Vanuatu Ports of Entry and Customs Clearance for Yachts

These instructions are adapted from the Government of the Republic of Vanuatu Customs and Inland Revenue Department Notice to Masters of Visiting Yachts and Small Craft.

Cruising Yacht Entry Forms

You may download and complete these PDF files prior to arrival to facilitate clearance. (or the clearance officer will provide the forms when you arrive).

Vanuatu Customs Entry Declaration for Yachts

Vanuatu Inter Island Cruising Permit Form

Crew arriving by air plane authorization form (for details on crew arriving or departing by plane CLICK HERE.)

Customs Ports

There are five ports of entry into Vanuatu,

1. Port Vila on the island of Efate,
2. Luganville on Santo,
3. Sola on Vanua Lava, and
4. Lenakel on Tanna.
5. Analgawat on Aneityum (aka Anatom)

Yachts may not stop at any other island or anchorage in Vanuatu until first clearing in one of these four ports of entry.

Entering in Aneityum:

Yachts are now able to clear in or out of Analgawat, Aneityum. This is an excellent harbour in all but strong westerly winds. There is a customs agent there full time. Anchor just off the main village in the NW corner of the bay with the yellow quarantine flag flying.

The customs officer will paddle out to your vessel (he doesn't have a VHF radio). He can clear your yacht in to Vanuatu but not out of Vanuatu.

However, if a cruise ship is in Aneityum (and the come often) the immigration officer will be there and you can then clear out of Vanuatu.

Enter or Depart from Tanna

Many yachts wish to enter in Tanna so they can visit Tanna, Aneityum and Erromango without having to beat to windward from Efate. Clearing in Tanna can be difficult.

The anchorage at Lenakel on Tanna is small and subject to heavy swell during winds from the Northwest through the west to southeast making landing difficult. Yachts can clear in at Port Resolution, but this means that the Customs and Quarantine officers have to arrive by truck or taxi from Lenakel and this is a 4 hour round trip. If the road has been washed out they may not be able to come at all. Each yacht is charged a fee to clear into Vanuatu at Port Resolution. Check with the Port Resolution Yacht Club to find out if the officers are expected and if not, to ask them to come.

Yachts must put up the quarantine flag on approach to Port Resolution and to leave it up until they are completely cleared in by both Customs and Quarantine. The captain may go ashore at the small yacht club on the SE corner of the anchorage to find out when the clearance officers are arriving but everyone else should stay aboard and nobody may visit the incoming yacht until after clearance. Note that the officers require cash - Vatu, Australian, American, New Zealand dollars - they do not take credit cards, travellers cheques or personal cheques. Also, the bank in Lenakel does not accept credit cards.

Port Vila and Luganville Ports of Entry

Port Vila and Luganville are the main ports of clearance and most yachts clear into Port Vila. Obtain instructions on VHF Channel 16 for inward clearance procedures in Lenakel, Luganville or Sola.

Days and Times to obtain clearance

The international and inter-island outward clearance will be granted only on Monday to Friday from 07:30 to 11:00 hours and 13:30 to 16:00 hours. The offices are closed on public holidays and weekends.

Arrival

When you arrive in Port Vila anchor in the quarantine zone near the yellow buoy. This is just north of the lead markers in some 8 to 20 meters depth. Have your yellow quarantine flag flying. Call Port Vila Harbour Control on Channel 16. They keep radio watch from 7:30 to 16:30. If they do not answer, try Yachting World on Channel 16. They will contact Customs and Quarantine for you. These officials will arrive with their own skiff (or with the Yachting World skiff).

If you arrive on Saturday or Sunday or a public holiday you might as well catch up on sleep and chores on the boat as you won't be clearing in except during working hours. Do not go ashore without first clearing in without explicit instructions by radio or telephone from customs officials instructing you otherwise.

Fees

Quarantine clearance 3,000 Vatu - if you have a pet aboard there is another 3,000 Vatu pet inspection fee for a total of 6,000 Vatu.

Customs clearance 3,000 Vatu

Immigration clearance 4,000 Vatu

Allowed Stay and Conditions

Immigration officers will issue each member of the crew with an entry permit for one month providing you live aboard and do not take up paid employment. Should you wish to extend your stay you must apply to the Immigration authorities 4 weeks in advance (e.g. when you clear in) in any of the ports of entry except Sola on Vanua Lava and Aneityum. The maximum stay is seven months. Immigration charges a per person fee for the visa - currently 5,000 Vatu for 4 months, 10,000 Vatu for 7 months. Plus GST.

Anyone on board ceasing to be a crew member must obtain a return air ticket immediately. Responsibility for advising the immigration authorities when a crew member wishes to leave lies with the master who will be liable for crew member repatriation unless and until released from this obligation.

