Numerous expats consider living in Vanuatu, a country in the South Pacific Ocean. Let’s explore this beautiful country, see what it has in store for foreigners mulling a move.
If you want to invest as an expat or high-net-worth individual, which is what i specialize in, you can email me (advice@adamfayed.com) or use WhatsApp (+44-7393-450-837).
How to Move to Vanuatu: Visa, Residency, and Citizenship
Vanuatu visa and residency
Visitors to Vanuatu can choose from various visas that are specific to their country of origin and their intended use on the island. For short-term tourism, visits to friends and family, business exploration, and meetings, nationals of certain jurisdictions, including Australia, New Zealand, and numerous South Pacific nations, are permitted visa-free entrance.
Visa applications must be submitted in advance, nevertheless, by citizens of nations that are not on the list of exempted nations.
Tourist Visa holders are those who want to stay in Vanuatu for a short period of time and primarily participate in tourist, leisure, or social trips. They are required to follow specific rules, such as not engaging in any commercial, employment, or business activity and having a return ticket or another acceptable way to leave Vanuatu.
Tourist visas can be easily obtained upon arrival for passengers from countries that are not exempted, and online applications are also available for individuals from non-exempted territories. The application procedure has been simplified to make it easier for visitors to access and enter.
Work and residency visas are among the several long-term stay possibilities available in Vanuatu.
- Long-Term Work Visa: This one-year work permit can be extended for four years. It serves those seeking employment and long-term residence in Vanuatu.
- Vanuatu Temporary Visa: Applicants can apply for employment stays of four months or less.
- Exempted Visa: For job stays of one month or less, the Exempted Visa is ideal.
- Residence Visa: The Residence Visa allows a stay of at least a year in six categories, such as Partner, Child, Employee, and Self-funded Resident.
- Remote Worker Visa: The Remote Worker Visa allows entrepreneurs, business owners, and freelancers working remotely for global companies to stay in Vanuatu for one year.
- Self-funded Resident Visa: Individuals with a documented monthly income from a Vanuatu-operating bank must earn at least 250,000 vatu per month, or 500,000 with a spouse or de-facto partner. For self-funded retirees holding a residence permit before a certain date, certain criteria apply as well.
- Permanent Resident Visa: This visa is for Ni-Vanuatu or Ni-Vanuatu descent parents or those who have been living in Vanuatu for a year. Specialized visas are available for serious Vanuatu investors.
- Land Owner Visa: This visa is valid for 12 months and can be renewed if the applicant owns a Vanuatu property worth at least 10 million vatu and earns at least 250,000 vatu per month.
Vanuatu citizenship by investment
Foreign investors can become citizens of Vanuatu by making a financial contribution under the country’s Citizenship by Investment (CBI) program. Vanuatu Citizenship Development Support Program is the name of the initiative.
The following are some important program details:
- Contribution of Funds: Participants are asked to make a minimum, non-refundable donation to the National Development Fund of the Vanuatu government as part of the scheme. The number of applicants and their accompanying dependents determines the contribution amounts. A minimum commitment of $130,000 is required for a single application.
- Due Diligence: The Government Financial Intelligence Unit collects a non-refundable fee from applicants in order to conduct due diligence checks and get due diligence clearance.
- The application process entails filling out the appropriate papers, attaching relevant documents, and passing due diligence inspections. After the candidate receives due diligence clearance, they can proceed with the cash contribution and complete the citizenship application.
- Final Approval and Oath: After the application and contribution are submitted, the Citizenship Commission will send a final go-ahead. After that, the candidate can become a citizen of Vanuatu by attending a ceremony to swear an oath of allegiance.
- Travel without visa: Vanuatuan nationals are eligible for visa-free or visa-on-arrival travel to more than a hundred countries throughout the Atlantic, Africa, Oceania, and the Middle East.
Investors can become citizens in around two months thanks to the program’s renown efficiency and short processing time. Applicants should coordinate with authorized agents to follow all program protocols and requirements.
Vanuatu dual citizenship
In 2013, Vanuatu legalized dual citizenship, allowing citizens of one country to also hold citizenship of another. The management and supervision of dual nationality registration is carried out by the Citizenship Commission, the governmental authority in charge of such matters.
Be advised that this benefit is exclusively available to individuals who have officially filed a request to the Citizenship Commission to register their dual status.
The practical requirement is that anyone who obtain citizenship of Vanuatu in addition to another country’s citizenship must register to confirm their dual nationality.
The government of Vanuatu has very specific registration procedures, so anyone thinking about applying for citizenship there while also being a citizen of another nation ought to follow them. Anyone hoping to keep their Vanuatu dual citizenship must comply with these registration requirements.
