Australian High Commission
Port Vila
Vanuatu

Services for Australians

 

For Australians in Vanuatu, we ask you to please follow the advice and directions of local authorities. We also ask that you keep up to date with the latest developments by visiting Smartraveller (https://www.smartraveller.gov.au) and following us on Facebook and Twitter (@AusHCVanuatu).

 

Consular Assistance

The Australian Government provides 24-hour consular assistance to Australians who are overseas. This assistance may be accessed by telephone, on +61 2 6261 3305 (from overseas), 1300 555 135 (from within Australia).

If you are in Vanuatu and in need of consular assistance, you may also contact the High Commission during business hours on  +678 22777. Emergency assistance is available 24/7.  Email queries can be directed to [email protected].

Canadian citizens can also alternatively contact the 24/7 Canadian Emergency Watch and Response Center in Ottawa (email: [email protected] – phone +1 613 996 8885 with call collect accepted where available).

 

The Australian High Commission in Port Vila provides consular and passports services to Australian, Canadian citizens and to Australian permanent residents in Vanuatu.

Please also note the Australian High Commission does not manage enquiries relating to visas or entry-exit requirement to Vanuatu or Canada and we are unable to escalate applications or issues with the authorities in Vanuatu or Canada.

 

Smartraveller

Smartraveller has the latest, authoritative travel advice so you can be informed and prepared about overseas travel. Subscribe to receive travel advice updates - by simply supplying your name and email address – straight to your inbox.

You can now also subscribe to the new SMS service - by supplying your mobile number – to receive critical alerts in the event of a crisis overseas.

In a crisis, Smartraveller will activate a crisis page on its website. This will make it easier for you or someone you know to contact the Australian Government if you need help. It will supplement the consular emergency hotline.

Visit www.smartraveller.gov.au to subscribe or connect with Smartraveller on Facebook and Twitter.

Check out travel recommendations on Smartraveller under What you need to know before you go | Smartraveller. Check out also the travel advice for Vanuatu as well as circumstances. Download also the Before you go - The Basics - Checklist.

 

Before you book your travel, check regulations as applicable to your circumstances


It is your responsibility to ensure you meet the requirements of the airline or vessel operator you are travelling with and of countries you are travelling to or transiting through.

You are responsible for checking requirements applicable to your circumstances regarding visas, entry permits and exemptions, quarantine (possibly at your own expense), mandatory health and other declarations, COVID-19 testing and vaccination, use of face masks, as well as insurance to cover your specific travel, condition and circumstances. Also check the safety and COVID-19 plans applied by the airline or cruise company you intend travelling with and ensure you meet their requirements. If you need information or assistance, please contact your airline, cruise line, travel provider or employer and the relevant competent authorities in Australia and Vanuatu directly.  

What we can and cannot do

The Australian Consular Services Charter sets out the standards of service you can expect from consular staff and signifies our commitment to providing effective, prompt and courteous consular services, delivered equitably to all Australian citizens and permanent residents, and Canadian citizens.

Our ability to provide consular support is governed by international agreements and there are limits to the extent of the help we can provide.  It is essential to remember that in Vanuatu you are subject to the laws and regulations of Vanuatu.  Providing you with consular assistance cannot override local law.

 

Canadian-Australian Consular Services Sharing Agreement

The Australian High Commission in Vanuatu provides assistance to Canadians in the region under the Canadian Australian Consular Services Sharing Agreement.

This agreement does not extend to the assistance of persons with visas/immigration enquiries. For further information about Canadian entry requirements, please consult the CIC website www.cic.gc.ca 

 

Passport Services

The Australian High Commission in Port Vila provides passport services to Australian and Canadian citizens in Vanuatu, including those applying for or renewing a passport, applying for a document of identity or in special circumstances, an emergency passport.

For information on applying for or renewing your passport, rules and procedures for obtaining a passport, urgent applications, resuming or tracking your application, using/protecting/securing your passport, or reporting a lost/stolen/damaged passport, visit http://www.passports.gov.au/.

The Australian High Commission provides passport services by appointment between 8.30am and 3.00pm on weekdays. An appointment must be made before you attend the High Commission. Exceptions may be made for urgent matters. 

 

Booking an appointment

If you would like to book an appointment please contact the Australian High Commission by email [email protected], online or by telephone at +678 22777.

 

Passport application fees

The Australian High Commission requires upfront payment of fees before a passport application may be lodged.  Please click here for the schedule of fees. Please note that an overseas processing surcharge is payable for most applications.

The Australian High Commission accepts payments in local Vatu currency by EFTPOS or credit card and cash. Card payments are the preferred payment option and cash is only accepted for emergency cases. Vanuatu bank cards issued by the ANZ and Bred Bank are accepted.  International cards using Mastercard, Cirrus, Visa, American Express, JCB and UnionPay are also accepted.

