Today, we are taking a magnificent trip to one of the most beautiful islands in Oceania, to Vanuatu. But before we go any further, where is Vanuatu even located? Vanuatu is a country in the South Pacific Ocean made up of 80 islands that span 1,300 kilometers. The archipelago is 1,750 kilometers east of Australia, 500 kilometers north of New Caledonia, west of Fiji, and south of Solomon Islands. During its colonial time, it was known as New Hebrides. Travel to 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.
Vanuatu has it all, whether you are seeking a cultural, adventure, relaxing vacation, or just a long weekend getaway. You will begin your vacation at Port Vila, on the main island of Efate, from where you can visit one or more of Vanuatu's 83 islands. Interestingly enough, Captain Cook is said to have been enticed to Tanna in 1774 after seeing the distant crimson glow of Mount Yasur. It's one of the world's most active volcanoes, and it's also surprisingly accessible. A four-wheel-drive vehicle can be hired to take visitors across the ash fields and up the mountainside, almost to the crater rim. Meanwhile, up in the northern archipelago, Gaua is the unofficial adventure capital of Torba province, hidden away from the tourist trail. Lake Letas, a vast horseshoe-shaped caldera lake beneath the peak of Mount Gharat, an active Vanuatu volcano, is the island's focal point. Letas is Vanuatu's most important supply of freshwater.
We could go on and on about Vanuatu’s charms, but there are a few things to think about before you book your trip, one of which is the Vanuatu visa. We understand how time-consuming applying for a visa can be, especially if you are the one planning a family holiday. There is no need to be concerned because our team of experts is always available to assist you with any questions or issues you may have during the visa to Vanuatu application process. In any event, go to the "Services" section of the website and select your country of origin and destination if you want more information on visa requirements for your desired trip.
How to apply for a Vanuatu visa?
To begin with, I think it is very important to mention the fact that in order to be allowed entrance to the country every visitor who is in Vanuatu with a touristic goal needs to have a valid passport and return ticket in order to enter the country. Prior to booking and confirmation of travel, a person who wishes to travel to Vanuatu and needs a visa should upload an application for processing and be given permission to travel to Vanuatu. And also let us not forget another important point that the passport must be valid for the whole time you will be in the country. Also, we can easily separate nationals into two groups: The first group that does not require a visa during their trip to the country, as known as Vanuatu visa free countries, and secondly, the group of nationalities that should go through a Vanuatu visa application. So, which countries need visa for Vanuatu? Before planning your trip you can check both of the lists on our website.
If you are not able to find the name of your country on the list of Vanuatu visa free countries, then in order to travel to Vanuatu, you must first apply for a Vanuatu visa. Tourism, visiting family or friends, business travels, medical examinations or treatment, short-term education, exchange programs, and a variety of other reasons can all be used to apply for this sort of visa.
For example, to carry out your tourist activities in Vanuatu, you can apply for a tourist visa which allows you to stay in Vanuatu for up to 30 days. Vanuatu visa requirements include most importantly Vanuatu visa application form. Also, the applicant must sign the application form when it has been completely filled out. Travel itineraries must include a copy of round-trip airline tickets, a hotel reservation, or a letter of invitation from the Vanuatu host. A tourist visa for Vanuatutakes between 3 and 15 working days to process on average. However, it is worth mentioning the fact that processing time is dependent on the nation from which you are applying for a visa. The charge for a tourist visa in Vanuatu is around 35 USD. And as it was with the processing time, the cost may differ based on your nationality or the country where you submit your application.
However, as you can see from the title today, we are mainly focusing on the employment type of visa in Vanuatu. The economy of Vanuatu is still predominantly dependent on subsistence or small-scale agriculture, which employs more than 70% of the people. But, on another side, tourism generates substantial foreign currency. Vanuatu is widely regarded as one of the best holiday spots for scuba divers looking to experience the South Pacific's coral reefs. Financial services play a vital role in the economy, as well. Surprisingly enough, Vanuatu is a tax haven that refused to share account information with foreign countries or law enforcement authorities until 2008. The Vanuatu government was motivated by international pressure, primarily from Australia, to begin adhering to international principles to promote openness. There are no income taxes, withholding taxes, capital gains taxes, inheritance taxes, or currency controls in Vanuatu.
The Vanuatu Employment visa allows you to enter Vanuatu and stay for as long as your visa is valid. It gives the possessor the ability to work for a salary in the country. Vanuatu Employment visas are available for up to three months for both single and multiple entries. When you arrive at an immigration checkpoint, the immigration officer will assess how long you are allowed to stay, based on your application. The Vanuatu visa application form must be completely filled out and signed by the applicant. Two passport-size photos of you wearing no glasses or headgear. Another one of the Vanuatu visa requirements includes the passport, as well as a copy of the front page. Passports must be valid for at least 6 months and must be the same as the one that you are going to use to enter Vanuatu and last but not least all pages that have been utilized must be copied and submitted. Travel itineraries that need to be also attached, must include a copy of round-trip airline tickets, a hotel reservation, or a letter of invitation from the Vanuatu host. One of the documents that applicants need to possess is proof of financial means. You must show proof of sufficient finances to support yourself for the duration of your visit, which is approximately 370 USD per month. It can be done through bank statements, pay stubs, sponsorship letters, or other documents. Proof of visit purpose is also needed, such as a letter of acceptance from a Vanuatu employer. It should include information on the employee's position, salary, and length of employment. Also, you need to have copies of the contract of employment and employer's business license or registration.
The application process is straightforward; however, it may take some time for your application to be processed. When you apply, make sure you have all the required paperwork. You will send them to the Labour and Employment Services Department. While non-citizens are encouraged to invest, Vanuatu also wants to encourage locals to work. As a result, the Commissioner of Labour examines your situation and determines whether hiring a noncitizen is required. If the Commissioner finds that there is a good justification for hiring a noncitizen, you will be granted a work permit.
So, how to apply for Vanuatu visa for employment purposes? A Vanuatu Employment 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. How much does the Vanuatu employment visa cost though? The charge for a single-entry Vanuatu employment visa is around 185 USD, and the fee for a multiple entry visa is roughly 325 USD. The charge may differ based on your nationality or the country where you submit your application. To apply for a Vanuatu visa, you need to visit one of the Vanuatu visa application centres, embassies, or consulates in your country of residency, whichever is responsible for Vanuatu visa applications. However, unfortunately, if none of the above-mentioned options is available in your home country, and there is no institution dealing with Vanuatu visas exist in your country, then you must apply to the embassy or consulate that is closest to your location, which in most cases is located in of the neighbouring countries.
