Vanuatu
Vanuatu visa guide: tourist, work, investor and residence visas
- 8 visa types
- checked 25 October 2026
How visas for Vanuatu work
Visas for Vanuatu are issued by the Department of Vanuatu Immigration and Passport Service in Port Vila. Applications are lodged on the government eVisa portal, which lists each visa class with its duration, number of entries, fee in vatu (VUV), whether it can be extended and whether the holder may later change status.
Short visits run on two classes: the tourist visa, valid for 120 days on a single entry, and the visitor visa, valid for 30 days for visiting family or friends or attending meetings and conferences. Citizens of exempt countries obtain these visas on arrival; everyone else must apply and be approved before travelling and pays VUV 5,150 (tourist) or VUV 7,420 (visitor). Neither can be extended, and neither allows work or business.
Longer stays are tied to a purpose: employment visas require a work permit from the Department of Labour and Employment Services, investor visas follow approval by the Vanuatu Foreign Investment Promotion Agency (VFIPA) and registration with the Vanuatu Financial Services Commission (VFSC), and separate classes exist for students, retirees aged 50 and over, close family members, volunteers and permanent residents.
Which visa do I need?
Holiday of up to 120 days: tourist visa (on arrival if your nationality is exempt).
Visiting family or friends, meetings or conferences for up to 30 days: visitor visa.
Job offer with a Vanuatu employer: employment visa (12 months) or short term employment visa (1 to 4 months).
Setting up or holding a business: provisional, business, direct or permanent investor visa.
Retiring at 50 or older: retiree visa (10 years).
Joining a spouse or parent living in Vanuatu: close family visa.
Long-term residence: permanent residency visa (up to 10 years) through a designated agent.
Seeking protection as a refugee: asylum claim to the Director of Immigration under Part 9 of the Immigration Act.
Visa types for Vanuatu
Visits and short stays
- Tourist visa Tourist visa (120 days) and visitor visa (30 days)
The tourist visa covers holidays and short family visits for up to 120 days on a single entry; the visitor visa covers up to 30 days for visiting friends or family or attending meetings and conferences.
Maximum stay: 120 days (tourist visa) or 30 days (visitor visa)
Business and self-employment
- Investor visa Investor visas (provisional, business, direct and permanent investor)
Vanuatu has four investor classes.
Maximum stay: 1 year (provisional), 3 years (business), 8 years (direct), indefinite (permanent)
Study and training
- Student visa
Non-citizens enrolled in a course at a secondary, tertiary or technical institution in Vanuatu apply for the student visa.
Maximum stay: Length of the study programme
Work
- Work visa Employment visa and short term employment visa
Foreign workers need a job offer and a work permit from the Department of Labour and Employment Services before the Department of Immigration grants an employment visa.
Maximum stay: 12 months, extendable
Family
- Family reunification visa Close family visa
The close family visa is for the spouse or dependent child of a Vanuatu citizen, or of a non-citizen living in Vanuatu on a visa that allows secondary applicants.
Maximum stay: 12 months, extendable
Residence
- Retirement visa Retiree visa
The retiree visa lets non-citizens aged at least 50 enter or remain in Vanuatu to retire.
Maximum stay: 10 years - Permanent residence Permanent residency visa
The permanent residency visa is granted for up to 10 years with multiple entries.
Maximum stay: Up to 10 years
Asylum and international protection
- Asylum and international protection Asylum claim for refugee status (Immigration Act Part 9)
Vanuatu's Immigration Act No.
Processing time: Decided as soon as practicable; no fixed time limit in the Act
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to apply for a Vanuatu visa before travelling?
Only if your nationality is not exempt. Exempt persons under the Immigration Act are nationals of Commonwealth countries, EU member states and Melanesian Spearhead Group states, plus classes added by regulation; they receive the tourist or visitor visa on arrival. Everyone else applies on the eVisa portal and must be approved before travelling.
Can a tourist visa be extended?
No. The tourist visa (120 days) and the visitor visa (30 days) are both marked as not extendable and do not allow a change of visa status.
Which visa lets me work in Vanuatu?
The employment visa, granted to people with a job offer and a work permit from the Department of Labour and Employment Services. Short assignments use the short term employment visa (1 to 4 months) or the specialist skilled visa (up to two weeks).
Is there a visa for retirees?
Yes. The retiree visa is for people aged at least 50 who want to retire in Vanuatu. It lasts 10 years, costs VUV 309,000 and does not allow employment or business.
Where is the Immigration Department?
The Department of Vanuatu Immigration and Passport Service is in the Tamarama Building on Kumul Highway, Port Vila, open Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 17:00. Phone +678 22354, email evisa@vanuatu.gov.vu.
Embassies and consulates
Last checked 25 October 2026. Each visa page lists the official sources it is based on.