What’s it like living in Vanuatu
Vanuatu weather
The rainiest months in Vanuatu are usually November through April. There is a higher chance of rainfall, more humidity, and hotter temperatures on the islands during this time. The months of January through March see an increase in the likelihood of tropical storm formation. Significant rainfall and strong gusts, which could cause disruptions, are possible outcomes of these cyclones.
May to October is the dry season. Lower humidity and less precipitation characterize the weather throughout these months, making it more predictable. Because of the pleasant weather, this is often considered the best season to visit Vanuatu.
Is Vanuatu safe?
Although most people consider Vanuatu to be a safe location, expats should nevertheless be mindful of the local safety protocols just like they would in any other nation. Even while robberies, assaults, and sexual assaults against foreigners may happen on occasion, Vanuatu has a relatively low crime rate overall.
The country may experience earthquakes, tropical cyclones, and volcanoes due to its seismic activity, though. You should monitor weather conditions and follow local cautions. You should be wary and check that local transportation companies follow safety regulations before utilizing public transit too. To improve one’s own safety, it is essential to choose trustworthy operators.
You should know where the closest hospitals and emergency services are in case of an emergency. The police in Vanuatu can be reached at 111, ambulances at 112, and fire trucks at 113. Your move to Vanuatu might be safer and more fun if you are prepared and have all the necessary information.
Vanuatu food
As a reflection of the wealth of natural resources found in the island, Vanuatuan cuisine is known for its extensive use of organic and fresh ingredients. Yams, bananas, and coconuts are some of the mainstays of the Vanuatuan diet.
There are never food shortages because most local families raise their own food. Mangoes, pineapples, papayas, plantains, and sweet potatoes are among Vanuatu’s most abundant foods. Fresh, vibrant fruits are staples in the diet, and coconut milk and cream are common flavoring agents.
Vanuatu real estate
Vanuatu’s real estate market includes residences, commercial buildings, land, tourism projects, rental investment properties, apartments, and farms. The country does not ban foreign property ownership, and non-citizen property owners are not required to live there.
Tax incentives make Vanuatu’s real estate investment attractive. This includes no corporate, income, capital gains, estate, wealth, withholding, gift, or personal income taxes.
An agent can offer a number of solutions to match your needs, whether you want a property for investment, development, or personal use. Vanuatu can offer versatile and attractive real estate opportunities for investors, including land for sale.
Vanuatu language
English, French, and Bislama are Vanuatu’s official languages, with Bislama being the most spoken. It is an English-based creole with a large English vocabulary, as a second language.
English is mostly used in administration, education, and the judicial system. Although French is an official language too, it is less important than Bislama and English. In French-influenced Vanuatu, certain residents may speak French in governmental and administrative settings.
Vanuatu currency
Vanuatu Vatu is the country’s official currency. One vatu is worth 0.0084 USD as of this writing.
In less populous regions, where credit cards aren’t always accepted, it’s wise for expats to have some local cash on hand.
Vanuatu population
According to the latest data from Macrotrends, the population of Vanuatu in 2023 is 334,506.
![Living in Vanuatu Guide for Expats 2 population in vanuatu](https://adamfayed.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Vanuatu-population-512x187.png)
Vanuatu culture
Local regional and foreign variances have contributed to Vanuatu’s complex tapestry of culture. Traditional rural architecture and layout are preserved in the country, as the majority of the ethnic group called ni-Vanuatu reside on their home islands.
Women engage in subsistence farming and fishing, while older males hold prominent positions in the villages, revealing a hierarchical social structure. The three main cultural regions in the country contribute to the considerable diversity of the culture,. Rural communities are booming with traditional music, or kastom singsing, and a cuisine that blends indigenous and imported foods from the South Pacific. Ni-Vanuatu, the native name for Vanuatuans, are very proud of their ancestry.
Is Vanuatu expensive?
At a restaurant, you can get a cheap lunch for 1,342.75 vatu or a moderately priced three-course dinner for two for 5,206.90 vatu. Regular cappuccinos cost 611.64 vatu, while beer prices range from 489.14 vatu to 500 vatu, as per Numbeo.
The price of a one-bedroom apartment in the heart of the city is 212,535.36 vatu, whereas it is 159,052.70 vatu outside of the center. Outside of the city center, a three-bedroom apartment costs 207,616.60 vatu, while in the center, it costs 274,162.12 vatu. Apartments in the city center cost 414,426.40 vatu per square meter, whilst apartments outside the center cost 251,089.27 vatu per square meter.
