Every way into Vanuatu.

Citizens of roughly 117 visa-exempt countries (including Australia, New Zealand, the EU/Schengen states, the UK and the USA) may enter Vanuatu for tourism without a visa and are granted a free visitor permit at the border. Most nationalities receive an initial 30 days, extendable, with a maximum tourist stay of up to 120 days that cannot be further extended. Visitors must hold a passport valid at least six months beyond departure and show proof of onward or return travel. The permit does not allow any employment, business or commercial activity.

Government fee

VUV 0

Processing time

0 days

Max stay

120 days

Validity

120 days

Nationals of countries that are not on Vanuatu's visa-exemption list must obtain a tourist visa before travel, applied for online through the Vanuatu eVisa portal or from the Principal Immigration Officer. The fee is VUV 5,150 and the visa permits a stay of up to 120 days for tourism, which cannot be extended. Holders may not engage in any commercial, employment or business activity. Applicants must show a valid passport, onward travel and means of support.

Government fee

VUV 5,150

Max stay

120 days

Validity

120 days

The Business Visa is for business travellers attending meetings, negotiations, exploratory visits or short temporary work in Vanuatu. A single-entry business visa permits a stay of up to 90 days; a multiple-entry business visa is valid for up to 10 months. The visa application fee is VUV 20,000 (single entry) or VUV 35,000 (multiple entry). It does not authorise ongoing local employment, which requires a work permit and employment visa.

Government fee

VUV 20,000

Max stay

90 days

Validity

300 days

The Business Visitors Permit lets foreign nationals undertake short business, study, research, consultancy or work-related activity in Vanuatu for a single period of 21 days. Since 1 August 2022 it is granted for a fixed 21-day period. It is aimed at short professional visits that fall short of taking up an employment position, which would instead require a work permit and employment visa.

• Work: Limited short-term business, consultancy or work-related activity for 21 days only; not a full employment authorisation.
• Study: Short study/research activity permitted within the 21-day period; not for enrolled programmes.

Max stay

21 days

Validity

21 days

The Student Visa is for foreign nationals who have enrolled in or been accepted to a study programme at a Vanuatu institution. The Director must receive written confirmation from the institution of enrolment. Applicants must show funds or income of at least VUV 40,000 per month per applicant for the duration of the visa, and applicants aged 18 or over must provide medical examination results. The fee is VUV 2,880 for applicants under 18 and VUV 14,400 for those 18 and over. The visa is multiple-entry and may be extended subject to conditions; minors not living with a parent or guardian need an approved Vanuatu host.

• Study: Full enrolment at the admitting Vanuatu institution.

Government fee

VUV 14,400

Validity

365 days

Min. income / month

VUV 40,000

Foreign nationals taking up skilled work in Vanuatu for more than two months need an employer-sponsored Employment Visa from Immigration plus a Work Permit from the Department of Labour. The work permit is employer-led and granted mainly where a local skills gap exists; the Department targets a 5-working-day decision for foreign-investor permits. The Employment Visa is multiple-entry and valid for 12 months; the visa fee is VUV 51,500, the standard one-year work permit fee is VUV 200,000, and a separate Work Permit Tax applies. Both must be renewed annually.

• Work: Work for the sponsoring employer in the approved role; tied to the valid work permit.
• Residency after 10 years

Government fee

VUV 51,500

Validity

365 days

The investor permanent residence stream (Part B, subclasses 132-135) targets serious investors who genuinely intend to invest substantially in Vanuatu, with tougher requirements than the standard residence visa. Reported thresholds include purchasing property or agricultural land worth around USD 100,000 and demonstrating substantial savings. The permit is renewable every ten years; investors who reside lawfully and continuously for at least ten years while maintaining ownership and management of their business may qualify for a permanent investor visa and, ultimately, naturalisation. Applications use the prescribed Part B form (3-1) lodged with the Director of Immigration.

• Work: May own, manage and work in the qualifying Vanuatu business.
• Study: Permanent residence permits study.
• Residency after 10 years
• Family: Spouse and dependent children may be included.

Validity

3,650 days

Min. investment

$100,000

The Capital Investment Immigration Plan is Vanuatu's second citizenship-by-investment route, granting full lifelong citizenship with no residency requirement. The contribution is about USD 165,000, of which roughly USD 50,000 is placed into a designated investment fund (e.g. the Cocoa Sustainable Fund) that is guaranteed and redeemable after four years, making the net cost lower than the headline figure. Like the DSP it requires clean police certificates, due-diligence checks and application through a government-authorised agent, with completion typically within about one to two months. The Vanuatu Contribution Program (VCP), reserved for the China market, runs in parallel as a separate contribution stream.

• Work: Full citizenship confers unrestricted rights to live and work in Vanuatu.
• Study: Full citizen access to study.
• Residency: Grants citizenship directly; no residence step or waiting period.
• Family: Spouse, dependent children and dependent parents can be included.

