Leaving Vanuatu: Departure Tips & Checklist

You need to arrive at Bauerfield International Airport in Port Vila (or Santo-Pekoa International Airport on Santo) for your departure flight around two hours before your scheduled departure time.

Departure Airport Transfers

There are a number of ways to travel back to Port Vila Airport from your accommodation. Taxis, local buses, your accommodation’s own transfer service, car rental drop-off arrangements and pre-booked tour/transfer companies are all valid options.

For more ways to get to the airport, check out The Best Airport Transfers in Vanuatu.

Check-In for International Departures

Check-in for international departures is at the back of the international terminal at Port Vila. When you arrive at the terminal, continue straight through to the back doors and look for your airline’s allocated check-in counter. For Santo, check-in is on the left-hand side when facing the building from the entrance.

It will be the same process as your arrival check-in to Vanuatu: provide the check-in staff with your passport and booking reference or e-ticket for your departure flight. You’ll check in any larger luggage, receive your boarding pass and then continue through the departure process.

There is no separate “domestic departure tax” to pay at the airport, but Vanuatu does have a national departure tax that is included in your international ticket. Learn more in Vanuatu Tipping & Tax Guide for Travellers.

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Check Handicrafts Before Leaving Vanuatu

Before you pack every last island souvenir into your checked luggage, check the biosecurity rules for your next destination. This is especially important if you are travelling to Australia or New Zealand, where plant and animal products are closely inspected on arrival.

Common Vanuatu souvenirs that may need declaring, inspection, treatment or certification at your next destination include:

• Mats, basket ware and woven items made from plant materials
• Wooden articles and carvings
• Seashells
• Feathers
• Items made from fresh, green or pliable leaf material
• Wooden carvings with bark attached or borer holes
• Feathers with animal tissue, soil, faeces, seeds or insect contamination.

Dry and brittle woven items and wooden carvings that are free from bark and borer holes are generally less risky, but they may still need to be declared and inspected when you arrive in Australia or New Zealand. Some mats imported into New Zealand may also require a phytosanitary certificate.

If an item is found to pose a pest or disease risk, you may have the option to pay for treatment, pay to have it re-exported or have it destroyed. Not exactly the souvenir story you were hoping for, so check before you fly.

Check Duty-Free Allowances for Your Destination

Vanuatu is well known for duty-free shopping, but your final allowance depends on the country you are flying into. For example, current common allowances include:

• Australia: Three bottles of spirits up to 2.25 L (76 fl oz)
• New Zealand: Three bottles of spirits, each up to 1.125 L (38 fl oz)
• Fiji: Three bottles of spirits up to 2.25 L (76 fl oz)
• Solomon Islands: 2 L (68 fl oz) of spirits.

These are only quick examples, so check the full allowance for your destination before buying. See The Duty-Free Allowances for Vanuatu and the relevant duty-free guide for the country you are travelling to.

Airport Security

Airport security is also located toward the back of the airport, after check-in. At security, you will need to put your bags and items such as laptops into trays to go through the X-ray machines.

There are certain items you can’t take through airport security, such as sharp objects, sporting goods, matches or lighters, and liquids, aerosols, gels or pastes that are not in 100 ml (3.4 fl oz) containers. Pack anything that won’t pass airport security into your checked luggage before you get to the airport.

You will also walk through a metal detector to check for any restricted items on your person. Then, collect your bags and move to the Immigration area.

Immigration

There is one more procedure before entering the Departure Lounge: Immigration.

Just like when you arrived, queue up, then approach an Immigration counter when asked to do so. The Immigration Officer will check your passport and boarding pass. Then, you’ll move into the Departure Lounge.

After Immigration, you’ll enter the Port Vila Airport Departure Lounge. This is where you’ll wait until boarding is called, so it’s worth knowing what to expect before you start picturing a vast international terminal with endless seating and shopping. Spoiler alert: this is still Vanuatu.

The departure lounge has views of the tarmac and planes, which is always a bonus if you like watching airport life unfold before take-off. However, the space can feel quite busy and cramped, especially when two international flights are scheduled close together.

Airport Departure Facilities

Facilities in the departure lounge are limited but useful. You’ll find a small café selling refreshments, a Vanuatu Post box and a limited number of power points and electrical outlets, so charge your devices before arriving at the airport if you can.

Duty-free shopping is available in the departure lounge, including:

• Paris Shopping Duty Free for spirits, alcohol, local chocolates and Vanuatu products
• The Drug Store for convenience items and local gifts
• Organic Paradise Store
• Ten for handpainted pottery, jewellery and high-end handmade goods.

For more about what you can take to your next destination, check your duty-free allowance before you buy. See The Duty-Free Allowances for Vanuatu for a handy starting point.

Port Vila Harry Bauer Lounge

At one end of the departure lounge is a separate room: the Port Vila Harry Bauer Lounge.

The lounge includes a TV, power points with USB ports and refreshments, making it a calmer place to wait if the main lounge is getting a little too “packed school assembly” for your liking.

Entry costs 3,000 VT per person, while children under 12 can enter for free. Membership is also available, and the lounge is open for every departure flight.

If you’re leaving Vanuatu by sailing yacht, you’ll need to officially clear out through Customs before heading to your next international destination.

Departure clearance can only be completed at one of Vanuatu’s official ports of entry: Port Vila, Luganville, Lenakel or Sola when Customs officials are available. Give Customs at least 48 hours’ notice of your departure plans, although a week’s notice is recommended where possible, especially if you’re leaving near a weekend or public holiday.

Before departure, make sure you have met all temporary admission conditions, haven’t overstayed without an extension and have settled any port dues. This includes any extra daily charges if your stay has gone beyond the initial 30-day period. Payments are usually made at the Ports and Harbours Office, or through Customs if that office isn’t available at your departure port.

Customs will also complete final checks to make sure your clearance requirements are sorted and that you’re not taking anything you shouldn’t. Once everything is cleared, you’re free to sail on to your next destination. One last official box ticked before the horizon starts calling again.

For the full step-by-step process, including ports of entry, yacht clearance, biosecurity rules, cruising permits, fees and arrival procedures, see Sailing Guide to Vanuatu: Tips for Yachting in Vanuatu.