We know that travel looks a little different in this post-Covid world. It’s normal to have a few questions to make sure you get to where you’re going and stay safe while you’re travelling!
Here are the answers to a handful of common questions about travel to Vanuatu, to make sure you feel confident since our borders reopened to international visitors on the 1st of July.
What do I need to do before I travel to Vanuatu to ensure I can enter the country?
As of July 1st, 2022, all travellers aged to two (2) years and over MUST provide at the airlines check-in desk for any international flights to Vanuatu evidence of:
• Negative COVID-19 PCR test done 24 to 72 hours before scheduled departure from travel origin, OR
• Negative COVID-19 supervised certified RAT done within 24 hours of departure, OR
• Positive COVID-19 RAT or PCR test at least 8 days BUT no more than 2 months before the date of departure.
There is no requirement to upload the test results. However this is subject to change. We will communicate in due course.
Notes:
1. The evidence of a negative result will need to be provided in advance of travel and made available at the airline check-in desk for the international flight to Vanuatu
2. The same test result will need to be presented to the border control agent upon arrival in Vanuatu
3. The evidence of negative test result can be shown in hand copy (printed hard copy) or displayed on a smart device (smartphone).
Attention:
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If there are one or more international transit or connecting flight to Vanuatu the departure time should be considered from the initial origin from the first flight (leg).
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If flights are delayed but the departure occurs within 72 hours of the scheduled departure time, then a new negative RAT or PCR test is not required.
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If flights are delayed but the departure occurs within over 72 hours of the initial scheduled departure time, then a new negative RAT or PCR test is required.
Is there anything else I need to have before travelling to Vanuatu?
YES!
1. Travellers on tourist visa must:
a. have a confirmed returned ticket to country of origin
b. a confirmed accomodation at an accredited tourist facility*: hotel, motel, bungalow, resort OR a letter of invitation from sponsor in Vanuatu
For more information, please check here.
Note:
*An accredited tourism property or facility means it was certified by the Vanuatu Government Department of Tourism, with a valid tourism permit. See attached the list of the accredited tourism businesses - 2022_Tourism_Accommodation.pdf
For more information on the list of the Exempt and non-Exempt countries to the Vanuatu Tourism Visa, please click on the link, Countries_requiring_visa_or_No_Visa_for_Vanuatu_2022.pdf
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Only citizens from NON-EXEMPT countries will be required to apply for a Tourism Visa, by completing the attached form and returning it to the Vanuatu Department of Immigrations and Passport Services prior to travel, for approval.
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Tourism Visa will be granted upon arrival by the Vanuatu Department of Immigrations and Passport Services to all traveling citizens of EXEMPT countries.
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To download the Tourism Visa form, please click on the link, Tourism___Visa.docx
Failure to provide a confirmed booking, with an accredited tourism property may results to denied boarding or refusal by the Vanuatu Government Department Immigration.
2. Travellers and/or Vanuatu residents on residence visa, student visa, business visa or special category visa MUST have a valid existing visa before boarding any flight to Vanuatu.
For any further information on these additional border measures and conditions, please contact,
Is there anything I need to know during my stay in Vanuatu?
There is two important things you need to know while staying in Vanuatu:
1.Masks
A well fitted mask is required to be worn by all travellers aged 12 years and over during an air flight to Vanuatu and inside the airport arrival terminal.
2. Exemptions
Those with a valid medical certificate issued by a medical practitioner may be exempt from wearing a mask. The certificate must be presented at the airline check-in desk prior to departure.
When I get to Vanuatu, will I need to quarantine or do an arrival test?
You won’t need to quarantine or do any testing upon arrival.
All provinces and islands of Vanuatu are currently under recovery level 1 of the Vanuatu Ministry of Healths Roadmap to safe border reopening. This means all provinces and islands are currently open and have no domestic travel restrictions.
The above requirements also applies to those entering Vanuatu by sea, if there have not developed any Covid-19 symptoms and there has been no confirmed exposure to COVID-19. These will be assessed by the Maritime Border Control.