Processing time

60 days

Min. investment

$165,000

The Development Support Program is Vanuatu's principal citizenship-by-investment route, granting full lifelong citizenship and a passport in exchange for a non-refundable contribution to the government's development fund, with no residency, interview or language requirement. As of 2026 the minimum contribution is about USD 130,000 for a single applicant, USD 150,000 for a married couple and USD 165,000+ for a family of three or more (around USD 185,500 all-in for a family of four), with roughly USD 10,000 per additional dependant; a USD 5,500 due-diligence fee is included. Applicants must be 18-65, show clean police certificates and demonstrate net assets of at least USD 250,000. Applications must go through a government-authorised agent, with approval-in-principle typically in 2-3 weeks and completion within about 30-60 days. Citizenship is overseen by the Vanuatu Citizenship Commission.

• Work: Full citizenship confers unrestricted rights to live and work in Vanuatu.
• Study: Full citizen access to study.
• Residency: Grants citizenship directly; no residence step or waiting period.
• Family: Spouse, dependent children (to age 25) and dependent parents aged 65+ can be included.

Processing time

60 days

Min. investment

$130,000

Residence visa for foreign investors who hold a valid Foreign Investor approval certificate from the Vanuatu Investment Promotion Authority (VIPA) and, where required, a business licence. The visa length scales with the investment: about VUV 15,000,000 supports a 3-year visa, VUV 25,000,000 a 5-year visa, VUV 50,000,000 a 10-year visa and VUV 100,000,000 a 15-year visa. Residence visa fees range from about VUV 57,600 for one year up to roughly VUV 511,200 for ten years (18+), plus VUV 20,000 per year of validity in advance. The VIPA application fee is VUV 120,000 with a VUV 30,000 annual renewal. The investor must keep the VIPA certificate and licence valid throughout.

• Work: May manage and work in the approved VIPA-registered business.
• Study: Lawful residence permits study.
• Residency after 10 years
• Family: Spouse and dependent children can be included on the residence visa application.

Government fee

VUV 57,600

Validity

1,095 days

Min. investment

VUV 15,000,000

The Self-Funded Resident Visa is Vanuatu's route for financially independent and retired foreigners who support themselves without local employment. Applicants must show certified monthly income paid into a Vanuatu bank of at least VUV 250,000 (single) or VUV 500,000 if including a spouse or de facto partner, and must keep meeting that income test. The visa is typically issued for 1, 3, 5 or 10 years; fees range from about VUV 57,600 for one year up to roughly VUV 511,200 for ten years (18+), plus VUV 20,000 per year of validity in advance. A clean police record and a basic medical examination are required.

• Study: Lawful residence permits study.
• Residency after 10 years
• Family: Spouse/de facto partner can be included on the higher income test; dependent children may be added.

Government fee

VUV 57,600

Validity

1,095 days

Min. income / month

VUV 250,000

The Partner Residence Visa is for foreigners legally married to, or in a genuine de facto relationship with, a Vanuatu citizen or resident. The applicant must remain in that relationship with the same partner who is the basis of the visa, unless the partner has died. The visa lets the partner live in Vanuatu for the granted period and is renewable while the relationship continues. A foreign spouse of a Vanuatu citizen becomes eligible for Vanuatu citizenship after two years of marriage.

• Work: Partners of citizens/residents may generally live and work in Vanuatu.
• Study: Lawful residence permits study.
• Residency after 2 years
• Family: Built around the partner relationship; dependent children may be included via the child residence route.

Validity

1,095 days

The Child Residence Visa is for the dependent child of a Vanuatu citizen or resident, allowing the child to live in Vanuatu with the qualifying parent. The sponsoring parent must hold Vanuatu citizenship or a valid residence status, and the relationship and dependency must be evidenced. The visa is renewable while the child remains a dependant and the parent's status is maintained.

• Study: Permits the child to study in Vanuatu.
• Residency after 10 years
• Family: Issued to the dependent child of a citizen or resident parent.

Validity

1,095 days

The Specialist Visa is for foreign nationals coming to Vanuatu to provide specialised skills, expertise or short technical assignments, typically under a contract with a Vanuatu-based organisation or project. It is sponsored by the host entity and granted for the period of the assignment. It is distinct from the standard employment visa and is used where a defined specialist role or consultancy is being performed. Specific fee schedules are set by Immigration.

• Work: Work limited to the sponsored specialist assignment.

Validity

365 days

Subclass 131 is the non-investor permanent residence route, open to people of Ni-Vanuatu parentage or descent and to those who have resided in Vanuatu for the preceding 12 months. Applicants must demonstrate a stable income or sufficient savings to support themselves; employment with a local company is not mandatory. Applications are lodged on the prescribed form with the Director of Vanuatu Immigration Services. It confers long-term settlement and can lead to naturalisation after the qualifying period of continuous residence.

• Work: Permanent residents may live and work in Vanuatu.
• Study: Permanent residence permits study.
• Residency after 10 years
• Family: Spouse and dependent children may be included subject to assessment.