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Vanuatu is one of the easier Pacific destinations to reach from Australia, sitting on the same rotations that serve New Caledonia and Fiji. It's also one of the more demanding to plan for. Two international ports on two different islands, strict rules on second-hand goods, high cyclone exposure and, since December 2024, an earthquake-damaged road to the main wharf all shape how a shipment should be handled.
This guide covers Vanuatu's ports, services and timelines, costs, customs and biosecurity, and the risks worth planning around. For the wider region, see our complete guide to shipping to the Pacific Islands.
Key takeaways
- Port Vila on Efate and Luganville on Espiritu Santo are the international ports. Ship to the one nearest your destination.
- Vanuatu is usually served on Australia to New Caledonia and Fiji rotations, roughly fortnightly.
- Second-hand goods need a biosecurity import permit before shipment.
- The December 2024 earthquake damaged access to Port Vila's wharf. Rebuilding of the wharf road has been funded, but allow for disruption.
- VAT is 15%, and PACER Plus has applied to Vanuatu since October 2022.
Ports of entry
Port Vila
Port Vila on Efate is the capital and the main gateway, handling most of the country's imports through its international multipurpose wharf at Lapetasi. It serves Efate and is the base for onward shipping to the southern and central islands.
Luganville
Luganville on Espiritu Santo is Vanuatu's second international port and the gateway for Santo and the northern islands. If your goods are going to Santo, shipping directly to Luganville avoids a domestic voyage from Port Vila and the handling that comes with it. Check that your service calls Santo, because not every rotation does.
The December 2024 earthquake and the wharf road
On 17 December 2024, a magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck off Port Vila. Landslides blocked the road between the city and the international shipping terminal and caused serious damage around the port area. The wharf road carries the bulk of Vanuatu's imports and exports, and with parts of the corridor blocked or unstable, shipping delays and transport costs rose as businesses rerouted freight.
In December 2025 the Asian Development Bank approved a US$24.4 million grant, with co-financing from Australia, New Zealand and the World Bank, to rebuild the road to higher, disaster-resilient standards. Until that work is complete, ask your forwarder about current access, trucking arrangements and any surcharges for Port Vila deliveries.
Shipping services and timelines
From Australia, Vanuatu is typically reached on services from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane through New Caledonia and Fiji, with Port Vila and sometimes Santo late in the rotation. Swire Shipping and NPDL have shared vessels on their Australia to Pacific Islands service since 2024, and carriers adjust vessels and rotations regularly. On one rotation published in 2026, Port Vila comes about two weeks after Brisbane.
| Leg | Indicative time |
|---|---|
| Sailing frequency from the Australian east coast | Roughly fortnightly |
| Brisbane to Port Vila, port to port | About 12 to 15 days, via New Caledonia and Fiji on some rotations |
| Clearance and release | From a few days to a couple of weeks |
| Onward to outer islands | Depends on domestic shipping schedules |
Indicative, based on carrier rotations published in 2026. Confirm current schedules before you book.
Because Vanuatu often comes at the end of a rotation, delays earlier in the voyage, at Nouméa, Lautoka or Suva, flow through to Port Vila. Build in a buffer. See why transhipment matters.
Costs
Expect the usual Pacific cost stack: origin charges in Australia, ocean freight and surcharges, destination handling, broker fees, duty and 15% VAT, biosecurity fees, and delivery. Post-earthquake access arrangements may add to trucking costs in Port Vila, and outer-island delivery adds a domestic freight leg. Compare quotes on a landed-cost basis. See Pacific freight quotes explained.
Customs and tax
Imports are cleared by Vanuatu's Department of Customs and Inland Revenue, usually through a licensed customs agent. Vanuatu runs a trade portal that sets out import procedures step by step, including biosecurity permits. VAT on imports is 15%, and duty depends on the tariff classification of your goods.
Vanuatu has been a PACER Plus party since 11 October 2022, so goods originating in Australia or New Zealand may qualify for preferential duty on lines Vanuatu has reduced, claimed with a declaration of origin. See import duty and taxes in the Pacific Islands and customs brokers in the Pacific Islands.
Biosecurity: permits come first
Biosecurity Vanuatu is explicit that import permits must be obtained before goods are shipped, and that failing to obtain one can see a consignment treated, re-exported or destroyed. Its permit forms state that all reconditioned, recycled and second-hand goods are subject to an import permit, and that all products listed in its plant import manual need one too. Biosecurity Vanuatu handles applications by email and through the trade portal.
In practice, that means a permit for used furniture, appliances, tools, vehicles and machinery, as well as for plant and animal products. Apply early, clean everything, and use ISPM 15 compliant packaging. See prohibited and restricted items for the wider picture.
Cyclone exposure
Vanuatu is among the most cyclone-exposed countries in the region. Regional outlooks prepared by forecasting centres across the Southwest Pacific have noted that Vanuatu and New Caledonia typically see the greatest tropical cyclone activity, with an average of about two or three named cyclones passing close each year. The season officially runs from November to April. Plan time-critical shipments outside the peak months where you can, and insure cargo properly. See shipping during Pacific cyclone season.
Outer islands
Vanuatu has more than 80 islands, and goods for Tanna, Malekula, Pentecost, Ambae and others travel on from Port Vila or Luganville by domestic vessel, often unloaded onto beaches or small landings. Clear customs and biosecurity at the international port first, book the domestic leg early, pack for rough handling and confirm insurance covers the full journey.
Frequently asked questions
Should I ship to Port Vila or Luganville?
To the port nearest the final destination. Port Vila for Efate and the south; Luganville for Santo and the north, if your service calls there.
Do I need a permit to send used goods to Vanuatu?
Yes. Biosecurity Vanuatu requires an import permit for reconditioned, recycled and second-hand goods, obtained before the shipment leaves.
Is Port Vila's port operating after the 2024 earthquake?
The port has continued to handle cargo, but the earthquake badly damaged the wharf road, and rebuilding has been funded since late 2025. Ask your forwarder about current access and delivery arrangements.
What tax applies to imports into Vanuatu?
VAT of 15% plus any duty for your goods' tariff classification. Australian or New Zealand originating goods may qualify for PACER Plus preference on some lines.
How this guide was researched
This guide draws on Biosecurity Vanuatu permit requirements, the Vanuatu trade portal, reporting on the December 2024 Port Vila earthquake and the Asian Development Bank's wharf road grant, Southwest Pacific tropical cyclone outlooks, published carrier rotations, WTO information on PACER Plus, and the author's experience shipping to Port Vila and Santo. Conditions change, so confirm current details before you ship.
Written by
Peyton Brown
Senior Editor of The Pennsy's Pacific shipping desk, with more than a decade in Pacific freight operations, documentation and customs coordination across Papua New Guinea, Fiji and the Solomon Islands.
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