This country profile describes examples of well-developed areas of the Republic of Vanuatu’s (hereafter referred to as Vanuatu) migration governance structures and areas with potential for further development, as evaluated by the six domains of the Migration Governance Indicators (MGI). These address migrants’ rights, a “whole-of-government” approach, partnerships, socioeconomic well-being of migrants, the mobility dimensions of crises, and safe and orderly migration. 

Click the icons on the wheel to explore the key findings. 

The Migration Governance Indicators (MGI) initiative is a policy-benchmarking programme led by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and implemented with the support of the Economist Intelligence Unit. Funding is provided by IOM Member States. 

Migration Governance: Examples of well-developed areas: 

• All immigrants, regardless of their legal status, can access government-funded national health services, including both emergency and non-emergency services.  

• A Special Portability Agreement between New Zealand and Vanuatu allows those who qualify for pensions from New Zealand to continue to receive these from Vanuatu.  

• All (non-visitor) visas allow family members to be granted the same class and length of visa as the original applicant.  

• The Representation of the People Act allows for the Electoral Commission to designate a polling station in a foreign country and for the registration of Ni-Vanuatu emigrants living overseas.  

Areas with potential for further development:  

• The law does not provide for the granting of asylum or refugee status, and the government only provides protection to refugees and grants temporary refugee status and asylum on an ad hoc basis.  

• At private health-care facilities different fees may apply to both Ni-Vanuatu and non-Ni-Vanuatu patients.  

• Education is not compulsory in Vanuatu, and access to education for immigrants is not guaranteed in all institutions.  

• There are restrictions for immigrants accessing the labour market compared with nationals.  

• There is need for improved gender balance in the seasonal worker scheme to Australia and New Zealand.

Migration Governance: Examples of well-developed areas: 

• Migration policy design and implementation are handled by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.  

• The Vanuatu Immigration Act (2010) sets out the institutions that regulate immigration to Vanuatu and the determination of refugee status. The legislation is complemented by the Immigration Visa Regulation Order (2011) which sets out the criteria and processes for applying for various types of visa.  

• The Vanuatu National Statistics Office uses visitor details sourced from port and airport arrivals/departures which are published monthly, and is planning to include migration questions in the next mini-census. 

• The latest Vanuatu National Population and Housing Census (2009) contained questions regarding citizenship, usual place of residence, residence five years prior to the census and place of birth. 

Areas with potential for further development:  

• Vanuatu has no border management information system; as a consequence, there is limited data and evidence to inform policy development. 

• The Department of Immigration does not publish data on migration regularly outside of the census. 

• Vanuatu has not yet developed comprehensive and specific national legislation on migration. 

• Vanuatu has not yet established an institution tasked with coordinating efforts to engage with its diaspora population.

Migration Governance: Examples of well-developed areas: 

• Vanuatu is a member of the Pacific Immigration Directors’ Conference, which is a forum for immigration agencies in the Pacific to discuss and foster cooperation with a view to strengthening systems throughout the region.   

• Vanuatu is a member of the Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime. 

• Vanuatu is a member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Skills Movement Scheme, which aims to facilitate the temporary movement of nationals among the member states for the purpose of employment.  

• Vanuatu signed a visa waiver agreement with the EU in 2015 which is more formal than an MOU and allows visa-free travel to the EU for up to 90 days. 

• Vanuatu is also a member of the New Zealand Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme and the Australian Seasonal Worker Programme (SWP). These allow seasonal workers to work in New Zealand and Australia and are governed by MOUs. 

Areas with potential for further development  

• The National Labour Mobility summit recommended the updating of the “MOU and the Inter-agency Understanding” with Australia and New-Zealand. 

• The formal engagement of civil society and the private sector in agenda-setting and implementation of migration policy could be strengthened. 

• There are limited diaspora engagement activities headed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; more structured and regular diaspora mapping, skills and resources profiling and diaspora engagement is required.

Migration Governance: Examples of well-developed areas:  

• Vanuatu participates in the New Zealand RSE scheme, and the Australian SWP, which allow seasonal workers to work in New Zealand and Australia, respectively.  

• There are some measures in place to promote ethical recruitment for immigrants. Forced labour and slavery are prohibited by the constitution and in legislation.  

• There is some diaspora engagement and mobilization of remittances for community development especially through the Vanuatu Investment Promotion Authority. 

Areas with potential for further development:  

• The Government does not currently assess the labour market to determine demand for migrant labour. 

• Data on the labour market is collected on an ad hoc basis, it is limited, not regularly updated, and is not published.  

• The National Labour Mobility Summit recommended the development of agent and employer guidelines to inform the seasonal worker programmes, including: improvement of selection procedure, pre-departure orientation, and licensing of labour recruitment agents. 

• Although spot checks are carried out on employers jointly by the Department of Immigration, Department of Labour and Department of Customs and Inland Revenue, there is limited awareness of human trafficking and no protection arrangements in place for victims of trafficking in Vanuatu.

Migration Governance: Examples of well-developed areas: 

• Vanuatu has adopted and is implementing the Vanuatu Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction Policy 2016-2030, under which a National Policy on Climate Change and Disaster-Induced Displacement was prepared and approved. The Policy aims to address displacement in times of disaster or resulting from the effects of climate change. 

• The Government also has various unpublished evacuation/contingency plans regarding inhabited volcanic islands. 

• An inter-ministerial cluster system to coordinate government response with non-governmental organizations and UN agencies in cases of humanitarian emergencies is activated once the Council of Ministers issues a state of emergency declaration. 

Areas with potential for further development:  

• The Vanuatu Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction Policy 2016-2030 does not cover specific situations that migrants may face during crises because of their specific status in the country.  

• In order to support the implementation of the National Policy on Climate Change and Disaster-Induced Displacement, technical assistance is required to ensure that stakeholders have technical skills and knowledge needed to implement the policy and have Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) on planned relocation, local integration, and return to places of origin.   

• There is no official process for making exceptions to the immigration procedures for immigrants whose country of origin is experiencing a crisis. 

• The Government of Vanuatu’s national development strategy, Vanuatu 2030, captures climate change and disaster risk reductions but does not make specific provisions regarding internal displacement. 

• There is a need for enhanced provision of social services, such as education and health, in communities affected by disasters, and the areas of relocation.

Migration Governance: Examples of well-developed areas: 

• Vanuatu uses a Joint Agency Group (consisting of the Department of Immigration, the Department of Customs and the Inland Revenue, and various law-enforcement agencies) to control the border and combat human trafficking. 

• The Department of Immigration offers certain online application functions, including visa applications. 

Areas with potential for further development:  

• The Department of Immigration has a manual system for notifying residency permit holders regarding their permit expiration, and therefore it is unable to detect overstays automatically; a border management information system is required. 

• There are no dedicated inter-institutional coordination mechanisms or national focal points responsible for Vanuatu’s response to trafficking in persons or smuggling of migrants. 

• The Department of Immigration’s website outlines various visa options, but does not offer much detail to aid understanding on different visa categories or how to apply. 

• There are no formal programmes for facilitating the return and reintegration of Ni-Vanuatu migrants to their home country.