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Vanuatu


This advice has been reviewed and reissued with amendments to the Summary and Natural Disasters section (Tropical Cyclone Gene). The overall level of the advice has not changed.
The British High Commission in Port Vila closed on 21 October 2005. There is no longer any British consular representation in Port Vila. Routine consular services for British nationals provided by the New Zealand High Commission in Port Vila. The British High Commission in Fiji is responsible for non-routine consular matters. See the General (Representation) section of this advice for more details.


Vanuatu lies on the Pacific 'Ring of Fire' and regularly experiences seismic and volcanic activity, with over 2,000 seismic events reported each year. On 2 August 2007 an earthquake measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale was recorded 28 miles off the island of Espiritu Santo. See the Natural Disasters (Earthquakes) section of this advice for more details.


We advise caution when considering visiting active volcanoes on any of the islands in the Vanuatu archipelago. You should check with the Vanuatu Tourist Office for latest reports on volcanic activity before travelling. See the Natural Disasters (Volcanoes) section of this advice for more details.


Most visits to Vanuatu are trouble-free. The main types of incidents for which British nationals required consular assistance in Vanuatu in 2006 were for replacing lost or stolen passports and petty crime. However, violent crime is increasing and you should avoid visiting isolated locations alone.


There is a low threat from terrorism. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.


The tropical cyclone season in Vanuatu normally runs from November to April. In February 2008 Tropical Cyclone Gene affected the southern most islands of Vanuatu. There was some damage, but no casualties were reported. See the Natural Disasters (Tropical Cyclones) section of this advice and Hurricanes for more details.


We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake. See General (Insurance) section of this advice and Travel Insurance for more details.
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Kind regards,