We know that travel looks a little different in this post-Covid world. It’s normal to have a few questions to make sure you get to where you’re going and stay safe while you’re travelling!
Here are the answers to a handful of common questions about travel to Vanuatu, to make sure you feel confident once our borders reopen to international visitors on 1 July.
What do I need to do before I travel to Vanuatu to ensure I can enter the country?
To enter Vanuatu, you simply need to need to produce a:
• Certified negative Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) result from within 24 hours of departure, or
• A certificate of infection and recovery if you’ve recently had Covid-19 from within 28 days of departure.
That’s it!
More information on how you’ll need to present the relevant certificates and paperwork is to come.
When I get to Vanuatu, will I need to quarantine or do an arrival test?
Provided you do not have Covid-19 you will not need to quarantine when you arrive in Vanuatu. Neither will you have to do any Covid testing upon arrival.
Will I need to be vaccinated to visit Vanuatu?
We encourage all people to follow the health advice and ensure they are fully vaccinated against Covid-19. This helps keep us all safe. No proof of vaccination will be required for any traveller and/or age.
What if I’ve recently had Covid-19?
If you’ve recently had Covid-19, we know that you may still present a positive reading on a PCR or RAT. If this is the case, you can produce a certificate of infection and recovery from Covid-19 within 28 days of departure.
What happens if I test positive for Covid-19 while in Vanuatu?
If you test positive for Covid-19 while in Vanuatu, you’ll need to isolate for seven days in a managed hotel or resort. You’ll need to report the results of your positive RAT through the Vanuatu Government’s Covid-19 hotline (119), through an online reporting form (link to come) or through your hotel.
Who do I speak to in Vanuatu if I have any questions during my trip?
The Vanuatu Government has a dedicated Covid-19 hotline: please call 119 if you have any questions. Note this is a local number.
What Covid-19 protocols will I have to follow during my trip?
Travellers and locals in Vanuatu will be called on to play their part in keeping everyone safe. Everyone will be asked to:
Practice good hygiene, including regular hand washing.
Practice physical distancing, maintaining at least 1.5 metres distance from others.
How else is the Vanuatu Government working to keep travellers and locals safe?
The safety of locals and visitors to Vanuatu is paramount.
Aside from implementing the protocols listed above, the Vanuatu Government and the Vanuatu Tourism Office have launched something called the Safe Business Operations (SBO) program.
You can read a full description of the program here, however as an overview:
The SBO program trains Vanuatu’s tourism and hospitality businesses to ensure they have enhanced cleaning, personal hygiene and protection measures in place to combat the spread of Covid-19.
All businesses that have undertaken the SBO training will:
Have a dedicated Covid-19 safety officer that is up to date on guidelines and protocols and that will be a point of contact for you should you have any questions.
Be ‘Triple C Certified’ – this stands for clean, caring and checked and it means the business offers enhanced safety measures. You can spot these businesses via a special Triple C Certified logo on their website, social media or at the place of business itself, and it’s a way for you to easily identify which accommodation providers or tour operators offer this enhanced level of safety and protection.
Will I be able to visit all of Vanuatu’s provinces on 1 July?
According to the Vanuatu Ministry of Health’s Roadmap to Reopening, provinces and islands that have reached Health Recovery Level 1 status (meaning they are well vaccinated and their Covid-19 situation is stable) will be open to international visitors on 1 July. Efate (Port Vila) and Sanma (Santo) have reached this status, and we invite you to visit covid.19.gov.vu to view the most up to date information on specific provinces/islands and their statuses.
You can read more about Vanuatu’s Roadmap to reopening here.
It’s important to know that the entry requirements and protocols detailed above are subject to change. For more information on Vanuatu’s entry requirements and visiting Vanuatu from 1 July, go here.
We will also publish relevant updates on the Vanuatu Tourism Office Facebook page, which you can follow here.
Click on the below banner for everything you need to know when travelling to Vanuatu. Lukim yu! (See you soon!)
