A Complete Guide to Travellers SIM Cards in Vanuatu

Need to stay connected in Vanuatu LINK#TT059? While we recommend connecting more with nature and the local culture than with your social media, we get that some of us have a good reason for wanting to keep in touch with the outside world.

Due to the fact that roaming charges are notoriously expensive in Vanuatu, those wishing to use their phone in Port Vila and the outer islands need to get a local SIM card.

Find out how in this guide to the best SIM cards in Vanuatu for travellers.

Table of Contents

Who Are the Phone Network Providers in Vanuatu?

There are three main phone network providers in Vanuatu: Vodafone, Digicel and Wantok.

Although international SIM cards and eSIMs exist for Vanuatu, these are significantly more expensive than the plans offered by the local phone networks. Therefore, we won't try to sell you any bogus SIM cards on this website. You're welcome.

How to Get a Vanuatu SIM Card

First things first, you need to make sure your phone is unlocked and supports GSM at 900 MHz and the main 4G/LTE bands used in Vanuatu, as local networks use those frequencies rather than primarily 1,900 MHz/850 MHz.

Where to Get a SIM Card in Vanuatu?

Vanuatu SIM cards can be purchased from a Vodafone, Digicel or Wantok office in Vanuatu. All three companies have outlets in Port Vila and Luganville. Offices are usually open from 8 am to 5 pm on weekdays, while some are also open from 8 am to 12 pm on Saturdays.

The outlets that most visitors will use are:

Important: You need a valid ID, like your passport, in order to set up a local SIM in Vanuatu!

You'll find that many convenience stores and supermarkets offer e-charge (top-up) of local SIM cards. However, it's best to make an initial purchase of SIM cards from the phone network offices themselves. For a list of convenience stores, check out the Information, Shops & Services in Vanuatu LINK#TTD096.

Digicel SIM Cards

Digicel offers a comprehensive range of prepaid phone plans and data bundles in Vanuatu, with 4G coverage available.

Digicel Data Bundle Options

Digicel offers several categories of bundles to suit different needs:

All-in-One Data Plans (Data, SMS, Mins)

  • VT$125 – 200 MB of data, 95 Digicel mins, 95 Digicel SMS, valid for 24 hours
  • VT$250 – 500 MB of data, 95 Digicel mins, 95 Digicel SMS, valid for 3 days
  • VT$500 – 1 GB of data, 150 Digicel mins, 150 Digicel SMS, valid for 7 days

4G Data Plans

  • VT$50 – 350 MB of data, valid for 3 hours
  • VT$65 – 650 MB of data, valid for 3 hours
  • VT$75 – 650 MB of data, valid for 3 hours
  • VT$125 – 600 MB of data, valid for 24 hours
  • VT$150 – 1 GB of data, valid for 24 hours
  • VT$175 – 1.5 GB of data, valid for 24 hours
  • VT$200 – 2.4 GB of data, valid for 24 hours
  • VT$350 – 3 GB of data, valid for 3 days
  • VT$500 – 3.5 GB of data, valid for 7 days
  • VT$600 – 6 GB of data, valid for 7 days
  • VT$1,000 – 6 GB of data, valid for 30 days
  • VT$1,200 – 9 GB of data, valid for 30 days
  • VT$2,000 – 14 GB of data, valid for 30 days
  • VT$3,000 – 20 GB of data, valid for 30 days

What are the Standard Rates with Digicel Vanuatu?

What are the standard rates with Digicel Vanuatu once you have run out of data, texts or minutes? The standard rates are as follows:

Local calls

Calls to Digicel numbers cost around VT$28 per minute.
Calls to other local mobile or landline numbers cost around VT$30 per minute.

International calls

International call rates vary by country, starting from about VT$61 per minute for nearby and major destinations, and increasing for more remote countries.

Text messages

Sending a text to a Digicel number costs VT$10 per SMS.
Texts to other local or international numbers cost VT$12 per SMS.

Mobile data outside bundles

Using data without a bundle costs VT$12 per MB, which gets expensive quickly, so travellers should always use a data bundle.

For more about Digicel's coverage, check out the Phone Coverage in Vanuatu section below.

Vanuatu Pocket Guide Placeholder Image
© SPTO

WanTok Mobile SIM Cards

WanTok Mobile offers very simple prepaid and pay-as-you-go plans.

WanTok Mobile Prepaid Plans (Bundles)

  • VT$1,800 – 240 minutes for calls, valid 30 days
  • VT$1,800 – 240 SMS, valid 30 days
  • VT$750 – international calls, valid 30 days

What are the Standard Rates with WanTok Mobile?

What are the standard rates with WanTok Mobile if you're not using a prepaid bundle? The standard rates are as follows:

  • VT$22 per minute for local calls on a pay-as-you-go basis
  • VT$11 per SMS on a pay-as-you-go basis

International calls pay as you go

  • AU$0.13 per minute for calls to Australia on a pay as you go basis
  • NZ$0.14 per minute for calls to New Zealand on a pay as you go basis
  • EU€0.17 per minute for calls to France on a pay as you go basis
  • GB£0.18 per minute for calls to the UK on a pay as you go basis
  • US$0.10 per minute for calls to the USA and Canada on a pay as you go basis
  • TOP$0.22 per minute for calls to Tonga on a pay as you go basis

For more about WanTok's coverage, check out the Phone Coverage in Vanuatu section below.

More About SIM Cards and Using Your Phone in Vanuatu

That's it for our complete guide to the best SIM cards in Vanuatu for travellers. For more phone-related advice, take a look at the following articles:

Finally, make sure you know all of the essential tips from the 30 Tips for Travelling in Vanuatu LINK#TT068 and have everything packed using What to Pack for Vanuatu: A Full Vanuatu Packing List.