Vanuatu Ports of Entry
There are four official ports of entry into Vanuatu,
1. Port Vila on the island of Efate:
As you enter Mele Bay and are about 30minutes from Port Vila harbour call "Port Vila Customs" requesting an inwards clearance on VHF Channel 16, if they don't answer call "Yachting World" on Channel 16 and Lemara will organise for Customs and Quarantine to visit your boat. The channel markers are clear and correct and the passage in is fairly obvious but keep an eye out for shipping particularly early morning and late afternoon. When you arrive at the "yellow" quarantine buoy, make sure that you are flying your yellow "Q" flag along with your Vanuatu Courtesy flag anchor. Having your Arrival Form completed will speed up the process immensly. Once cleared you can arrange to pick up one of Yachting Worlds moorings or find a suitable anchorage.
Port Vila is the capital of Vanuatu and therefore central government and agencies however the premises are spread widely around the township. Immigration is in central Port Vila in an unmarked building up a flight of concrete stairs opposite the Vanuatu Tourism Office and Customs is at the main wharf despite what many local bus & taxi drivers will tell you.
You will then need to head to Immigration with your crew and passengers documentation for clearance there. Once you have located the building pictured above, you will need to go to the third door on your right to complete Immigration. As always it is a good idea to have the correct local currrency with you(4800vatu)
When you decide to leave Port Vila to travel the other anchorages and Islnds you will need to obtain an Inter Island Cruising Permit from Customs, you will find it easiest to take your tender over to the main wharf to Customs.
2. Luganville on Santo:
There is a quarantine area marked on the charts for Luganville and you will find good holding there but it won't be the most comfortable place to stay after mid day as the trade winds increase. Insure that you are flying the "Q" Flag from your mast within 2miles of Vanuatu and your country flag from your stern, once the clearance procedure is complete you can replace the "Q" flag with a Vanuatu courtesy flag.
Customs and Immigration do not answer the VHF so the skipper isbest to take themself into the Customs office located at the main wharf where they can present your papers and from here it is a short walk to Immigration on your left right on the fork of the road, it is sign posted but you have to be paying attention, it is the white and blue building. There is a small beach pictured above that you will be able to leave your tender at while you complete the process. The security gaurd for the wharf will direct you to the Customs Office.
You will save time by having the arrival forms and immigration forms filled out prior to visiting the offices. If you intend on leaving Luganville and sailing around the other islands, you will require an "Inter island Cruising Permit" from Customs.
3. Lenakel on Tanna
Once you are safely anchored and flying your "Q" Flag you will need to go ashore to see the Customs Officer. With your tender on the beach head north along the road past the market with the orange concrete fence past a small store to your right and as you head up the small rise there is a Fish Market to your right, enter this gate and you will see the customs and Immigration buildings as below. Customs is the door to the right and Immigration to the left.
While the Customs and Internal Revenue Department is extremely vigilant on border security they are mindful of a number of factors affecting small vessels entering Vanuatu and have some unofficial local policies that should not be flaunted in the vessels own interests for the future.
At present Aneityum (Anatom) is not a Port of Entry however for a small additional fee the local Police will issue a temporary entry subject to full clearance with Customs and Immigration immediately on arrival at one of the official Ports of Entry.
By clicking on each Ports hyperlink you will be able to look at each Port of Entry as well as Aneityum.
Port Resolution on Tanna is NOT a Port of Entry and unless you make arrangements and they are confirmed in writing atleast 48hours prior to arrival you will not be cleared and maybe subject to prosecution. It you want to visit Port Resolution you will need to clear Customs/Quarantine and Immigration in Analghowat, Aneityum or at Lenekal, Tanna.
