Port Vila - Clearance
This is one of the four official clearance ports for Vanuatu. See Vanuatu Formalities for detailed information on Clearance.
General Clearance
Remember: All vessels en route to Vanuatu MUST provide a minimum of 24 hours advance notice of arrival to Customs.
Clearance here is reported to be simple, fast, friendly and painless.
Opening Hours:
Customs are only open 08:00 to 17:00 Mondays to Fridays. They also may close for lunch between 11:30 and 13:00 to 13:30. For requesting clearance at the weekend see the main Formalities Clearance section.
International Clearance
When you arrive in Port Vila, anchor in the quarantine zone near the YELLOW buoy at 7°44.275 S 168°18.597 E and fly the yellow quarantine flag.
Call Vanuatu “Customs” on VHF Channel 16 to organise clearance formalities. They keep radio watch from 07:30 to 16:30. If they do not answer, try Yachting World on VHF Channel 16 or 60. They will contact Customs and Quarantine for you.
If you plan to arrive on a Friday after 17:00, Saturday or Sunday, the boat must remain in the quarantine area until Monday. This means staying on the boat all weekend. Do not go ashore without first clearing in or without explicit instructions by radio or telephone from Customs officials instructing you otherwise.
If you or a member of your crew expect to fly out of Port Vila on a Sunday, be sure to see Immigration and Customs on the previous Friday before closing at 17:00.
Customs, quarantine and immigration are reported to be very helpful, as are the Yachting World crew. See Vanuatu Fees for Clearance costs.
Location of Offices
Customs and Quarantine at located at the Star Wharf.. Quarantine and port dues are payable at the respective offices behind the Customs office. This is just a 10-minute dinghy ride from the mooring field.
The Immigration office is now located near the centre of town in the old French Embassy building.
Last updated: October 2022
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Port Navigation
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More from Yachting World Marina:
Thank you all for your well wishes after the devastating hit we took from TC Judy and Kevin recently.
Whilst damage was sustained to a number of our buildings and roofs, as well as trees down etc., our wonderful staff have all chipped in and we were able to reopen #waterfrontbarandgrill which is very good news!
Whilst our old fuel pump should be functioning soon, we have a brand new one arriving in April.
Our sea wall is fully operational (we have a few yachts stationed comfortably on our sea wall right now) and mooring check/diving will be re-commencing in the hope of having all our moorings reinstated by the beginning of April.
We, as well as the Government authorities and resorts here, are all moving quickly to ensure Port Vila is cleaned up and repaired in time for the tourist season to begin at Easter.
Rest assured that all will be in order in time for the arrival of cruising yachts and our first rally in May. We are so looking forward to welcoming you all back in 2023.
Feedback from Elsie of Yachting World Marina, Port Vila, post Cyclones Judy and Kevin:
Gosh – you would never believe the devastation!! With one Cyclone followed by another – which was much more severe – most of our Staff have lost their houses! As it’s cyclone season there are no yachts around, so no damage there – I would not know the situation in the outer islands for yachts coming to Vanuatu. Here at Yachting World – in Port Vila – we hope to lift all our 37 moorings in the Harbour – and all of our moorings on the Marina – as soon as is possible – hopefully by 1st May – to accommodate yachts
arriving in Port Vila. The Yachting World Office building has lost most of its roof – but staff are
tying large tarpaulins – until we can repair it.
Port Vila customs are definitely NOT open on Saturday mornings, and if you arrive on Friday after 5pm expect to stay on your boat all weekend until they open the office again on Monday morning!
I found out the hard way, “check with Noonsite, before getting work done here”. A sail repair I had done here in Port Villa from a sailmaker OTHER than the one listed, turned out to be a very expensive affair. Recommendations following the job came too late. Erik has a good rep, go with him.
Mele Bay – Hideaway Island is not a safe anchorage.
While it’s fine in good weather overnight or as a day Anchorage, unless one gets very close to shore it’s actually too deep to anchor there, then if a westerly comes through a vessel will then get dangerously close to shore. Not a place to leave a vessel unattended.
The Beach Bar is great fun but they now do have a jet-ski operator there.