For specific questions about passport services, please email the Australian High Commission on [email protected]. If you wish to provide feedback on passport services, please complete the online feedback form available at https://www.passports.gov.au/feedback.

 

Passports updates

Please be aware of the following changes:

  • The Frequent Traveller Passport has been discontinued as of 1 December 2017.
  • When applying for ten-year validity passports for 16 and 17-year-olds, both the child and a parent will be required to attend the appointment and the parental consent page must be completed.
  • Passport fees in the local currency change are reviewed monthly and may change without notice.

Mailed-in application for Adult passport renewal 

Eligibility

For an Adult passport renewal, you must be 18 years and over and you will need a passport that:

  • was issued when you were aged 16 or older
  • was issued on or after 1 January 2006
  • had, when it was issued, at least two years’ validity
  • has your current name, date of birth, place of birth and gender, and
  • has not been reported lost, stolen, or cancelled.

If you can answer yes to all the above, complete your passport renewal application (PC7) online.

If you don’t meet these criteria, you’ll need to lodge your application in person by appointment only by clicking here or send an email to [email protected] 

Urgent Travel

Please contact the High Commission [email protected]/+678 22 777 for further advice.

Guide for Adult renewal application (PC7) by mail

 

      

1.Complete your renewal application form online
 

  • The application must be lodged within six months of completion

2.Print and sign your application form
 

  • Print on plain white A4 paper, using blank ink only. Make sure the top or bottom of the page is not cut off.
  • US standard letter paper or US legal paper sizes are also acceptable, but only if they’re scaled properly. Refer to more information on printing your application form
  • Sign the form using black pen, within the signature box. Make sure there are no alterations or whiteout on the signature or the date.
     

      

3.Photos

  • Two recent identical colour photos, less than 6 months old with your full name written on the back of one photo. Refer to photo guidelines for more information
  • Do NOT attach the photos to the form as this may damage them       

            

4.Payment
 

 

  

5.Check your adult renewal checklist
 

 

    

6.Post your application


Australian High Commission
Po Box 111
Port Vila Vanuatu

      Or

Drop in an envelope at the Australian High Commission’s Security office marked: “Attention: Passport Services”

   

7.How long will it take?
 

  • Please allow a minimum of eight weeks to receive a new passport once payment has been taken. PLEASE NOTE incomplete applications will cause delays.
 
 
   

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Mailed-in application for Child passport renewal application

Eligibility
 

Child passport renewal applications (PC8) can be mailed-in provided the applicant is: 

 

  • aged up to 15 years old and
  • has held a previous passport  

 

If you can answer yes to the above, complete a PC8 passport application online.  

 

For first-time child applications and applicants aged 16 or 17, the application must be lodged in person by appointment only. You can book your appointment here or send an email to [email protected].

 

Urgent Travel

If you have urgent travel, please contact us +678 22 777 for further advice.

 

 

Guide for a child renewal passport application (PC8) by mail

 

1. Complete the application form (PC8) online

  • The application must be lodged within six months of completion.

 

2. Photos

  • Include minimum two passport photos, less than six months old. Refer to photo guidelines for more information.
  • The back of one photo must be endorsed by the child’s guarantor, writing ‘This is a true photo of [the child’s full name]’ and signed in black pen.
  • DO NOT attach the photos to the form as this may damage them

3. Parents proof of identity

  • Good quality photocopies of both parents’ identity documents that show their name, photo, signature and current address (i.e. both parents or those with parental responsibility for the child who signed section 17 on the application form)
    • Name changes: If the current names of either parent are different to how they appear on the child’s birth certificate, please include certified documents that explain the change of name.

 

4. Print the application form

  • Print the child renewal application on plain white A4 paper, using blank ink only. Make sure the form has been printed in full and isn't cut off at the top or bottom of the page.
  • US standard letter paper or US legal paper sizes are also acceptable, but only if they’re scaled properly. Refer to more information on printing your application form.

5. Signing the application form

  • Sign the form using black pen, within the signature box. Make sure there are no alterations or whiteout on the signature or the date.
  • Children 10 years or older must provide a signature unless there is a medical reason or disability that prevents them from signing.

 

6. Guarantor

  • A guarantor must sign section 11 of the application form. Remember the guarantor must also endorse the back of a passport photo by writing ‘This is a true photo of [the child’s full name]’ and signing in black pen. Refer to https://www.passports.gov.au for more information on guarantor requirements.

7. Consent

  • Parental Consent is required for a child passport.  Everyone who’s giving consent must sign section 15 of the form in front of a witness.

