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Vanuatu
Country Specific Information
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July 18, 2008
COUNTRY DESCRIPTION:
Vanuatu consists of more than 80 islands in a Y-shaped archipelago, 1300 miles northeast of Sydney, Australia. It is an
independent parliamentary democracy and a member of the British Commonwealth, with a primarily agricultural economy. Tourist
facilities are limited outside the capital, Port Vila, which is located on the Island of Efate. The National Tourism Office
of Vanuatu can be contacted at PO Box 209, Port Vila, Vanuatu, telephone (678) 22515, 22685, 22813, fax (678) 23889, e-mail:
tourism@vanuatu.com.vu. Read the Department of State Background Notes on Vanuatu for additional information.
ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS: A valid passport and onward/return ticket and proof of sufficient funds are required. Visas are not required for stays up to 120 days; however, one must apply for an extension of his/her stay at the end of each month of stay in Vanuatu. For further information on entry requirements, particularly for those persons planning to enter by a sailing vessel, please contact the Vanuatu Mission to the United Nations at 42 Broadway, Suite 1200-18, New York, NY 10004, tel. (212) 425-9600, fax (212) 425-9652, e-mail: vmsnyc@attglobal.net.
Travelers who plan to transit or visit Australia must enter that country with an Australian visa or, if eligible, through Electronic Travel Authority (ETA). The ETA replaces a visa and allows eligible travelers a stay of up to three months in Australia. An ETA may be obtained for a small service fee at http://www.eta.immi.gov.au/. Airlines and many travel agents in the United States are also able to issue ETA’s. Travelers may obtain more information about the ETA and Australian entry requirements from the Australian Embassy at 1601 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20036, tel. (202) 797-3000, or via the Australian Embassy’s web site at http://www.austemb.org.
Information about dual nationality or the prevention of international child abduction can be found on our web site. For further information about customs regulations, please read our Customs Information sheet.
SAFETY AND SECURITY: Civil disorder is rare; however, U.S. citizens are advised to avoid public demonstrations and/or political rallies if they occur. For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs’ web site at http://travel.state.gov, where the current Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts, as well as the Worldwide Caution, can be found.
Up-to-date information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S. and Canada, or for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except for U.S. federal holidays).
The Department of State urges American citizens to take responsibility for their own personal security while traveling overseas. For general information about appropriate measures travelers can take to protect themselves in an overseas environment, see the Department of State’s pamphlet A Safe Trip Abroad
CRIME: Although violent crime is extremely rare in Vanuatu, reports of burglaries have been increasing. Tourists, therefore, should
take reasonable precautions to avoid exposing themselves to undue risk. There have been instances where women have been victims
of sexual assault or harassment in Vanuatu, so it is advisable that women travelers not travel alone.
INFORMATION FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME: The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the U.S. Embassy in Port Moresby. If you are the victim of a crime while overseas, in addition to reporting to local police, please contact the U.S. Embassy in Port Moresby for assistance. The Embassy staff can assist you to find appropriate medical care, to contact family members or friends, and explain how funds could be transferred. Although the investigation and prosecution of the crime is solely the responsibility of local authorities, consular officers can help you to understand the local criminal justice process and to find an attorney, if needed.
The local equivalent to the “911” emergency line in Vanuatu is 112.
See our information on Victims of Crime.
NATURAL DISASTERS: Vanuatu is prone to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, sudden tidal movements, tropical storms, and cyclones.
The Pacific cyclone season lasts from November through April. Local media and hotels will convey cyclone alerts issued by
local authorities, and detailed weather information is published by Météo-France in New Caledonia at http://www.meteo.nc/, the Fiji Meteorological Service at http://www.meteo.nc/ and the Naval Pacific Meteorology and Oceanography Center at https://metocph.nmci.navy.mil/jtwc.php.
Volcanoes/Earthquakes: Vanuatu has many active volcanoes, and their risk levels can change on a daily basis. Travelers to
areas where there are volcanoes can contact the Department of Geology and Mines at 22423 to obtain information about the activity
of a volcano. Vanuatu is situated in an active seismic zone, and earthquakes are relatively common, sometimes followed by
tsunamis.
You should contact the Vanuatu Tourism Office prior to traveling to areas where volcanic activity may occur. Detailed information
about earthquakes is available from the National Earthquake Information Center of the United States Geological Survey at http://earthquake.usgs.gov/regional/neic/. If a natural disaster occurs, follow the advice of local authorities.
General information about natural disaster preparedness is available via the Internet from the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at http://www.fema.gov/.
MEDICAL FACILITIES AND HEALTH INFORMATION: Medical facilities are limited. The nearest reliable medical treatment is in Australia or New Zealand. There are two hyperbaric recompression chambers in Vanuatu; one in Luganville, on Espiritu Santo Island, and the other in Port Vila. Please note, however, that diving-related injuries may require medical evacuation to Australia or New Zealand. There is a paramedic service in Vanuatu called ProMedical, which is manned by Australian and New Zealand personnel. They also handle any medical evacuations. Serious injuries requiring hospitalization and/or medical evacuation to the United States or elsewhere can cost thousands of dollars). Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for their services.
