COVID-19: Entry protocols for yachts have been affected by the pandemic. See the Biosecurity section for details.

All the appropriate forms for clearance can be found on the Vanuatu Customs website: Notice to Masters of Visiting Yachts and Small Crafts.

PRE-ARRIVAL

All yachts must notify Vanuatu Customs at least 24hrs prior to arrival, with the expected ETA and port of entry. You can do this by email before you leave your last port. Send the following information to [email protected]:

(a) the name of the vessel; 

(b) the voyage (last 3 ports); 

(c) the estimated date and time of arrival in Vanuatu; 

(d) the appointed port or other place where the craft will land or berth; 

(e) the name of the master or skipper of the vessel; 

(f) the name and contact details of the person providing the information;

(g) the names of passengers on board; and

(h) the list of goods to be landed (if any).

To facilitate clearance you can download the entry documents from the Official Customs website, fill them in and email them with your notice of arrival – this is especially important if you plan on asking permission to stop at Anatom or Port Resolution (see Ports of Entry below).

Ensure that you have a reply to your email before entering Vanuatu.

ARRIVAL FORMALITIES

Ports of Entry:

There are only four ports of entry and departure in Vanuatu: Lenakel (Tanna Island), Port Vila (Efate Island), Luganville (Santo) and Sola (Vanua Lava in the Banks and Torres Group).

Port Vila and Luganville are the main ports of clearance and most yachts clear into Port Vila.

Cruisers sailing from New Zealand to Vanuatu report that it is possible to check into Vanuatu at Aneityum, (also called Anatom on French charts) but MUST have received prior approval from Vanuatu Customs.  

To obtain written permission to arrive at an undeclared place such as Aneityum (or Port Resolution on Tanna Island), vessels should email Vanuatu Customs [[email protected]] requesting approval to enter into Vanuatu at these places. After assessing the risks, Customs should respond with approval.  You may not get a timely response so it is advisable to send your request well ahead of your departure. If you have not received a response prior to your departure (from NZ for example), ensure you have a copy of the email to show the police in Aneityum if they ask for it.

If seeking permission to clear in at Port Resolution, there is an additional charge which must be accepted before permission is granted.  

Cruisers report that this process is straightforward and permission seems easy to obtain. However,  Vanuatu Customs now has a zero tolerance for yachts not following the correct clearance procedures.

The Master of vessels who visit these places prior to obtaining Customs clearance, being issued with an “Inter-island Cruising Permit”, or obtaining written permission may be subject to fines and/or prosecution. (In the past yachts have been fined for calling unannounced and without approval at non-ports of entry.)

General Process:

You must fly the quarantine flag when within 200 nautical miles of any Vanuatu Island until your clearance is completed.

Upon arrival at the port of entry vessels should call “Customs” on VHF radio Channel 16 (only at Port Vila and Lenakel at the moment).

All yachts entering Vanuatu from a foreign port or place must first report to the Customs, Quarantine and Immigration authorities at the Port of Arrival.

Assuming you have completed all forms and emailed them in advance (see pre-arrival above), clearance should be relatively straightforward.

All the authorities have the option to visit the boat for an inspection. Quarantine Services / Bio-security are the most likely visit your vessel upon arrival to Vanuatu and will generally expect a dinghy ride to your vessel to complete the inspection, related paperwork, and collect a fee. See Biosecurity for more details.

On completion of Customs Quarantine and Immigration arrival formalities at the port of entry, any vessel wishing to visit other islands in the group may only be allowed to do so after first declaring their intended movements to the Customs authorities and obtaining formal approval (see below).

Domestic Cruising:

Vessels wishing to visit more remote and isolated destinations in Vanuatu may apply for an “Inter-island Cruising Permit” which is issued to genuine cruising small craft and is valid for a period up to six months. A copy of the cruising permit is held by the master who absolves the vessel from reporting to customs until the port of departure for overseas, or for application to extend the permit.

CLEARING OUT

Outward Reporting forms are available on the Customs website under Forms. To facilitate clearance, filled out forms can be emailed to the address provided on the form prior to departure.

Domestic Clearance:

On completion of Customs Quarantine and Immigration arrival formalities at the port of entry, master of any vessel wishing to visit other islands in the group, may only be allowed to do so after first declaring their intended movements to the Customs authorities and obtaining formal approval.

International Clearance:

All yachts leaving Vanuatu for a foreign port or place are required to obtain an outward clearance from Customs at the final port of departure (i.e.Lenakel, Port Vila, Luganville or Sola).

Vessels can depart from undeclared ports after obtaining a certificate of clearance from a declared port if permission is obtained from the Director of Customs. For instance, a vessel can get clearance from Port Vila, but actually depart from Port Resolution (an unapproved place) for New Caledonia, similarly, they can get clearance from Luganville but actually depart from the Torres Islands for the Solomon Islands etc.

To obtain written permission to depart from an undeclared place, vessels should email Customs requesting approval to do so. After assessing the risks, Customs will respond. The clearance certificate will be issued at the last declared port if the request is granted approval. The request can be done via email or just a note at least 24hrs (during working days) prior to departure from the declared port.

Port dues will be calculated up to the ETD from Vanuatu while fuel exemptions will only be granted for the outward journey.

Having been granted a certificate of clearance, a vessel must depart for overseas within 24 hours of its issue (unless permission has been granted to visit other islands).

Last updated:  July 2021