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Vanuatu

Nationality · visas, permits and migration

Moved to OECD countries, 2023
215
Top destination, 2023
New Zealand
U.S. non-immigrant visas, FY2025
191
UK visas issued, 2025
250
Schengen visa refusal rate, 2024
1.5%
NationalityVUISO 3166
Year by year
Data as at 2025
NA<VUVANUATU<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
VU7<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<4

Visa requirements for a short visit

Whether citizens of Vanuatu need a visa for a short tourist or business visit, according to the legal lists. Rules change; check the official source before travelling.

DestinationShort visitLegal basis
Schengen areaVisa requiredRegulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30.12.2025)
United KingdomVisa requiredImmigration Rules, Appendix Visitor / ETA National List
CanadaTemporary resident visa requiredIRPR s. 190, Schedule 1.1
Hong KongNo visa for visits of up to 90 daysImmigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements, 31.12.2025
Source: Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30 Dec 2025); UK Immigration Rules, Appendix Visitor and ETA National List; Canada IRPR s. 190 and Schedule 1.1; Immigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements as at 31 Dec 2025Data as at Oct 2026

Where people from Vanuatu move

Inflows of foreign nationals by country of nationality, as recorded by each destination (OECD).

Inflows to OECD countries, 2023
  1. New Zealand90
  2. Japan75
  3. Australia19
  4. United States10
  5. Germany7
  6. Hungary6
  7. Austria2
  8. South Korea2
  9. Mexico1
  10. Belgium1
  11. Switzerland1
  12. Sweden1

Inflows to all OECD countries by year

7811,562200020032006200920122015201820212023
7811,5622000200420082012201620202023
Data table
200028
200185
200277
200376
200472
200564
200688
2007118
2008134
2009147
2010148
2011120
2012130
2013146
2014121
2015144
2016145
2017151
2018172
2019679
2020997
20211,562
2022369
2023215
Share going to the top destination
41.9%
Destinations recording arrivals
12
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Living abroad

People born in Vanuatu who live in another country: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA). Where a destination records citizenship rather than country of birth, its foreign citizens are counted.

Largest destinations, 2024
  1. Australia10,208
  2. New Caledonia4,021
  3. South Africa230
  4. French Polynesia210
  5. Fiji190
  6. Papua New Guinea98
  7. Greece74
  8. Wallis and Futuna67
  9. Solomon Islands63
  10. Bulgaria21
  11. Samoa11
  12. Denmark5

Living abroad by year

7,60115k19901995200020052010201520202024
7,60115k19902000201020202024
Data table
19904,927
19955,656
20006,184
20056,597
20106,898
20155,840
20208,465
202415,202
Living abroad, 2024
15,202
Change since 2000
+145.8%
Share living in the largest destination, 2024
67.1%
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024

United States

Visas issued to citizens of Vanuatu by U.S. consulates (fiscal years, October–September) and certified PERM labor certifications.

Non-immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. B1/B2119
  2. A216
  3. G213
  4. J110
  5. C36
  6. A15
  7. C15
  8. R14
  9. G14
  10. F13

Non-immigrant visas by fiscal year

146291201720182019202020212022202320242025
14629120172019202120232025
Data table
2017105
2018103
2019134
202038
202123
2022136
2023291
2024202
2025191
Immigrant visas, FY2025
0
Certified PERM labor certifications, FY2024 (latest year with citizenship)
1
Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, monthly visa issuances (public domain); U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC PERM disclosure data (public domain)Data as at FY2025

Green cards and U.S. citizenship

People born in Vanuatu who became U.S. lawful permanent residents (green cards) or U.S. citizens, and admissions of citizens of Vanuatu with an I-94 record (DHS, fiscal years).

Green cards, FY2024 (born in Vanuatu)
0
Naturalizations, FY2024 (born in Vanuatu)
0
I-94 admissions, FY2024 (citizenship)
460
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Homeland Security Statistics, Yearbook of Immigration Statistics 2024 (public domain)Data as at FY2024

United Kingdom

Entry clearance visas issued to nationals of Vanuatu (Home Office) and students with a permanent address in Vanuatu (HESA).

Visas issued by group, 2025
  1. Visitor217
  2. Work15
  3. Study11
  4. Other6
  5. Family1

Visas issued by year

17334620102013201520172019202120232025
173346201020142017202020232025
Data table
20102
20113
20132
20143
20153
20163
20176
201812
20198
20207
202122
202276
2023224
2024346
2025250
Students at UK universities, 2024/25
0
Source: Home Office, Immigration system statistics (year ending June 2026), Open Government Licence v3.0Data as at 2025

Australia

Temporary skilled visas (subclass 457 to 2018, then 482) granted to primary applicants who are citizens of Vanuatu, by financial year ending 30 June (Home Affairs).

