This time, we will be going on a breathtaking trip to one of the most gorgeous islands in Oceania, to Vanuatu. But where is Vanuatu even located? Vanuatu is a country in the South Pacific Ocean made up of 80 islands that span 1,300 kilometres. The archipelago is 1,750 kilometres east of Australia, 500 kilometres north of New Caledonia, west of Fiji, and south of Solomon Islands. During its colonial time, it was known as New Hebrides. It is also worth mentioning the fact that Vanuatu is only 2.5 hours north of Brisbane and 3.5 hours south of Sydney in Australia. Auckland, New Zealand is a little over 2 hours away. New Zealand, Honiara, Australia, Noumea, and Fiji all have regular flights.
Tourists are drawn to Vanuatu holidays because of the country's unique combination of unspoiled natural beauty and resort-style lodging. There are numerous jungle trails, villages, and coastlines to visit, and cruise ships frequently dock just out to sea to investigate the reefs that lie beneath the surface of the surrounding clear blue waters. Whether you are looking for a cultural, adventure, or relaxation holiday, or just a long weekend trip, Vanuatu has it all. Your vacation will begin in Port Vila, on the main island of Efate, from where you will be able to tour one or more of Vanuatu's 83 islands. Captain Cook is claimed to have been attracted to Tanna in 1774 after seeing the distant crimson glow of Mount Yasur. It is one of the most active volcanoes on the planet, yet it is also surprisingly easy to get to. Visitors can hire a four-wheel-drive vehicle to transport them across the ash fields and up the mountainside, almost to the crater rim. Meanwhile, hidden away from the tourist circuit, up in the northern archipelago, Gaua is the unofficial adventure capital of Torba province. The island's focal point is Lake Letas, a huge horseshoe-shaped caldera lake beneath the peak of Mount Gharat, an active Vanuatu volcano. Vanuatu's most major source of freshwater is Letas.
We could go on and on about Vanuatu's allure, but there are a few things to consider before booking your travel to Vanuatu, including the visa to Vanuatu. We understand how time-consuming it may be to apply for a visa to Vanuatu, especially if you are the one planning a family vacation. There is no need to be anxious because our team of professionals is always ready to help you with any questions or concerns you may have during the visa application process to Vanuatu. In any case, if you want further information on visa requirements for your intended trip, go to the "Services" area of the website and select your country of origin and destination.
However, how to apply for Vanuatu visa? To begin, I believe it is critical to emphasize that everyone who wants to travel to Vanuatu with a touristic aim must have a valid passport and return ticket in order to enter the nation. A person who desires to travel to Vanuatu and is required to apply for a visa should apply for processing and permission to travel to Vanuatu prior to booking and confirmation of travel.
Another key factor to remember is that your passport must be valid for the entire period you will be in the country. We can also readily divide all the nationals into two groups: The first group, known as Vanuatu visa free countries, who are not required to obtain a visa for their visit to the country, and the second group, known as Vanuatu visa-required countries, must submit a Vanuatu visa application. Which countries need visa for Vanuatu? You can check both lists on our website before arranging your trip..
If your country's name does not appear on the list of Vanuatu visa free countries, you will need to apply for a Vanuatu visa before travelling there. This type of visa can be obtained for a variety of reasons, including tourism, visiting family or friends, business travel, medical examinations or treatment, short-term education, exchange programs, and a range of others.
For example, you can apply for a tourist visa that allows you to stay in Vanuatu for up to 30 days to carry out your tourist activities. The most significant Vanuatu visa requirement is the Vanuatu visa application form. In addition, once the application form has been properly filled out, the applicant must sign it. A copy of round-trip plane tickets, a hotel reservation, or a letter of invitation from the Vanuatu host must be included in the travel itinerary. On average, a tourist visa for Vanuatu takes 3 to 15 working days to process. It's worth noting, though, that processing times vary depending on the country from where you are seeking a visa. A tourist visa in Vanuatu costs roughly 35 dollars. The cost may vary depending on your nationality or the country where you submit your application, just as it did with the processing time.
However, as you can read from the title of the blog, today we are focusing mainly on Vanuatu special category visa. But what is a special category visa? Diplomatic officials, Government Department personnel, and foreigners who intend to work for an approved donor agency are all eligible for a Vanuatu Special Category visa. A visa for the Vanuatu Special Category can be given for up to 5 years. Even if the applicant's dependents such as children, and spouse accompany him or her, but bear it in your mind that only one application with dependents should be submitted. In short, the Special Category visa requires you to perform diplomatic activities in Vanuatu as well as work for the Vanuatu government or be seconded to the government of Vanuatu, including your immediate family.
Looking at the country from a diplomatic and political point of view, we can say that The Prime Minister, who is also the leader of the government, is chosen by a three-quarters quorum of Parliament. The Prime Minister, in turn, appoints the Council of Ministers, which must consist of no more than a quarter of the total number of legislative representatives. The executive government is made up of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers. Vanuatu's government and society are divided along linguistic lines between French and English. Because of the cultural differences between English and French speakers, forming coalition governments has proven difficult at times. A chief justice and up to three other judges make up the Supreme Court. A Court of Appeal can be made up of two or more members of this court.
Now, back to special visa, when you arrive at an immigration checkpoint, the immigration officer will evaluate your application to determine how long you are permitted to stay. The candidate must thoroughly fill out and sign the Vanuatu visa application form. Two passport-size photographs of you without glasses or other headwear. The passport, as well as a copy of the front page, is another required for a Vanuatu visa. Passports must be valid for at least 6 months and the same as the one that will be used to enter Vanuatu; additionally, all pages that have been used must be copied and presented.
A copy of round-trip plane tickets, a hotel reservation, or a letter of invitation from the Vanuatu host is required to be attached to the travel itinerary. Proof of financial means is one of the documents that candidates must have. You must demonstrate that you have the funds to support yourself for the duration of your visit, which is about 370 USD per month. Bank statements, wage stubs, sponsorship letters, and other papers can all be used. A police clearance certificate must be obtained from each country where you spent more than one year in the previous five years. This also applies to anyone over the age of 18 who is a part of the application. Medical Examination is also needed to be submitted, if the applicant is over the age of 18, a medical examination is required. The outcomes of the examination must be included in the application, as well.
So, how to get a special category visa for Vanuatu? A Vanuatu Special Category Visa takes somewhere between 3 and 15 working days to be completely processed on average. But as it was with the tourist visa, the processing time can slightly vary according to your nationality and residency from which you are applying for a visa. And how much do you need to pay to apply for a special category visa?
The visa for Vanuatu's Special Category is free of charge. How to apply for Vanuatu visa? To apply for a Vanuatu visa, you will need to visit one of the Vanuatu visa application centres, embassies, or consulates in your home country, of course, whichever is in charge of Vanuatu visa applications. Unfortunately, if none of the aforementioned choices is accessible in your country and there is no institution in your nation that deals with Vanuatu visas, you will have to apply to the embassy or consulate that is nearest to your location, which is usually located in one of the neighbouring countries. Please also be informed that applications that are incomplete or partially completed will not be accepted. Information written in a language other than English, French, or Bislama must be translated into one of these languages by a licensed translator.
