Vanuatu customs rules & duty-free allowances

Last reviewed October 1, 2026·Official source

Vanuatu's real customs trap is biosecurity: undeclared food and plant material can be seized and fined on the spot, and the rules apply equally to airport, cruise-ship and yacht arrivals. Kava is a controlled export, so check the rules before buying it to take home.

Duty-free allowances

Alcohol
2.0 L
2 litres of spirits, wine or beer combined, up to a value of VUV 12,000 (about USD 100). Travellers must be 18 or over. Duty is charged only on the amount above the allowance, at the applicable rate plus 15% VAT.
Tobacco
200 cigarettes
or 50 cigars / 250 g
Cash to declare
$10,000
VUV 1,200,000 or foreign equivalent (about USD 10,000). Declare on the Customs Declaration form handed out on the aircraft or at the arrival hall. There is no limit on how much you can bring in — you just have to declare it.
Goods duty-free
$800
Personal effects and gifts up to VUV 100,000 (about USD 800) are duty-free. Duty is assessed only on the excess, at the applicable rate for the goods category, plus 15% VAT. Personal clothing and toiletries for your own use are normally admitted free regardless.

Prohibited — banned from import

  • Narcotics and psychotropic drugs, including cannabis in any form
  • Fresh fruit, vegetables, seeds, nuts and plant material
  • Raw or cooked meat, poultry, eggs and unpasteurised dairy
  • Honey and bee products
  • Soil, live plants and cuttings
  • Counterfeit goods and pirated media

Restricted — allowed with a permit or declaration

  • Firearms, ammunition and imitation weapons — require a police permit arranged before arrival
  • Prescription and controlled medicines — some need Pharmacy Board approval
  • Drones — must be declared and may require a permit from the Civil Aviation Authority
  • Satellite phones and certain radio equipment — require a licence from the telecommunications regulator
  • Kava and kava products — commercial quantities need a permit; personal amounts are generally allowed

Arriving: red vs green channel

Every arriving passenger fills in a Vanuatu Customs and Biosecurity Declaration — you get it on the plane or at the hall. There is no formal red/green channel at Port Vila; instead you hand the form to the officer and declare verbally. If you have nothing to declare, keep the form and walk through — but expect a bag x-ray and a biosecurity sniffer dog, especially on food.

Bringing medication

Bring personal prescription medicine in its original labelled packaging with a copy of the prescription or a doctor's letter. Keep quantities to what you need for the trip (generally up to 3 months). Vanuatu has strict drug laws — cannabis, kava extracts sold as supplements, and many opioid-based painkillers require prior written approval from the Vanuatu Pharmacy Board. Do not assume a medicine legal at home is legal here.

Food, plants & animal products

Vanuatu is an island biosecurity state and this is where most travellers get caught. Fresh fruit, vegetables, seeds, nuts, honey, dairy, raw or cooked meat, eggs, and any plant cuttings or soil are prohibited or must be declared. Commercially packaged, shelf-stable food is usually fine but still declare it. Failure to declare can mean immediate fines and confiscation.

Rules worth knowing

Biosecurity fines are on the spot

If you are caught with undeclared food or plant material, biosecurity officers can issue an immediate fine and seize the goods. Declare first — declaring something that turns out to be allowed costs you nothing.

Kava has its own rules

Kava is a national product and a controlled export. Bringing in commercial quantities of kava or kava powder for resale requires a permit, and taking kava out of Vanuatu is restricted. Personal-use amounts for visitors are normally fine, but declare it.

Yacht and cruise arrivals clear customs too

If you arrive by yacht or cruise ship, you still clear customs and biosecurity at the port of entry. The same allowances and the same food rules apply — cruise passengers are not exempt.

Duty is charged on the excess, not the whole amount

If your goods are over the VUV 100,000 allowance, duty is calculated only on the amount above the threshold, plus 15% VAT. Keep receipts so the officer can value items quickly.

Frequently asked questions

Small personal amounts are generally tolerated, but commercial quantities of kava or kava products require a permit from the Vanuatu authorities. Kava is also a controlled export, so if you are taking it out of the country, check the export rules before you buy.
Yes. Even sealed, commercially packaged snacks should be declared on the biosecurity section of your arrival form. Sealed, shelf-stable items are usually allowed, but fresh food, meat, dairy, honey and plant material will be confiscated.
No. Vanuatu uses a written declaration form rather than coloured channels. You complete the form, hand it to the officer, and declare verbally if you have anything to declare. Bag x-rays and biosecurity dogs are common.
There is no limit, but you must declare amounts of VUV 1,200,000 or more (about USD 10,000) or the foreign-currency equivalent. Declare it on the arrival form. Undeclared cash can be seized.
Yes, for personal use, in original labelled packaging with a prescription or doctor's letter. Some medicines — particularly opioids and cannabis-based products — need prior approval from the Vanuatu Pharmacy Board. Check before you travel.
Biosecurity officers can issue an on-the-spot fine and seize the items. The fine is usually a few thousand vatu, but repeat or commercial-scale breaches can lead to prosecution. Always declare first.
Drones must be declared on arrival and may require a permit from the Civil Aviation Authority of Vanuatu. Flying drones near airports, harbours or over people is restricted. Arrange approval before you travel if you plan to fly one.

Official source

Vanuatu Customs and Inland Revenue

For guidance only. Customs allowances and prohibited-item lists change without notice — always confirm with Vanuatu Customs and Inland Revenue before travelling.