Your first 90 days in Vanuatu: the arrival checklist
The visa got you in — this is what turns you into a functioning resident: the registration clock, the ID number everything else depends on, and the money, healthcare, and license steps in the order they actually unlock. Each step links the official source so you can verify the current rule.
Checked against official sources · September 2026 · how we verify
The catch that burns new arrivals
Vanuatu is one of the most natural-disaster-exposed countries on earth — cyclones, earthquakes and volcanic activity are recurring, not theoretical, and the December 2024 Port Vila earthquake damaged the capital badly. Check the construction standard of anything you rent or buy, and confirm your insurance covers earthquake and named storms.
The checklist, in the order it unlocks
Apply to the Vanuatu Immigration Department for a residence permit — investor, self-funded, or employment — and register with the Department of Labour if working
Before your visitor stamp expires — most nationalities get 30 to 120 days on arrival, and residence permits are applied for in-country at Port Vila
The self-funded residence permit for retirees and financially independent people requires proof of regular offshore income and is renewable annually. Employment permits require a labour-market test showing no ni-Vanuatu candidate was available.
Get your VNPF number (Vanuatu National Provident Fund) and a VAT/business number where applicable
Vanuatu has no personal income tax, capital gains tax or inheritance tax, so the identifiers that matter are the provident fund number for employment and a business registration for trading.
VNPF registration through your employer or directly if self-employed; business and VAT registration through the Department of Customs and Inland Revenue.
Open a bank account
ANZ Vanuatu, BRED and the National Bank of Vanuatu serve residents. Vanuatu's offshore financial centre has been under sustained international pressure, and its citizenship-by-investment programme has cost it visa-free access to the EU and UK — expect correspondent banking to be slower and more scrutinised than the tax headline suggests.
Enrol in healthcare
Vila Central Hospital and Northern Provincial Hospital provide basic care; there is no advanced specialist capacity anywhere in the country. Serious cases are evacuated to Australia or New Caledonia, which is expensive and weather-dependent. International insurance with a substantial evacuation limit is the actual medical plan.
Sort your driver's license
A foreign licence is accepted for visitors for a limited period; residents obtain a Vanuatu licence locally, which is a straightforward process. Driving is on the right, and outside Port Vila and Luganville the roads are unsealed.
Deadlines and requirements vary by nationality, visa type, and region, and they change — this is information current as of 2026, not legal or immigration advice. Verify each step with the official source before you rely on it.
Moving to Vanuatu?
Add your email for new Vanuatu guides and a heads-up when the arrival rules or figures change. We never file anything ourselves.
Information only, not legal advice — we never file anything with any government. Requirements change; verify with the official source or a licensed immigration advisor before you apply.
First 90 days in Vanuatu: FAQ
What do I have to do first after arriving in Vanuatu?
Apply to the Vanuatu Immigration Department for a residence permit — investor, self-funded, or employment — and register with the Department of Labour if working — Before your visitor stamp expires — most nationalities get 30 to 120 days on arrival, and residence permits are applied for in-country at Port Vila. The self-funded residence permit for retirees and financially independent people requires proof of regular offshore income and is renewable annually. Employment permits require a labour-market test showing no ni-Vanuatu candidate was available. Verify the current rule with the official source before you rely on it.
What is the VNPF number and do I need one?
VNPF number (Vanuatu National Provident Fund) and a VAT/business number where applicable is Vanuatu's personal tax/ID number. Vanuatu has no personal income tax, capital gains tax or inheritance tax, so the identifiers that matter are the provident fund number for employment and a business registration for trading. VNPF registration through your employer or directly if self-employed; business and VAT registration through the Department of Customs and Inland Revenue.
Can I drive in Vanuatu on a US license?
A foreign licence is accepted for visitors for a limited period; residents obtain a Vanuatu licence locally, which is a straightforward process. Driving is on the right, and outside Port Vila and Luganville the roads are unsealed. Rules differ by nationality and change — check the official source before the window closes.
How do I get healthcare after moving to Vanuatu?
Vila Central Hospital and Northern Provincial Hospital provide basic care; there is no advanced specialist capacity anywhere in the country. Serious cases are evacuated to Australia or New Caledonia, which is expensive and weather-dependent. International insurance with a substantial evacuation limit is the actual medical plan. See our healthcare-systems guide for how Vanuatu's system treats foreign residents.