Curated by Vinod Kumar Jain & Amit Jain · All Frontier Global · free, no login · reviewed 2026-07-05
Live volcanoes, kastom culture and blue holes
Trade agreements (3): Vanuatu trades under PACER Plus with Australia and New Zealand and through the Melanesian Spearhead Group; India has no FTA with Vanuatu, and trade ties remain minimal, limited mostly to development cooperation rather than commercial agreements.
Passport strength: visa-free/VOA to ~95 destinations. Limited passport strength; visa-free mainly to Pacific neighbors and some Asian countries.
India × Vanuatu hub ↗ All countries factsheet
Indian passport holders need to arrange a visa in advance for Vanuatu, typically for stays up to 30 days; most Western nationalities including Australia, New Zealand, UK, US, and EU citizens receive visa-free entry for up to 30-90 days.
e-Visa: yes · Visa on arrival: Varies by nationality
Colorful minibuses with 'B' license plates operate as shared taxis around Port Vila for a flat local fare, while inter-island travel relies on domestic flights or cargo/passenger ferries.
Car vs taxi: Port Vila's roads are manageable to self-drive on the right (note: Vanuatu actually drives on the right despite some regional neighbors driving left), but shared minibus taxis are so cheap and ubiquitous that most visitors skip renting altogether.
Money: The Vanuatu vatu (VUV) is the local currency, used in whole numbers with no decimal subdivisions, and while Port Vila resorts accept cards, outer islands and markets are cash-only.
SIM & data: Digicel and TVL (Telecom Vanuatu) are the two networks, with prepaid SIMs sold at Bauerfield International Airport in Port Vila; coverage is decent around Port Vila and Luganville but patchy on outer islands.
Tipping: Tipping is not traditionally expected in Vanuatu and can even feel awkward to locals, though upscale resorts catering to international tourists increasingly welcome it as a bonus for good service.
Etiquette: Kastom (traditional custom) governs much of rural and island life, so dressing modestly and asking permission before photographing people or entering villages is important; removing shoes before entering a home is customary.
Food: Lap lap (grated root vegetables wrapped in leaves and cooked with coconut milk, sometimes with meat or fish) is considered the national dish, alongside abundant fresh seafood and tropical fruit.
Say hello: Local language — “Hello” · thanks “Thank you” · how much? “How much?”
Vanuatu is generally very safe with low crime, though the real risks are natural: active volcanoes (like Mount Yasur), cyclones in the wet season, and occasional earthquakes given its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire.
For nomads: Emerging digital nomad destination in Port Vila; lower cost of living and recent tax incentives attracting remote workers; small but growing expat community.
Education: Few international schools; French and English colonial influence; limited formal education options.
Healthcare: Minimal healthcare outside Vila; basic public system; serious cases require evacuation to Fiji/Australia.
Indian passport holders need to arrange a visa in advance for Vanuatu, typically for stays up to 30 days; most Western nationalities including Australia, New Zealand, UK, US, and EU citizens receive visa-free entry for up to 30-90 days.
Vanuatu uses the Vanuatu vatu (VUV). Capital: Port Vila.
Vanuatu trades under PACER Plus with Australia and New Zealand and through the Melanesian Spearhead Group; India has no FTA with Vanuatu, and trade ties remain minimal, limited mostly to development cooperation rather than commercial agreements.
Vanuatu is generally very safe with low crime, though the real risks are natural: active volcanoes (like Mount Yasur), cyclones in the wet season, and occasional earthquakes given its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire.