What is the Currency of Vanuatu?

Vanuatu uses Vanuatu Vatu. Prices in Vanuatu are usually written as “VT”, while internationally, the currency is displayed as “VUV”.

Unlike some currencies, the vatu does not have cents or smaller units.

Vanuatu Vatu Coins

Vanuatu Vatu coins come in values of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 VT.

Vanuatu Vatu Bank Notes

Vanuatu Vatu notes come in values of 200, 500, 1,000, 2,000, 5,000and 10,000 VT.

In this section, we will cover a few aspects of the money culture in Vanuatu, as a couple of things may be different from back home.

Tipping in Vanuatu

Although it is always appreciated, tipping is not mandatory in Vanuatu. It is not customary nor expected for tourists to tip, although a tip for outstanding service will usually be well received.

In Port Vila, especially in restaurants, resorts and on tours, tipping is slowly becoming more common due to the influence of tourism. Still, it is absolutely up to you whether or not to tip and to choose the value.

In kastom (traditional) terms, tipping can create an obligation for the person receiving the tip to return the favour. For this reason, it is best to avoid tipping in traditional village settings to keep things simple and culturally respectful.

Small gifts from your home country are often better received than cash. If you receive a gift, it is customary to accept it with gratitude, so don’t deny the gift (even if your polite instincts are screaming otherwise).

Check out our Vanuatu Tipping & Tax Guide for Travellers for more information.

Cash or Card?

Cash is king in Vanuatu. Cash in the local currency of Vanuatu Vatu is the most accepted form of payment and, in many instances, the only form of payment. It’s a good idea to always have enough vatu in cash available to pay your way.

This is especially important for markets, roadside stalls, buses, taxis, boat transfers, local tour guides, some outer island accommodations and natural attractions such as blue holes, waterfalls and beach access.

Most major hotels, resorts, restaurants, supermarkets, car rental companies, retail stores and telecom outlets in Port Vila and Luganville accept foreign credit and debit cards. The most accepted cards are those issued by Visa and MasterCard, while some ATMs and EFTPOS terminals also accept Maestro, Cirrus, UnionPay, PLUS, JCB and American Express.

All ATM withdrawals in Vanuatu are in Vanuatu Vatu. Banks and currency exchange bureaus will exchange foreign currency, while some resorts and tourist-focused businesses may accept foreign cash, such as AUD or USD, but this is rare and should not be relied on.

Learn more about how to pay using our guide, What is the Best Way to Pay in Vanuatu?

Cash Rounding

Vanuatu Vatu does not have subunits, such as cents, so prices are usually displayed in whole vatu. For cash payments, amounts are rounded to the nearest 5 VT, which is handy to know when paying in coins and wondering where those last few vatu went.

Currency can be exchanged at banks, currency exchange bureaus, some hotels and resorts, and a few airport or cruise ship kiosks in Vanuatu. Local exchange rates tend to be better than what’s found overseas, so it’s usually worth exchanging money once you arrive if you have enough vatu to get started.

The main places to exchange foreign cash are around Port Vila, Bauerfield International Airport and Luganville. Options become much more limited on the outer islands, so don’t leave your currency exchange until you’re somewhere wonderfully remote with no bureau in sight (romantic, yes; practical, no).

For the best rates, compare the “buying” or “notes buy” rate on the day. National Bank of Vanuatu is one of the most useful bank options for travellers, while currency exchange bureaus such as No 1 Currency, Goodies Forex and Fexco Pacific are convenient in Port Vila and at some arrival points. Just note that those three exchange bureau brands are owned by the same company, so don’t expect fierce rate competition between them.

Find out more in The Best Place to Exchange Currency in Vanuatu.

When withdrawing money from an ATM in Vanuatu, the money will be in Vanuatu Vatu. ATMs are mostly found around Port Vila on Efate and Luganville on Santo, with more limited access on the outer islands.

We list ATM locations in the Information, Shops & Services in Vanuatu LINK#TTD096.

What are the Exchange Rates Like for the Vanuatu Vatu?

The Vanuatu Vatu is generally exchanged against common traveller currencies, such as AUD, NZD, USD, EUR, FJD, XPF and GBP, although the currencies accepted vary between banks and bureaus.

For travellers coming from Australia, New Zealand or the United States, currencies like AUD, NZD and USD tend to remain strong and relatively stable in Vanuatu. That means exchanging these currencies into vatu is usually straightforward, especially in Port Vila, at the airport and through major currency exchange bureaus.

As a general rule, compare rates in Vanuatu rather than overseas, check whether you’re looking at a cash rate or transfer rate and remember that the higher the “buy” rate, the more vatu you receive for your money.

Vanuatu’s banks are generally open 8:30/9 am to 3:30 pm Monday to Friday.

You will find a variety of banks in Vanuatu, including National Bank of Vanuatu, BSP, BRED Bank, Wanfuteng Bank and ANZ. National Bank of Vanuatu is one of the most useful banks for travellers using foreign exchange, although this service is only available at Aneityum (Mystery Island), Downtown Port Vila and Luganville (Santo) branches, plus its desk at Bauerfield International Airport for international arrivals and cruise ship day kiosks at Mystery Island, Port Vila and Luganville.

ATMs are mostly found around Port Vila on Efate and Luganville on Santo, usually outside banks, at larger supermarkets and at Port Vila Airport. They become much more limited on the outer islands. On Malekula, for example, there is only one ATM.

Most international credit and debit cards will work in Vanuatu ATMs, especially cards issued by Visa and MasterCard. Depending on the bank, ATMs may also accept Maestro, Cirrus, UnionPay, PLUS, JCB and American Express.

We recommend letting your bank know before visiting Vanuatu so they don’t lock your card for being used overseas.

For details on ATM locations across the islands, start with our Information, Shops & Services in Vanuatu LINK#TTD096 articles.

Vanuatu has a Value Added Tax (VAT) of 15% on most goods and services, from restaurant meals to vehicle hire and tours. The good news is that prices displayed in Vanuatu almost always include VAT, unless stated otherwise, so you’re unlikely to be doing surprise maths at the till.

Visitors cannot claim a refund on VAT in Vanuatu. You can, however, buy VAT-free goods, otherwise known as duty-free, in Port Vila and at the arrivals and departures lounges of Bauerfield International Airport. See The Duty-Free Allowances for Vanuatu for more information.

There are also departure taxes to be aware of. The international departure tax is 2,500 VT, although this is usually included in your airfare. Domestic departure taxes are separate, with 200 VT for airport domestic departures and 100 VT for seaport domestic departures. For domestic flights, the tax is usually paid after check-in and before departure, so keep a little cash handy.

For yachties, port dues and overtime fees may also apply when clearing out of Vanuatu. Port dues are 7,000 VT for up to 30 days, then 100 VT per day after that. Clearing out during normal working hours can help avoid extra overtime fees, because no one wants their sailing budget sunk by admin.

For more details, see Vanuatu Tipping & Tax Guide for Travellers.