 

8. Payment

9. Check the child renewal checklist

 

10. Post your application

  • Post your application here:

Australian High Commission

Po Box 111

Port Vila

Vanuatu

 

11. How long will it take?

  • Please allow a minimum of six weeks to receive a new passport once payment has been taken. PLEASE NOTE: incomplete applications will cause delays.

 

Child renewal passport application - PC8 Checklist

  1. Completed and printed online application form
  2. Include 2 Australian standard passport photos - *see guidelines below
  3. Completed credit card authorisation payment form
  4. Post to your nearest Australian mission, see Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website for location details. 

 

Child PC8 Passport Application CHECK LIST

Tick ✅

  1.   Did you complete and print the form from the Australian Passport Office website? 

 

  2.   Did you check the current home address, contact phone number and email address on the form are valid and correct 

 

  3.   Are the biodata details correct on the application form? (Name, Place of Birth, Country of Birth, Date of Birth and   Sex) 

 

  4.   Did you include a minimum of two passport photos? 

 

  5.   *Do the photos meet the photo guidelines

 

  6.   Did the guarantor endorse the back of one photo in black ink pen? 

 

  7.   Did both parents include copies of their proof of identity showing name, photo, signature and current address?

 

  8.   **Are both parents’ names the same as how they appear on the child’s birth certificate?

 

  9.   Did the guarantor complete and sign section 11?

 

  10. Did both parents complete and sign section 15 (declaration and consent)? 

 

  11. Did one parent (or person with parental responsibility for the applicant) sign Section 17?

 

  12. If the child is aged 10, did they sign Section 18?  

 

  13. Check all signatures are within six months of mailing the application

 

  14. Check all signatures are within the signature box

 

  15. Check the form is printed in full and no parts of the form are cut short

 

 

*If you have any concerns about your photo, please check our photo guidelines or go to the next page for examples of acceptable photos.

https://www.passports.gov.au/getting-passport-how-it-works/photo-guidelines

** If the current names of either parent are different from those on the birth certificate, please include certified copies of documents that explain the change of name.

https://www.passports.gov.au/getting-passport-how-it-works/photo-guidelines

FAQ for Mailed-in Application child renewal passport (Link)

 

Notarial Services

A limited range of notarial services can be provided by the Australian High Commission in Vanuatu. These services are for Australian documents, or foreign documents intended for use in Australia. The Australian High Commission in Port Vila provides notarial services to members of the public in Vanuatu.

It is your responsibility to ensure you present the correct forms and documents and provide correct instructions for the notarial service you require, including advising which identification documents you need to present, and the category of officer required to perform the service. If you are unsure, consider seeking legal advice. Neither the Australian Government nor the Australian High Commission in Vanuatu can guarantee the legal efficacy of the document or the accuracy of its contents.

Please note notarial services are by appointment only and that fees apply.

The Australian High Commission provides notarial services from 8.30am to 3:00pm on weekdays, by appointment.  An appointment must be made before you attend the High Commission.  Exceptions can be made for urgent matters. 

If you would like to book an appointment, please contact the Australian High Commission by email at [email protected], online or by telephone at +678 22777.

 

Notice regarding notarial fees increase

Notarial service fees increased on 1 January 2018 in line with the Consumer Price Index published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

 

Living in-Country

Federal Elections and Overseas Voting

Australia’s electoral laws do not allow for online voting.

Voting while overseas

Each election has an enrolment deadline that occurs approximately a week after an election is announced. If you are not correctly enrolled by this deadline, you may not be able to vote.

You cannot enrol with an overseas address. You must enrol in the electoral division you were entitled to enrol in before you left Australia.

Please visit the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) website for information and procedures for overseas voting eligibility and forms. The AEC's Twitter account @AusElectoralCom provides regular updates on the administration of federal elections. Voters can also check their current electoral enrolment online.

Registering as an overseas voter

If you are already enrolled to vote and are living overseas or plan to be overseas at the time of an election, you may register as an overseas voter. 

You will receive a postal voting pack that includes all the information you need to complete your ballot papers and return them to the AEC.

Once you receive your postal voting pack, complete, and return your ballot papers as soon as possible. The AEC can only legally accept ballot papers into the count to 13 days after election day – The sooner you complete and send your postal vote, the more likely it can be counted.

If you are unable to vote

Voting in a federal election is not compulsory for Australians overseas.

If you are unable to vote, you should complete and submit an overseas notification form. 

If you do not inform the AEC, the AEC will request justification in writing.
 

State and Territory Elections

Please contact your state or territory electoral authority for information about registering and voting in a state/territory election while overseas.

Voting at the Australian High Commission in Vanuatu

In the event an election is held, the Australian High Commission in Vanuatu is open for in-person votes or for the collection of postal votes, information will be posted on our Australian High Commission, Vanuatu | Facebook