Ports of entry in Vanuatu
Vanuatu currently has four (4) approved Ports of Entry:
- Sola, Banks
- Luganville, Santo
- Port Vila, Efate
- Lenakel, Tanna
Customs Border Offices
Customs Border Officers are stationed at all the approved Ports of Entry: One Office in the Port of Sola. There are three Offices in Luganville, the Airport Office, the Shipping office, and the Post Office, and three Offices in Port Vila, the Airport (Airfreight) office, the Post office, and the Shipping office. One Office in the Port of Lenakel.
Operational Hours
The official working hours for Vanuatu Customs on week days (Monday to Friday) are from 07:30am to 11:30am, and 01:30pm to 04:00pm.
The Customs Border Control section is also operational outside official working hours. The Airport and seaport offices are on 24hrs standby to provide Customs clearance for incoming and departing crafts, and for surveillance purposes.
1. Arriving into Port Vila on Efate Island: When you arrive in Melé Bay, you must call "Port Vila Customs" and request for permission to enter the harbour on Channel 16. If they do not answer, call "Yachting World" on the VHF Canal 16 and Lemara will organize the visit of Customs and Quarantine on board your yacht.
Beacons in the entrance channel are visible and the passage is clearly indicated, however, be especially vigilant early in the morning and evening as there are many small boats crisscrossing the bay.
When you arrive, you must anchor next to the yellow tag of Quarantine located in the north of the bay and fly the yellow flag "Q" and the Vanuatu courtesy flag, not to mention your national flag at the back of your boat.
After having received your Entry in the Country form, you must pay the formalities as soon as possible. Once you're cleared, you can then leave the quarantine area and take anchorage in the bay or Port Vila harbour.
Your 1-stop shop
Port Vila is the capital of Vanuatu and you will find all central government offices and agencies concerning your yachting into Vanuatu in Port Vila. The Immigration, Customs, Vanuatu Tourism Office, and Vanuatu Investment are all located in the town center, Tamarama building, opposite Prouds Duty Free and Jungle Cafe. Depending on where you're mooring, from Port Vila harbour, you can walk to the office (5 minutes) or take a taxi or bus if you're anchored further out.
You will need to have on hand the crew's passports to complete the immigration process.
When you decide to leave Port Vila for the rest of the archipelago, you must obtain an Inter-Island Cruising Permit from the Customs.
2. Luganville to Santo: You will find the quarantine area on the charts, this anchorage is good, but the trade winds can make it very uncomfortable in the afternoon. Be sure to fly the "Q" flag and the Vanuatu courtesy flag, as well as your national flag at the back of your boat.
Customs and Immigration do not respond to VHF calls, the skipper must physically go to the offices located on the large platform of the city, to do the formalities. The immigration office is a short distance from the wharf. When you decide to leave Luganville for the rest of the archipelago, you must obtain an Inter-Island Cruising Permit from the Customs.
3. Lenakel in Tanna: After wetting and flying flag "Q", you will have to go ashore to meet the officers of Customs and Immigration. Ask once on the ground where the office is. To this day, Aneityum is not a port of entry, but the Anelgauhat Police Office can issue a temporary permit with a small fee. However, you will have to go quickly to an established port of entry to complete your clearance.
Port Resolution in the east of Tanna is not a port of entry, unless you ask Lenakel Customs and Immigration office for a written authorization at least 48 hours before your arrival at Port Res. If you do not have the authorization you risk paying an amountable fine and legal proceedings for illegal entry into the country so best to follow the rules.
The offices of Customs and Immigration are extremely vigilant on the procedures of arrival and departure of yachts, we recommend that you respect these international rules to avoid problems.
