Do Australians need a visa for Vanuatu?
Passport, visa, arrival cards and customs rules for Australian passport holders.
Australian passport holders can enter Vanuatu visa-free for up to 30 days as a tourist. There is no fee and no online form to complete before you travel. You complete a paper arrival card on the plane or at the airport.
Entry requirements for Vanuatu at a glance
Passport validity
At least 6 months from your date of arrival
Length of stay
30 days, extendable in-country up to 4 months
Onward ticket
A confirmed return or onward ticket is required and is checked at check-in in Australia.
Blank passport pages
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Arrival card (paper)
Vanuatu still uses a paper arrival and customs card handed out on the flight. There is nothing to submit online in advance.
What it costs
| Fee | Amount | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| Entry fee | None | All visitors |
| Departure tax | Usually included in your airfare | Departing passengers |
How to get sorted, step by step
- Check your passport has at least six months validity from your arrival date.
- Have your confirmed return ticket ready - it is checked at Australian check-in, not just on arrival.
- Take out travel insurance with medical evacuation cover before you book, and check the cyclone exclusions.
- Bring or withdraw cash - much of Vanuatu outside Port Vila does not take cards.
What catches Australians out
Cyclone season runs November to April and is genuinely disruptive. Travel insurance will not cover a cyclone that was already named when you booked, so buy cover early.
Medical facilities are very limited outside Port Vila and there is no decompression chamber in the country - a diving injury means evacuation to Australia.
Much of Vanuatu is cash-only, and ATMs outside Port Vila and Luganville are scarce and sometimes empty.
Land ownership is customary and access to beaches, waterfalls and volcanoes often runs through a village that charges a fee. Pay it - it is legitimate.
Health cover for Australians in Vanuatu
Australia has no reciprocal health care agreement with Vanuatu, and Port Vila Central Hospital is limited. Anything serious means an air ambulance to Brisbane, which costs tens of thousands of dollars without cover. There is no hyperbaric chamber in Vanuatu.
Vaccinations: Hepatitis A and typhoid usually recommended. Discuss malaria prophylaxis with a travel doctor if you are visiting the northern islands.
Medications: Bring everything you need. Pharmacy stock outside Port Vila is minimal.
Compare travel insurance for VanuatuMore Vanuatu essentials
Further reading: Do Australians need a visa? A country-by-country guide
How these comparisons are made
Entry rules on these pages come from the destination's own immigration authority first, Smartraveller second, and the destination's embassy in Australia third - each page links the exact sources it used. An automated job re-reads those government pages every day and moves the review date only when a person or the checker has confirmed the page still says what we say it says. Read the full editorial policy.
Vanuatu entry requirements FAQs
Is the Arrival card required for Australians visiting Vanuatu?
Yes. Australian passport holders entering Vanuatu must complete the Arrival card. It is free, and you submit it on the plane or at the airport. Vanuatu still uses a paper arrival and customs card handed out on the flight. There is nothing to submit online in advance.
Do Australians need a visa for Vanuatu?
No. Australian passport holders can enter Vanuatu visa-free for up to 30 days as a tourist, with no fee and nothing to apply for in advance. You fill in a paper arrival card on the plane.
Can I use cards in Vanuatu?
In Port Vila, mostly - resorts, tour operators and larger restaurants take them, often with a 3-5% surcharge. Outside the capital and on the outer islands it is a cash economy, and ATMs are scarce. Withdraw what you need before you leave Port Vila.
Planning Vanuatu?
We will send you the Vanuatu guide as it grows - what to book before you go, which eSIM and travel card are worth it there, and what things actually cost in Australian dollars.