Pharmacies in Vanuatu are found only in urban centers and at missionary clinics. They are small and may be inadequately stocked. Travelers should bring adequate supplies of their medications for their stay in Vanuatu.
Travelers who anticipate the possible need for medical treatment in Australia should obtain entry permission for Australia in advance. Entry permission for Australian can be granted by the Australian High Commission in Port Vila, but it may be easier to obtain a visa or ETA prior to leaving the United States (See section above on Entry/Exit Requirements).
Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection, may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747) or via the CDC’s web site at http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/default.aspx. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad consult the World Health Organization’s (WHO) web site at http://www.who.int/en. Malaria is prevalent in some areas. Further health information for travelers is available at http://www.who.int/ith/en.
The U.S. Department of State is unaware of any HIV/AIDS entry restrictions for visitors to or foreign residents of Vanuatu. The Government of Vanuatu does not impose any entry restrictions for persons with the HIV/AIDS virus, as long as they include the information on the arrival form.
MEDICAL INSURANCE: The Department of State strongly urges Americans to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and whether it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation. Please see our information on medical insurance overseas.
TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS: While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning Vanuatu is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.
Vehicular traffic in Vanuatu moves on the right. Travel on highways outside of major towns can be hazardous. Drivers and passengers are advised to wear seatbelts. There is no country-wide road network; roads are generally in poor repair. Because Vanuatu is a chain of islands and atolls, most long-distance travel is by air or sea. Only the capital city of Port Vila (on Efate Island) and the town of Luganville (on Espiritu Santo Island) have consistently paved roads, which have a maximum speed limit of 50 kilometers per hour. These paved roads can be quite narrow in spots; drivers should take care, especially at night or along unfamiliar routes. The roads in all other areas are mostly unpaved or dirt tracks. Drivers on all roads should give way to traffic coming from the right, and to traffic coming from the left at a round-about. Travelers must take care when driving off main roads to avoid trespassing on communal land.
Please refer to our Road Safety page for more information. For specific information concerning Vanuatu driving permits, vehicle inspection, road tax and mandatory insurance, please contact the National Tourism Office of Vanuatu or the Vanuatu Mission to the United Nations at vmsnyc@attglobal.net.
AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT: As there is no direct commercial air service to the United States by carriers registered in Vanuatu, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not assessed Vanuatu’s Civil Aviation Authority for compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards. For more information, travelers may visit the FAA’s web site at http://www.faa.gov/safety/programs_initiatives/oversight/iasa.
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: Vanuatu and Australian customs authorities may enforce strict regulations concerning temporary importation into or export from Vanuatu of items such as firearms, certain prescription drugs, wooden artifacts, exotic animals, food, and sexually explicit material. Other products may be subject to quarantine. It is advisable to contact the Vanuatu Mission to the United Nations at 42 Broadway, Suite 1200-18, New York, NY 10004, tel. (212) 425-9600, fax (212) 425-9652, e-mail: vmsnyc@attglobal.net, and the Australian Embassy for specific information regarding customs requirements.
Please see our Customs Information.
U.S. citizens are encouraged to carry a copy of their U.S. passports with them at all times, so that, if questioned by local officials, proof of identity and U.S. citizenship are readily available.
CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than those in the United States for similar offenses. Persons violating Vanuatu’s laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Penalties for possession or use of, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Vanuatu are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime, prosecutable in the United States. Please see our information on Criminal Penalties.
CHILDREN'S ISSUES: For information see our Office of Children’s Issues web pages on intercountry adoption and international parental child abduction.
REGISTRATION / EMBASSY LOCATION: The U.S. Embassy in Papua New Guinea provides primary assistance for U.S. citizens in Vanuatu. The Embassy is located on Douglas Street, adjacent to the Bank of Papua New Guinea, in Port Moresby. Use that address for courier service deliveries. The mailing address is PO Box 1492, Port Moresby, N.C.D. 121, Papua New Guinea; the telephone number is (675) 321-1455; after hours duty officer telephone number is (675) 683-7943; Fax (675) 321-1593. American citizens may submit consular inquiries via e-mail to ConsularPortMoresby@state.gov. Other inquires may be e-mailed to our Virtual Embassy Officer (VEO) at USVPPVanuatu@state.gov. For additional information, and to download forms, please refer to our virtual embassy at www.usvpp-vanuatu.org.
Americans living or traveling in Vanuatu are encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy in Port Moresby through the State Department’s travel registration web site, https://travelregistration.state.gov, and to obtain updated information on travel and security within Vanuatu. Americans without Internet access may register directly with the Embassy. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy to contact them in case of emergency.
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This replaces the Country Specific Information for Vanuatu dated January 8, 2008, to update sections on Information on Victims of Crime and Medical Facilities and Health Information.