Will I need to be vaccinated to visit Vanuatu?
We encourage all people to follow the health advice and ensure they are fully vaccinated against Covid-19. This helps keep us all safe. No proof of vaccination will be required for any traveler and/or age.
What if I’ve recently had Covid-19?
If you’ve recently had Covid-19, we know that you may still present a positive reading on a PCR or RAT. If this is the case, you can produce a certificate of infection and recovery from Covid-19 within 28 days of departure to be issued by a certified medical practioner.
What happens if I test positive for Covid-19 while in Vanuatu?
Any travellers who test positive to COVID-19 or who have developed symptoms of COVID-19 and can not get tested will need to isolate for seven (7) days.
You’ll need to isolate for seven days in a managed government designated and approved facility - This may include hotels and resorts or other government health centres subject to availability.
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for citizens, permanent residence or those visiting family and friends, home isolation is permitted.
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for other foreign visitors, hotels and resorts with approved isolation standard operating procedures (SOP) certified by the Department of Tourism through the Safe Business Operations program.
What happens at the end of my isolation ?
Release from isolation will be allowed after seven(7) days have passed since the first positive test or since symptoms first developed, if there has been no fever for the past three(3) days, and any symptoms are improving.
Release from isolation does not required a negative PCR or a negative RAT test result.
Note:
Foreign nationals are to meet all medical and travel expenses in Vanuatu for any aliments and injuries including COVID-19. This also applies to those travellers visiting families and friends.
Travel insurance is encouraged to cater for any unforeseen expenses and circumstances.
Who do I speak to in Vanuatu if I have any questions during my trip?
The Vanuatu Government has a dedicated Covid-19 hotline: please call 119 if you have any questions. Note this is a local number.
What Covid-19 protocols will I have to follow during my trip?
Travellers and locals in Vanuatu will be called on to play their part in keeping everyone safe. Everyone will be asked to:
• Practice good hygiene, including regular hand washing.
• Practice physical distancing, maintaining at least 1.5 metres distance from others.
• Sign-in or check-in anywhere you go.
• Wear a mask in indoor public spaces.
How else is the Vanuatu Government working to keep travellers and locals safe?
The safety of locals and visitors to Vanuatu is paramount.
Aside from implementing the protocols listed above, the Vanuatu Government and the Department of Tourism have launched the Safe Business Operations (SBO) program.
You can read a full description of the program here, however as an overview:
• The SBO program trains Vanuatu’s tourism and hospitality businesses to ensure they have enhanced cleaning, personal hygiene and protection measures in place to combat the spread of Covid-19.
• All businesses that have undertaken the SBO training will:
o Have a dedicated Covid-19 safety officer that is up to date on guidelines and protocols and that will be a point of contact for you should you have any questions.
o Be ‘Triple C Certified’ – this stands for clean, caring and checked and it means the business offers enhanced safety measures. You can spot these businesses via a special Triple C Certified logo on their website, social media or at the place of business itself, and it’s a way for you to easily identify which accommodation providers or tour operators offer this enhanced level of safety and protection.
Will I be able to visit all of Vanuatu’s provinces from the 1st of July onwards?
According to the Vanuatu Ministry of Health’s Roadmap to Safe Border Reopening, provinces and islands that have reached Health Recovery Level 1 status (meaning they are well vaccinated and their Covid-19 situation is stable) are open to the international visitors from the 1st of July onwards.
Efate (Port Vila) and Sanma (Luganville) have reached this status, and we invite you to visit Ministry of Health's website to view the most up to date information on specific provinces/islands and their statuses.
You can read more about Vanuatu’s Roadmap to reopening here.
It’s important to know that the entry requirements and protocols detailed above are subject to change. For more information on Vanuatu’s entry requirements and visiting Vanuatu from 1 July, go here.
We will also publish relevant updates on the Vanuatu Tourism Office Facebook page, which you can follow here.
Click on the below banner for everything you need to know when travelling to Vanuatu. Lukim yu! (See you soon!)
