Vanuatu
Regulations on entry, stay, residence, and treatment access for people living with HIV
The categories of restriction are:
- Restrictions on long-term stays which in most cases is defined as over 90 days.
The types of restriction are:
- HIV testing/disclosure required for work visa.
- HIV testing/disclosure required for study visa.
- HIV testing/disclosure required for residence.
Restrictions on entry to Vanuatu
It is unclear whether Vanuatu imposes restrictions on entry of people living with HIV.
According to UNAIDS and the US Department of State, Vanuatu does not have any HIV-related restrictions on entry.
According to the Department of Immigration and Passport Services, among the criteria to be eligible for a tourist visa to Vanuatu, applicants must not be ‘suffering from contagious diseases or mental conditions that could pose a risk to the Vanuatu community’s health.’
The tourist and transit visa application forms includes a question asking the applicant if they are ‘suffering from a contagious disease’.
According to the Immigration Act 17 of 2010, migration officers have the power to require any person entering Vanuatu to be examined by a medical officer. Those who refuse the examination or who are deemed ‘to be suffering from a contagious or infectious disease which makes his presence in Vanuatu dangerous to the community’ are prohibited from entering the country.
None of these documents makes clear if HIV disclosure would be required under the contagious disease question.
Restrictions on short-term stay in Vanuatu
It is unclear whether Vanuatu imposes restrictions on entry of people living with HIV.
According to UNAIDS and the US Department of State, Vanuatu does not have any HIV-related restrictions on entry.
The visitor (up to 30 days) and student visa application forms includes a question asking the applicant if they are ‘suffering from a contagious disease’.
Restrictions on long-term stay in Vanuatu
We are aware of some official restrictions on long-term stay of people living with HIV in Vanuatu.
UNAIDS and the US Department of State report to be unaware of any restrictions on long-term stay in Vanuatu.
However, official information contradicts this.
Those wishing to apply for long-term visas including student, residence, and special category to stay for more than 12 months must complete a medical examination and include results within the submission.
Within the medical report the applicant should declare a number of conditions, which includes HIV, in the presence of a doctor, who will in turn consider the information provided and determine ‘if the applicant has the potential to be a health risk in Vanuatu or a financial burden to Vanuatu.’
Treatment access in Vanuatu
The following summarises available information on access to healthcare for people living with HIV in Vanuatu. There is no evidence that non-nationals are restricted from accessing treatment in the same way as nationals.
Public health is organised into two regional referral hospitals, 3 provincial hospitals, 32 health centres, 97 dispensaries and 231 community aid posts.
The referral hospitals are Vila Central Hospital, in Port Vila in the Shefa Province and the Northern District Hospital, in Luganville in Santo in the Sanma Province. These provide curative and preventative health services.
HIV and STIs testing can be done at health centres while laboratory services are generally restricted to the provincial hospitals.
All the establishments are managed by the Ministry of Health and benefit from the help of NGOs, mainly Australian, who help with investments in equipment. Local healthcare services are occasionally bolstered by visiting specialists primarily from New Caledonia and Australia.
In addition to government health services, there are also clinics operated by NGOs such as Wan Smolbag running the Kam Pusum Hed (KPH) clinic and the Vanuatu Family Health Association with health clinics in Port Vila, Tanna and Luganville and a health hotline, providing information on sexual and reproductive health, STIs, HIV and related issues.
According to IOM, all immigrants, regardless of their legal status, can access government-funded national health services, including both emergency and non-emergency services.
However, at private health-care facilities different fees may apply to both Ni-Vanuatu and non-Ni-Vanuatu patients.
Sources
The HIV Justice Network's Global HIV Criminalisation Database
There is no known HIV criminalisation in Vanuatu. We are not aware of any HIV-specific criminal laws in force, and there have been no reported prosecutions for alleged HIV ‘exposure’, non-disclosure, and/or transmission under general criminal laws.
Visit the Vanuatu page on the Global HIV Criminalisation Database to see more information about known HIV criminalisation laws in this country, an overview of how the laws are used, and any significant advocacy developments.
UNAIDS Global AIDS monitoring data
This information about access to HIV services comes from UNAIDS https://lawsandpolicies.unaids.org/, a platform to view data on HIV-related laws and policies. This is information provided by national authorities and civil society and may contradict other sources.
Migrant populations
Laws/policies enable documented migrants to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens | N/A |
Laws/policies enable documented migrants to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens implemented (countries with such laws/policies) | N/A |
Laws/policies enable undocumented migrants to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens | N/A |
Laws/policies enable undocumented migrants to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens implemented (countries with such laws/policies) | N/A |
Migrants are able to access HIV services | N/A |
Refugees and asylum seekers
Laws/policies enable asylum seekers to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens | N/A |
Laws/policies enable asylum seekers to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens implemented (countries with such laws/policies) | N/A |
Laws/policies enable refugees to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens | N/A |
Laws/policies enable refugees to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens implemented (countries with such laws/policies) | N/A |
This site focuses on information about HIV travel. Please also consult your own Foreign Office/Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, or the local consulate of the country you are visiting, to see what restrictions there are specifically for you as a citizen of your country, regardless of your HIV status.