Primary visas granted by financial year

12242005–062007–082010–112012–132014–152016–172020–212022–232024–252025–26
12242005–062009–102012–132015–162020–212023–242025–26
Data table
2005–064
2006–072
2007–084
2009–101
2010–113
2011–122
2012–133
2013–141
2014–154
2015–164
2016–172
2019–202
2020–211
2021–221
2022–235
2023–2416
2024–2524
2025–264
By stream, 2025–26
  1. Core Skills3
  2. Labour Agreement1
Granted, 2025–26
4
Share of all Australian grants, 2025–26
0.0%
Source: Department of Home Affairs (Australia), BP0014 Temporary Resident (skilled) visas granted, data locked at 30 Sep 2026 (data.gov.au, CC BY)Data as at 2025–26

Japan

Citizens of Vanuatu living in Japan at the end of each December, by status of residence (Immigration Services Agency of Japan). 2020 and 2021 were published only as database tables.

Foreign residents in Japan

781552012201420162018202220242025
781552012201420162018202220242025
Data table
20124
20133
20142
20153
20168
201711
201815
201916
202225
202359
202495
2025155
By status of residence, December 2025
  1. Business Manager63
  2. Highly Skilled Professional35
  3. Dependent26
  4. Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services16
  5. Student8
  6. Spouse or Child of Japanese National3
  7. Permanent Resident2
  8. Intra-company Transferee1
  9. Designated Activities1
Residents, December 2025
155
In work-related statuses
115
Share in work-related statuses
74.2%
Students
8
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Statistics on Foreign Residents (在留外国人統計), Table 1, end of December (e-Stat; Government of Japan Standard Terms of Use 2.0)Data as at Dec 2025

Schengen visas in Vanuatu

Short-stay (C) visa applications at Schengen consulates located in Vanuatu, 2024. Applicants are mostly, but not only, its citizens.

Schengen stateApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
France26125041.5%

Applications by year

9591,918200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202220232024
9591,918200920122015201820222024
Data table
20091,847
2010175
2011209
2012170
2013168
2014190
20151,918
20161,204
2017116
2018164
2019265
20203
202250
2023231
2024261
Refusal rate, 2024
1.5%
Refusal rate, 2019
1.1%
Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

Residence permits in Europe

First residence permits issued to citizens of Vanuatu in EU and EFTA countries, 2025 (Eurostat).

First permits by reason
  1. Family96
  2. Other reasons61
  3. Work20
  4. Education5
First permits by country
  1. Greece118
  2. Spain27
  3. Portugal9
  4. Poland6
  5. Malta5
  6. Hungary4
  7. Italy4
  8. Netherlands2
  9. Switzerland1
  10. Cyprus1
  11. Slovenia1
  12. Iceland1
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. EU Blue Card2
  2. Highly skilled workers (national schemes)1
  3. Other paid activities17
EU Blue Cards granted, 2024
0
Citizenships acquired in the EU, 2024
8
Students in EU/EFTA tertiary education, 2024
24
Refused entry at EU external borders, 2025
0
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
656
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
16
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2024–2025

National statistics in Europe

Citizens of Vanuatu in the figures of national statistics offices: residence permits granted in Denmark, immigrations by grounds for settlement in Sweden and immigrants with a non-EU/EFTA nationality by migration motive in the Netherlands; Finland and Austria publish immigration and emigration by citizenship only.

CountryYearImmigrationEmigrationNet migration
Austria202502-2
Source: Danmarks Statistik, Statistikbanken VAN66 and VAN77M (CC BY 4.0); SCB (Statistics Sweden), Statistikdatabasen TAB1614 and TAB6670 (CC0); CBS (Statistics Netherlands), StatLine 84809NED (CC BY 4.0); Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus), StatFin 11a8 (CC BY 4.0); Statistik Austria, OGD_bevwan020_AUSSENWAND_100 (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

Foreign embassies and consulates in Vanuatu

Countries with an embassy or consulate in Vanuatu, as recorded in Wikidata.

CountryEmbassiesConsulates-generalConsulates
China1——
France1——
Japan1——
Countries
3
Missions
3
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Remittances

Money that migrants send home: personal remittances received by Vanuatu, in current US dollars (World Bank).

Remittances received by year, US$ million

100200200020032006200920122015201820212022
1002002000200420082012201620202022
Data table
200014
200118
20024
20034
20045
20055
20065
20076
20089
200911
201012
201122
201222
201324
201442
201540
201649
201786
2018115
2019152
2020127
2021200
2022198
Remittances received, 2022
US$198 million
Share of GDP, 2022
17.2%
Average cost of sending US$200 to Vanuatu, 2023
9.5%
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2022

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more