Employment visa in Vanuatu
A visa for people hired by an employer in Vanuatu, who also sponsors the application. It suits specialists whose occupation is on the list of skilled occupations, and holders of rare skills recognised by the Commissioner of Labour once satisfied that a local resident cannot do the work. The visa is valid as long as the employment relationship with the named employer continues. The applicant obtains a work permit separately and prepares documents about themselves and about the company.
Source: Department of Immigration and Passport Services Vanuatu — Work
Who can apply for an employment visa
Eligibility for the visa depends on whether the occupation is on Vanuatu's official list of skilled occupations.
The occupation is on the list of skilled occupations
- An employer in Vanuatu offers an employment contract in that occupation
- The employer sponsors the visa application
- The Commissioner of Labour does not need to confirm separately that the applicant's skills are unique
The occupation is not on the list, but the skills are rare
- The employer is likewise ready to draw up an employment contract and act as sponsor
- The Commissioner of Labour must officially recognise that no citizen of Vanuatu can do the work
- The visa application will be accepted for consideration only after such confirmation
When the programme will not suit you
You want to bring a spouse or children with you straight away on this visa
Look into the residence visa on employment grounds — it is designed for a longer period of work and expressly provides for the family
The occupation is not on the list of skilled occupations and it is hard to prove the skills are unique
Discuss alternative grounds for entry with the employer — for example a business or investor visa
You need to stay in Vanuatu with the same employer for longer than this visa allows
Check with the employer in advance whether a residence visa on employment grounds can be arranged
You plan to change employer while remaining in the country
Bear in mind that on this visa a change of status is possible only to an investor visa — new employment usually requires a new application
What it costs
| Fee for issuing the employment visaThe amount stated in the section on work visas on the immigration department's website | 51 500 VUV |
|---|---|
| Work permit feeA separate payment, independent of the visa fee — without it you cannot work lawfully | 200 000 VUV |
| Visa amount under the official checklist for applying through employmentThe immigration department's official employment checklist names a different visa amount from the section on work visas — the current figure should be checked with the department before filing | 57 600 VUV |
| Change of status fee, if the applicant is already in VanuatuListed as a separate line in the checklist — it applies only where the documents are filed from inside the country | +100 000 VUV |
| Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table. “Change of status fee, if the applicant is already in Vanuatu” adds 100 000 VUV; the “Visa amount under the official checklist for applying through employment” branch replaces the “Fee for issuing the employment visa” line — 257 600 VUV. | 251,500–351 500 VUV |
Documents to gather
The list follows the immigration department's official checklist for applying through employment.
- Completed application form
- Passport valid for more than six months
- Two recent photographs
- Receipt for payment of the visa fee
- Recent criminal-record certificate from the country of origin
- Recent medical certificate
- Immigration bond with the National Bank of Vanuatu
- Copy of the employment contract with the employer
- Confirmation letter from the Department of Labour for the work permit
- Receipt for payment of the work permit fee
- Copy of the current work permit
- Copies of the employer company's documents: business licence, VIPA and VFSC registration
- Where the status is changed inside the country — an additional receipt for payment of that fee
How the process runs
The work permit and the visa are arranged together, but in a particular order.
- 1
The employer confirms the basis for hiring a foreign national
The occupation must be on the list of skilled occupations, or the Commissioner of Labour must officially recognise that no citizen of Vanuatu has the required skills
- 2
The Department of Labour issues the confirmation letter and the work permit
It is issued on the basis of the employment contract and the employer's documents — business licence, VIPA and VFSC registration; this is a separate fee, independent of the visa fee
- 3
Filing the visa application with the complete set of documents
The application is accompanied by the passport, photographs, criminal-record certificate, medical certificate, immigration bond and a copy of the work permit
- 4
Consideration of the application by the immigration department
about 21 working daysThe department asks applicants not to enquire about the status of an application before that period has passed from the filing of the complete set of documents
- 5
Receiving the visa and starting work with the named employer
The visa is valid for a limited period with the right of multiple entry and is tied to a specific employer — ending that job deprives the visa of its basis
Timelines and rights
Work
Work is allowed only for the employer for whom the visa was issued and under a work permit under the Labour (Work Permit) Act. If the applicant stops that work, the visa loses its basis.
Frequently asked questions about Employment visa
Can I bring my family on this visa?
What happens if I resign or change employer?
How long does it take to consider an application?
Does the work permit have to be arranged separately?
What if my occupation is not on the official list of skilled occupations?
For how long is the visa issued and how long can you actually work on it?
Other ways to move to Vanuatu
Every route in one list — migration programmes: Vanuatu.
The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.