Vanuatu's Travel Advisory Lowered to Level 1

Amidst the peaceful waves of the South Pacific, the Republic of Vanuatu's 330,000 residents have steadily recovered from a devastating earthquake.

Since December 2024, the Infrastructure and roads in Port Vila and the surrounding area have been updated.

In response to this effort, the U.S. Department of State updated its Travel Advisory for Vanuatu to reflect a lowering from Level 3 to Level 1 due to the removal of the Natural Disaster indicator.

As of May 22, 2025, the State Department advises visitors to Vanuatu to exercise normal precautions.

The Director of Tourism recently informed local media that the total number of air arrivals in January 2025 was 9,353. Among visitor arrivals, Australian visitors accounted for the highest proportion at 59%. 

And when visiting this island country in Melanesia, northeast of Australia, enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to receive digital alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. 

Unfortunately, the State Department advises reconsidering travel to Papua New Guinea due to civil unrest, where the local U.S. Embassy is located.

From a health perspective, the U.S. CDC suggests several routine and travel vaccines to prevent diseases when visiting Vanuatu in May 2025.

For example, the CDC suggests the typhoid vaccine.

While malaria is present in Vanuatu, vaccination is not recommended.

The CDC recommends that travelers visiting Vanuatu take prescription medication to prevent malaria. Depending on the medication you take, you will need to start taking it multiple days before your trip, as well as during and after your trip. 

In April 2025, the Ministry of Health reaffirmed its ongoing commitment to protecting the health and well-being of all people in Vanuatu through safe, effective, and evidence-based vaccination programs.

'Immunization remains one of the most powerful and proven tools to prevent a wide range of infectious diseases and promote public health,' wrote the Ministry.

These medicines and vaccines are available in the U.S. at travel clinics and pharmacies as of May 2025.