Sea-going yachts or other vessels for pleasure temporarily visiting Vanuatu may be admitted free of duty provided that in each case the vessel:

(a) has entered Vanuatu under its own power on a voyage from a foreign port or place; and

(b) belongs to or has been hired, chartered or otherwise loaned to a person or person travelling on board the vessel at the time of its arrival in Vanuatu; and

(c) is intended for the personal use of the person or persons on board and shall not be used for any commercial purpose in Vanuatu; and

(d) shall not be sold , lent, hired pledged or otherwise disposed of and shall not be used for any commercial purpose in Vanuatu; and

(e) shall not remain in Vanuatu for a period or periods exceeding a total of 18 months in any period of 24 months, save for reason of circumstance (including a change of residence) accepted by the Director of Customs as being of an exceptional and unavoidable nature.

Yachts will become liable for duty if it is disposed of in Vanuatu, if it is used for commercial purposes, if it remains in Vanuatu for a period exceeding 18 months in any two years, or if it is imported by a resident of Vanuatu.

Commercial Goods

Any commercial goods carried on board that will be landed in Vanuatu or are in transit through Vanuatu, must all be declared to Customs authority on arrival by the Masters of the vessels or its crew members. Failure to do so may result with the confiscation of the yacht(s)/pleasure boat(s).

Arms and Ammunition

On arrival all arms and ammunition must be declared and surrendered to the Customs Officer for safe keeping. If Customs is satisfied the firearms and ammunition can be safely secured under seal on board this may be allowed. In cases where no suitable secured sealing arrangements exist, the goods will be held by Customs until departure. You must notify Customs 48 hours in advance of your intended departure from the final port of clearance. If you intend to depart from a port of clearance other than the one you arrived at, it is a good idea to provide at least a week's notice.

Prohibited Goods

Automatic and semi automatic weapons are not to be brought into the country at all as these are strictly prohibited and severe penalties are in place for any breach of these prohibitions.

You may not have on board obscene publications, or videos, narcotics (other than genuine medical emergency drugs).

Customs Allowances

Each crew member is allowed:

Personal baggage consisting of wearing apparel, toilet requisites, articles of personal adornment, and similar personal effects to be owned and used aboard by each crew member and which are not intended for gifts, sale or disposal to any other person.

Persons over 15 years of age are allowed 250 cigarettes of 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco, 2 litres of wine and 1.5 litres of spirit, 1/4 litre of toilet water and 10 centilitres of perfume.

Other items up to a value of 50,000 Vatu per person aged over 15 years.

If the vessel has goods, especially tobacco or alcohol, in excess of these allowances, they must be secured under customs bond until departure.

Port Dues

All visiting small craft must pay port dues of 7,000 Vatu for the first 30 days or any part thereof. After 30 days from the date of first arrival, the vessel is liable for an additional charge of 100 Vatu per day. Port Dues are paid at the customs office at the final port of departure.

Danger, overhead wire.

An overhead electric cable extends from the eastern side of Iririki island and Vila. No vessel with a mast exceeding 25 meters height from the waterline may attempt to pass under the cable. The maximum clearance is 28 meters close to the Vila side of the channel. Violation of this restriction is subject to penalties plus costs of any damages.

Anchor Lights

All vessels in movement or at anchor in the port of Port Vila shall carry the required navigation or anchor lights between the hours of sunset and sunrise. Reported infractions will make the master or owner of the vessel liable to penalties under the Harbour Light Act.

Quarantine

No live animals, reptiles, birds of any description, fresh meat, fruit or vegetables imported by yachts may be taken ashore. Restrictions on what may or may not be left on board will be determined by the officers of the Department of Agriculture. No foreign garbage may be landed in Vanuatu without permission form the Quarantine Service.

 

Inter-Island Voyages

On completion of Customs and Immigration formalities at the port of entry, masters of any vessel wishing to visit other islands in the group must declare their intended movements to the Customs authorities and obtain an inter-island clearance. Download the Vanuatu Inter-Island Cruising Permit Form

Duty Free

Duty-Free goods may be shipped on board any vessel which has cleared outwards, or which is about to clear outwards, for a foreign port. Quantities allowed to be shipped shall be commensurate with the length of the anticipated voyage. Apply at the Customs Office for appropriate forms and conditions at the time of departure.

Outwards Clearance

All yachts leaving Vanuatu for a foreign port are required to obtain an outward clearance from Customs and Immigration authorities at the final port of clearance (Lenakel, Port Vila, Luganville, or Sola). No yacht is allowed to call at any island once it has been given an outward international clearance.

There is a Departure Fee of 7,875 Vatu for the first 30 days and 112.50 Vatu for every additional day the yacht stays in Vanuatu. Fees payable in cash.

Yachts wishing to obtain an outward international clearance at locations other than Lenakel, Port Vila, Luganville or Sola should obtain permission from Customs and Immigration in advance and if such a request is granted, may be required to pay official attendance and travel fees.

 

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