Household essentials:
- Dozen regular eggs: 614.67 vatu
- Chicken fillets (1kg): 2,200.00 vatu
- Beef round (1kg): 2,195.00 vatu
- Kilogram of potatoes: 518.67 vatu
Other living expenses:
- 1.5-liter bottle of water: 127.50 vatu
- One-way local transport ticket: 175.00 vatu
- 1 liter of gasoline: 202.25 vatu
Basic utilities for an 85m2 apartment:
- Electricity, heating, cooling, water, garbage: 52,000.00 vatu
Internet:
- 60 Mbps or more, unlimited data, cable/ADSL: 22,166.67 vatu
Vanuatu transportation
Vanuatu’s road network is mostly dirt routes for four-wheel-drive vehicles. The country has less paved roads, so most island transit is via pickup truck, foot, or small boats. Taxis and mass-transit vans are abundant in Port Vila and Luganville, where bicycles are becoming popular.
Vanuatu has no railway system. Vanair’s Twin Otter planes land two or three times a day on the country’s few tiny airstrips. Each island has a modest port for small cargo ships and boats to dock.
Municipal buses resemble minivans. These buses have no defined routes, so passengers must tell the driver where they want to go for a customized drop-off.
You can hail taxis on the street or organize pick-ups from your location to the Vanuatu airport. Passenger ferries and cargo boats are the cheapest ways to travel between islands, but water taxis and ferries are not often used.
Healthcare in Vanuatu
Healthcare in Vanuatu is plagued by insufficient resources and a shortage of skilled personnel. Public hospitals, clinics, and health centers serve inhabitants, with Port Vila Central Hospital serving as the main facility.
Private hospitals in metropolitan areas provide general, specialized, and dental care. Despite attempts, healthcare resources are limited, which may limit access to specialist services. Patients with serious medical difficulties may necessitate evacuation to Australia or New Zealand for treatment.
Vector-borne diseases including dengue fever and malaria are common, so travelers should consult a doctor before going there. Critical medical emergencies, especially on remote islands, may require medical evacuation to better-equipped hospitals, highlight the importance of travel insurance.
Urban pharmacies sell basic pharmaceuticals, but tourists should pack prescriptions and a first aid kit, especially in remote places. Visitors and residents should have extensive medical insurance, including air medical evacuation, due to high healthcare costs.
Working in Vanuatu as an expat
![Living in Vanuatu Guide for Expats 3 Working in Vanuatu as an expat](https://adamfayed.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Working-in-Vanuatu-as-an-expat-512x512.webp)
Although there are clear paths for individuals looking for possibilities, finding work as an expat in Vanuatu can be somewhat challenging. Teaching jobs become an attractive alternative for people who are fluent in English. Agriculture, the cattle industry, tourism, education, and the financial sector are the main areas that attract expat talent to Vanuatu.
Looking into remote work opportunities becomes a realistic choice if looking for work in one’s immediate area doesn’t offer any results or if one prefers more flexible work arrangements.
Entrepreneurs, company owners, and freelancers working remotely for multinational organizations are the target audience for the Vanuatu Remote Worker Visa, which allows them to remain in the country for a year. This option allows expats to work remotely while still making a contribution to Vanuatu’s economy.
Banking in Vanuatu for foreigners
Foreigners can open bank accounts at Vanuatu banks like the National Bank. The Reserve Bank, worldwide commercial banks, merchant banks, and offshore banks make up the banking system. Commercial banks can provide foreign banking services to non-residents through correspondents, consultants, and branches. Several regulated banks in Vanuatu are supervised by the Central Bank.
Vanuatu’s currency is the vatu (Vt or VUV), which accounts are denominated in by default. Some banks offer US, euro, and Australian dollar foreign currency accounts. Notably, most Vanuatu banks require account opening in person, and all banks offer international transfers with different commission prices for incoming and outgoing payments.
To open an account, applicants must provide a completed application form, acceptable identification, a certificate of income and source of funds, and contact information. The company constitution, certificate of formation, and business license are required for businesses.
If you need private banking services, talk to the bank itself to check if it’s something they offer.
International schools in Vanuatu
Expat and native families in Vanuatu have access to a number of excellent international schools which include:
- Port Vila International School (PVIS). PVIS offers a high-quality education from kindergarten all the way through eleventh grade in accordance with the Australian Curriculum. In addition to providing a rigorous English curriculum, the school actively promotes cultural awareness and diversity. The South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE) is an internationally recognized credential, and PVIS is one of several international schools that help students get into universities directly.
- Luganville International School (LIS). English is the medium of instruction at LIS, which is located in Luganville, Espiritu Santo. LIS is devoted to creating a welcoming space for students to learn in an atmosphere that encourages principles like honesty and service.
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