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.

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’.

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.’

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.

• UNAIDS
• US Department of State
• Department of Immigration and Passport Services
• Immigration Act 17 of 2010

Migrant populations

Refugees and asylum seekers