How Much "Duty-Free" Can You Bring into Vanuatu?
What’s a holiday without a few drinks? Many of us try to get a bargain by purchasing our favourite drinks or tobacco from duty-free stores in the airports on the way to Vanuatu LINK#TT059.
Be aware, however, that Vanuatu has a limit to how many duty-free goods can be brought into the country, including allowances on alcohol and tobacco.
In this guide, we’ll go through the duty-free allowances for Vanuatu.
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How to Declare Your Duty-Free Goods When Arriving in Vanuatu
So, we’ve established there are allowances for the number of duty-free goods you can bring into Vanuatu, but how do they check?
First, you will be asked to declare any duty-free goods that exceed the allowance on your Vanuatu Arrival Card, which you receive on your flight into the country.
You may then be asked by a Customs officer on arrival how much alcohol or tobacco you are carrying.
Finally, your luggage may be x-rayed or inspected as you pass through Customs.
Note that you only need to declare the duty-free goods you are bringing into Vanuatu if they exceed the allowance (see below for the Vanuatu duty-free limits). If you’re unsure, it’s best to declare them anyway; if your duty-free items are within the allowance, you’ll be allowed to keep them without paying duty.
Failing to declare goods that exceed the allowance can result in fines or seizure of the items.
Duty-Free Allowances for Vanuatu
Each passenger arriving in Vanuatu is entitled to a certain amount of duty-free goods. Here is a quick breakdown of allowances for duty-free goods each passenger can bring into Vanuatu.
Vanuatu Duty-Free Allowance for Alcohol
Each passenger aged 18 and over can bring the following quantities of duty-free alcoholic beverages into Vanuatu:
- Alcohol not exceeding 2.25 litres of spirits, 2.25 litres of wine, or 9 litres of beer.
Vanuatu Duty-Free Allowance for Tobacco and Cigarettes
Each passenger aged 18 and over can bring the following quantities of duty-free tobacco or cigarettes into Vanuatu:
- 250 cigarettes, 100 cigarillos, 25 cigars, or 250 g of tobacco
Other Duty-Free Allowances
Each passenger may also bring other dutiable goods purchased from overseas into Vanuatu, such as gifts, souvenirs, electronic equipment, jewellery, watches and sporting equipment, as long as the combined value of the goods does not exceed VT$50,000.
The goods must be with you and intended for personal use. This does not include alcohol and tobacco, which have their own allowances (see above).
Duty-Free Shopping in Vanuatu
Bauerfield International Airport is home to Vanuatu’s main duty-free store, offering alcohol, tobacco and souvenirs, available in the International Departure Lounge only.
For a wider range of duty-free and tax-free shopping, travellers can visit downtown Port Vila, where several duty-free retailers sell imported goods without VAT. Popular stops include Paris Shopping Duty Free and Fung Kuei Duty Free for alcohol and fragrances, along with supermarkets such as Au Bon Marché for local products and everyday essentials.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Duty-Free Allowances in Vanuatu
What are the questions that travellers ask about duty-free allowances in Vanuatu? These answers might help answer yours!
How Many Cigarettes Can You Take into Vanuatu?
You can take up to 250 cigarettes into Vanuatu, as per the duty-free allowance for tobacco in Vanuatu.
How Many Bottles of Wine Can I Take to Vanuatu?
Considering a standard bottle of wine is 750 ml (25 oz), you can bring upto three bottles of wine into Vanuatu without paying duty. The duty-free allowance for wine is 2.25 litres (76.1 fl. oz).
More About Duty-Free Allowances for Vanuatu
That's it for our guide to duty-free allowances for Vanuatu. For more information about arrival procedures and more information about Vanuatu, check out the following articles:
- Arriving in Vanuatu: Airport Customs, Biosecurity & Arrival Process LINK#TT003
- Where is Vanuatu Located? LINK#TT007
- Vanuatu Travel Budget: How Much Does a Trip to Vanuatu Cost LINK#TT017?
Finally, if there's anything we've missed, you're likely to find it in The Complete Travel Guide to Vanuatu LINK#TT059.
