China, the same standard mobile phone can be used after changing the local card. If China Mobile users have activated international roaming, they can use it in China. Please consult the relevant service provider for pricing.

Country code: 00678. There are two telecommunications companies in Vanuatu: Vodafone Vanuatu Limited (abbreviated as Vodafone, phone: 00678-7781111) and Digicel Vanuatu Limited (abbreviated as Digicel, phone: 00678-5556001).

contact information

Vanuatu Airlines:

Phone: (678) 20200, Website: https://www.airvanuatu.com  

Port Vila International Airport:

Phone: (678) 25111, Website: https://www.airports.vu  

Vanuatu Immigration Department:

Phone: (678) 22354, Website: https://immigration.gov.vu  

Vanuatu Tourism Board:

Phone: (678) 22685, Website: http://tourism.gov.vu  

Vanuatu Police Department:

Phone: (678) 22222, Website: https://police.gov.vu