Vanuatu is an island republic in the South Pacific Ocean, formally known as the Republic of Vanuatu (French: République de Vanuatu; Bislama: Ripablik blong Vanuatu). The volcanic archipelago is located 1,750 kilometers (1,090 miles) east of northern Australia, 540 kilometers (340 miles) northeast of New Caledonia, east of New Guinea, southeast of the Solomon Islands, and west of Fiji.
Melanesian people initially settled in Vanuatu. The islands were first seen by Europeans in 1606 by a Spanish expedition commanded by Portuguese navigator Fernandes de Queirós, who landed on the biggest island, Espiritu Santo. Queirós claimed the archipelago as part of the colonial Spanish East Indies and dubbed it La Austrialia del Espritu Santo.
France and the United Kingdom claimed sections of the archipelago in the 1880s, and in 1906, they agreed on a framework for jointly controlling the archipelago as the New Hebrides through an Anglo-French condominium.
In the 1970s, an independence movement grew, and the Republic of Vanuatu was established in 1980. Since gaining independence, the country has joined the United Nations, Commonwealth of Nations, Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, and Pacific Islands Forum.
In Vanuatu, the maximum workweek is six days and 44 hours without overtime. Each week, employees receive one day off. While this day is typically Sunday, employers may choose a different rest day to recognize in their employment contract. A workday, excluding overtime, cannot exceed eight hours.
If an employee works on Sundays, he or she must be compensated at 150% of their regular rate. On a typical workday, the first four hours of overtime should be paid at 125 percent of the regular rate, and any additional hours should be paid at 150 percent. During the evening hours, which are defined as 8 p.m. Workers must receive 175 percent of their standard rate between 4 a.m. and 8 a.m.
Vanuatu's Minimum Wage rate is VT220 per hour.
Private health insurance is scarce in the nation and is usually reserved for expats. There is no social healthcare system in the islands, although there are public hospitals.
Employers are responsible for providing medical insurance to their workers as required, and the Minister will establish a suitable premium based on the circumstances. This medical coverage covers on-the-job injuries as well as illnesses or injuries that occur off-the-job. If an employee lives on the company's property with their family, the employer is also liable for their medical care.
The labor rules do not specify any extra perks or incentives, but employers may opt to offer more at their discretion.
In Vanuatu there are no taxes on profits, dividends or income; there is no capital gains tax, no withholding tax and no sales tax (this was replaced by a value-added tax in 1998). The main taxes impinging on companies are import and export taxes, and the business licence tax
In Vanuatu there are no taxes on profits, dividends or income; there is no capital gains tax, no withholding tax and no sales tax (this was replaced by a value-added tax in 1998). The main taxes impinging on companies are import and export taxes, and the business licence tax
In Vanuatu there are no taxes on profits, dividends or income; there is no capital gains tax, no withholding tax and no sales tax (this was replaced by a value-added tax in 1998). The main taxes impinging on companies are import and export taxes, and the business licence tax
All visitors to Vanuatu must have a valid passport for the length of their stay, as well as meet visa requirements. Vanuatu's visa policy outlines the country's restrictions for international visitors, including those who need visas. Visas are used to give foreign people with travel authorizations that allow them to enter, stay in, or depart a country.
Vanuatu now has a reasonably simple visa application procedure. Visas are required for certain non-citizens to visit Vanuatu, thus they may be required. The country of the tourist, the expected duration of stay, and the purpose of the trip are all elements that determine the criteria for a Vanuatu visa.
Vanuatu's visa policy provides a broad range of visas and travel authorizations. More than 79 nations are required to get a visa and travel permission in order to visit Vanuatu, whether for business or pleasure. The Vanuatu embassy will issue the appropriate visas and/or permissions for anyone intending long-term visits in Vanuatu, including the option of residing or working there.
Travelers from all other countries must get a Vanuatu visa at an embassy. According to the Vanuatu visa policy, most travellers to Vanuatu must obtain visas in advance of their trip. Citizens of 76 different nations are free to travel in Vanuatu. Residents and visa holders from Vanuatu in this category are permitted to dwell in the nation. The sections that follow provide an overview of Vanuatu visa regulations for both short-term and long-term travellers.
Depending on your purpose and nationality, the costs you must pay may change. A visa is not necessary, however a charge must be paid if one is not available. Processing fees are levied on visa applicants who apply via Vanuatu's authorised agencies.
Tourism visas for Vanuatu are only necessary if you want to visit the nation only for tourist reasons and have a visa with you when you arrive. Vanuatu Tourist visa applications must be submitted at a Vanuatu visa application center, an Embassy, or a Consulate, whichever accepts visa applications from your home country. If none are in your nation, you must apply at the closest embassy or consulate. If you want to visit Vanuatu for leisure or tourism, the Vanuatu visa policy provides you with a choice of possibilities. Depending on the traveler's nationality, a range of alternatives are available.
Visa-free travel to Vanuatu or tourism in the country is allowed to 76 nations. More than 79 nations are eligible for Vanuatu Visas, which allow multiple entry into Vanuatu. Visa holders may remain for no more than three months in the first year after acquiring the visa.
Foreign people with a valid passport from one of the participating countries, a valid email account, and an accepted payment method may get visas for Vanuatu online. In addition to meeting specific health conditions, candidates must have negative COVID-19 findings.
Those who do not fulfill the conditions for visa-free entrance may make an appointment with the embassy to submit their case for a tourist visa to Kiribati. Tourist visas are only issued by Vanuatu embassies to all nationalities. Those who want to remain in Vanuatu for more than three months will be issued a long-term visa by the embassy.
According to Vanuatu labor regulations, formal employment requires a contract. Your agreement might be written or oral. If the job is for a set duration of more than six months, or if the employee relocates away from their place of residence to fill it, you must draft a formal contract.
If a formal contract is necessary, it should contain information such as the names of both parties, remuneration, and any additional stipulations such as lodging, transportation, and food. No work contract may be longer than three years. If an employer desires to maintain a worker beyond three years, a new agreement must be drafted.
When an employee relocates more than 50 kilometers from their usual location, the contract cannot be more than one year, and if they are a nonresident, the contract cannot be longer than two years.
There is no set length for assignments. This is usually indicated in the employment contract for fixed-term employments.
Vanuatu Vatu
The first step in establishing a subsidiary in Vanuatu is to choose a name for your firm and check with the Vanuatu Financial Services Commission to see whether it is accessible (VFSC). When you discover an unclaimed name, you may reserve it and start the incorporation procedure.
As a nonresident investor, you must apply to the Vanuatu Investment Promotion Authority for a certificate of authorisation (VIPA). This organization guarantees that all investment criteria are met.
After you've filed for VIPA certification, you may apply for VFSC incorporation. You may then register your reserved business name. You may apply for a business license at the Rates and Taxes Office of the Department of Customs and Inland Revenue after you have received confirmation for incorporation.
After obtaining your company license, you may register for the value-added tax (VAT) if you expect a VT 4 million turnover. You must also register as an employer with the National Provident Fund so that your workers may make contributions via payroll deductions.
When you set up a subsidiary, you must have at least one shareholder and one director. A director may be a shareholder, although they are not required to be. The director will be in charge of making choices for your company.
Your subsidiary will also need a set of business regulations, known as the memorandum and articles of organization. Your company guidelines spell out how you want to conduct your business. You must provide details on how you intend to manage shares, appoint directors, and submit financial reports. These papers will be required when you file for incorporation with the VFSC. The organization lets you to adopt the government's model regulations instead of establishing your own, so you may choose which path you want to go for your firm.
