PRE-ARRIVAL

• Message from the Vanuatu Border Control – 21 May, 2024:With the ongoing civil unrest in New Caledonia, we have received increased interests from yatchies and industry partners-alike, who are choosing Vanuatu as their next port or choice.All vessels must report to Port-Vila only and not other ports. This is to ensure that you have completed the French border control formalities if you were not able to do so, prior to departing New-Caledonia.We thank you for your understanding and we look forward to welcoming you to our shores.

Ports of Entry:

There are only four authorized 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).  However recent visitors have advised that (as at August 2023) there are no officials on Sola who can undertake clearance formalities.

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

It is possible to check into ports, such as Aneityum (also called Anatom on French charts and useful if coming from NZ) or Port Resolution on Tanna Island, however permission to enter here must first be granted by Vanuatu Customs (see below).

If seeking permission to clear in at Port Resolution, there is an additional charge which must be accepted before permission is granted which covers the costs of bringing officials from Lenakel on the west side of Tanna Island.   Cruisers report that this process is straightforward and permission is easy to obtain. However,  Vanuatu Customs now has a zero tolerance for yachts not following the correct clearance procedures.

Procedure for Authorized Ports of Call:

• Send Arrival Notification to Customs 24hrs prior to arrival [CustomsBorder@vanuatu.gov.vu] with appropriate forms – see below for details of what must be included in this e-mail.
• If unable to access the online forms, Customs will respond with inward and outward reports to be completed by skipper.
• Skipper sends back completed report to Customs – or can be completed upon arrival during clearance.
• Health Documents (if requested) must be sent to Health team for verifications and assessments.
• Give the Immigration Office advance notice as well by completing the Immigration Arrival Form and sending to [visqueries@vanuatu.gov.vu].
• Customs grant approval of entry and arrange for arrival clearance.

Procedure for Unauthorized Ports of Call:

• Send Request Permission to Port Vila Customs or Luganville Customs to enter into or depart from unauthorized port of calls in Vanuatu [CustomsBorder@vanuatu.gov.vu].
• Health Documents (if required) must be sent to Health team for verifications and assessments.
• After assessing the risks, Customs should grant approval and issue approval certificate which includes arrival clearance charges. 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).
• Customs Port Vila/Luganville notify the Customs Officer or Area Administrator to be standby for clearance, however, ensure you have a copy of the email to show the police in Aneityum/Port Resolution if they ask for it.
• Skippers of yachts who visit unauthorized ports 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.
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  (In the past yachts have been fined for calling unannounced and without approval at non-ports of entry.)

Paperwork:

Fill in the appropriate forms – accesible via the Customs website – and email them with your notice of arrival.

Notice of 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 CustomsBorder@vanuatu.gov.vu along with your completed forms:

(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).

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

Vanuatu Customs website: Notice to Masters of Visiting Yachts and Small Crafts.

All yachts should give the Immigration Office advance notice as well by completing the Immigration Arrival Form and sending to [visqueries@vanuatu.gov.vu].

ARRIVAL FORMALITIES

Opening Hours:

Customs opening hours are 07:30 – 12:00 and 13:00 – 16:30, Mondays to Fridays only.

Any attendances by customs outside these hours for either arriving or departing vessels will be subject to overtime attendance fees. See Fees for details.

If a yacht wishes to be cleared on the weekend, they have to fill in the request form on the Customs website [https://customsinlandrevenue.gov.vu/index.php/en/forms-top-menu] and also send Customs an email to notify them [customsborder@vanuatu.gov.vu]. There is an additional fee charged for weekend clearance.

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.

Note that the authorities will want to be paid in cash [Vatu, Australian, American, New Zealand dollars]. They do not take credit cards, travellers cheques or personal cheques. The bank in Lenakel has an ATM where you can use your credit card to get Vatu.

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.

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

Most vessels sail north through the islands and clear out of Luganville before heading for New Caledonia or the Solomon Islands.  Currently (August 2023) there are no officials on Sola who can undertake clearance formalities, but it is possible to clear out from there with prior permission and by paying for officials to fly there from Luganville.

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.

A Certificate of Clearance issued by the Director of Immigration, must also be obtained prior to departing from a declared port of entry.

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).