Just Landed in Vanuatu? Your First 7 Days

Mobile coverage is solid across Port Vila and Luganville and ranges from patchy to absent on the outer islands, so a prepaid SIM is the fastest and cheapest way to get online. Digicel and Vodafone Vanuatu (formerly TVL) are the two main networks, with WanTok as a smaller third option. Fixed home internet and fibre exist in the towns but installation can be slow and pricey.

Typical cost: A starter prepaid SIM costs a few hundred vatu, and a monthly data bundle runs roughly 2,000 to 5,000 VUV depending on the allowance. Home fixed or fibre plans typically start from around 6,000 to 10,000 VUV a month where available.

Vanuatu runs heavily on cash in vatu. Cards are accepted at hotels, larger supermarkets and some restaurants in Port Vila, but markets, taxis, minibuses and rural vendors expect notes and coins, and card surcharges are common. Keep a healthy cash float at all times.

Opening an account: ANZ, BSP (Bank South Pacific) and Bred Bank (Bred Vanuatu) all serve foreigners and have branches and ATMs in Port Vila. Opening an account typically needs your passport, a valid visa or residence permit, proof of a local address and often an employer or reference letter; processing can take days to weeks, so start early.

Cash: Carry small denominations for minibuses, the market and taxis, since drivers and vendors rarely hold much change. ATMs are concentrated in Port Vila and Luganville and can run out of cash over weekends and public holidays, so withdraw well ahead of any trip to the outer islands, where cash access is minimal.

Tipping: Tipping is genuinely not customary and is not expected anywhere; it can even feel out of place. A small round-up for exceptional service at a tourist-oriented venue is fine but never obligatory, and there is no expectation to tip taxis, minibus drivers or at the market.

There is no general local address-registration requirement for new arrivals in Vanuatu. Your legal status is governed entirely by your visa or residence permit issued by the Department of Immigration and Passport Services, not by any municipal or council registration. What matters is keeping your immigration status valid and renewed on time, since overstaying or working outside your permit's terms carries real consequences. Nationals of some countries may separately wish to enrol with their embassy or high commission, most of which cover Vanuatu from Suva in Fiji or from Canberra in Australia rather than being resident in Port Vila.

Where: Not applicable; deal directly with the Vanuatu Department of Immigration and Passport Services in Port Vila for all visa and permit matters.

In Port Vila, shared minibuses marked with a red 'B' number plate are the everyday transport: flag one down, tell the driver your destination and pay a flat per-trip fare of around 150 to 200 VUV, accepting that the route may wander as other passengers are dropped off. Taxis carry red 'T' plates and are unmetered, so agree the fare first. There are no ride-hailing apps, and many longer-stay foreigners eventually buy or hire a car, as public transport thins out in the evenings and outside town.

From the airport: Bauerfield International Airport sits about ten minutes and roughly six kilometres from central Port Vila. Take a taxi and agree the fare in vatu before departing, or arrange a hotel or accommodation transfer in advance, which is often the simplest option on arrival. There is no scheduled airport bus, though passing minibuses can sometimes be flagged on the main road outside the terminal.

Most immigrants rent houses or flats in and around Port Vila, often in the greener suburbs such as Tassiriki, Elluk, Pango and Erakor or closer to town in Nambatu. Furnished and serviced options exist but are pricier, and much of the market circulates through local real-estate agents and Facebook community groups rather than formal listing portals. Renting short-term first before committing is wise.

Typical rent: A modest one or two bedroom rental in or near Port Vila commonly runs from around 55,000 to 130,000 VUV per month, while well-appointed expat houses with sea views or gardens can run well above 200,000 VUV. Luganville and rural areas are noticeably cheaper.

Deposit norm: Expect to pay one month's rent as a bond plus the first month upfront, though terms are negotiable and vary by landlord. Crucially, foreigners can only lease land and property, never own freehold, so never pay a deposit before a lawyer has confirmed the lease title and the owner's genuine right to grant it.

Healthcare in Vanuatu is basic and limited by international standards. Vila Central Hospital in Port Vila and Northern Provincial Hospital in Luganville are the main public facilities, but they are under-resourced, and serious or complex cases are routinely medically evacuated to Australia, New Zealand or Noumea in New Caledonia. Plan on the assumption that anything major means flying out.

How to access it: For routine care, private clinics and GP practices in Port Vila, including ProMedical, which also runs a private ambulance service reachable on 115, handle pay-as-you-go consultations. Bring a personal supply of any regular prescription medicines with you, as local pharmacy stock is limited and specific brands are often unavailable. Keep the details of a trusted local clinic saved from your first week.

Insurance: Comprehensive private international health insurance that explicitly includes medical evacuation cover is strongly recommended and effectively essential. Because serious treatment requires an overseas flight that can cost tens of thousands of dollars, arriving without evacuation cover is a significant financial and personal risk.

• Dress modestly away from resorts and beaches; covering shoulders and knees is respectful, especially in villages and churches.
• Learn a little Bislama such as 'halo' (hello), 'tankyu tumas' (thank you very much) and 'olsem wanem?' (how are you?); it is warmly received.
• Respect kastom (traditional custom): ask permission before entering village land, photographing people, or visiting sacred sites, and expect to pay a small custom fee at some.
• Greet people properly and take time for small talk before business; rushing straight to the point can come across as rude.
• Observe Sundays, which are widely kept for church and rest; many businesses close and a quieter, low-key manner is expected.
• Accept that decisions may involve chiefs, family or community consultation, and give that process the time and patience it needs.
• If invited to a nakamal (kava bar) or a village event, follow your host's lead on where to sit, when to speak and how to behave.

• Life runs on 'island time'; appointments, deliveries and services move slowly, so build in patience and generous buffers.
• Kava is a central social ritual but is strong and sedating; go easy at nakamals if you are new to it, and never drive afterwards.
• Be cyclone-aware in the November to April season: know your accommodation's plan and keep water, cash, batteries and a torch on hand.
• Vanuatu sits on an active seismic zone; know basic earthquake and tsunami responses, as strong quakes and warnings do occur.
• Land and property are customarily owned and legally sensitive, so tread carefully and take legal advice before any land-related commitment.