Solomon Islands vs Republic of Vanuatu
A neutral side-by-side of immigration systems, routes and regulators. Each row links to the underlying visa page with its primary government source.
Last reviewed:
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands publishes visa categories through the official Immigration Division site and work-permit guidance through the Ministry of Commerce, Industries, Labour and Immigration. The current Visa Atlas packet covers visitor, short-term business, work permit, working resident, student, dependant/family and permanent resident routes, with direct notes where the official pages state filing is temporarily in person while online systems are being tested. Applicants should confirm the active filing channel, fee and supporting documents before paying or travelling.
- Official portal
- Solomon Islands Immigration Division
- Languages
- English
- Currency
- Solomon Islands dollar
Republic of Vanuatu
Vanuatu administers residence through the Department of Immigration and Passport Services, with six residence-visa grounds (partner, child, employee, self-funded, investor and leaseholder) and a permanent-resident visa. Its Development Support Program (citizenship by investment) is run separately by the Citizenship Commission and grants citizenship, not residence. Note that the EU removed Vanuatu from its visa-free Schengen list in December 2024.
- Official portal
- Department of Immigration and Passport Services (Vanuatu)
- Languages
- Bislama, English, French
- Currency
- Vanuatu vatu
How Solomon Islands and Republic of Vanuatu differ
| Dimension | Solomon Islands | Republic of Vanuatu |
|---|---|---|
| Total routes covered | 7 | 7 |
| Routes without employer sponsor | 3 | 5 |
| Routes leading to permanent residence | 1 | 4 |
| Typical full settlement timeline | — | — |
| Dominant skilled visa | Work Permit | Residence Visa (Employee ground) |
| Skilled visa salary minimum | — | — |
| Skilled visa processing time | — | — |
| Skilled visa government fees | — | — |
| Official languages | English | Bislama, English, French |
| Currency | Solomon Islands dollar | Vanuatu vatu |
| Primary regulator | SID | VLS |
| Policy changes (last 12 months) | 0 | 0 |
Skilled-route head-to-head
Comparing each country’s most-used skilled-migration route side by side.
Routes unique to Solomon Islands
Routes unique to Republic of Vanuatu
Visa routes side by side
Solomon Islands (7)
Visitor Visa
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Tourist visitor category: 30 days single entry, renewal available, maximum stay up to 150 days. Other visitor subcategories have their own limits.
Business Visa - Short-Term
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Official short-term page: 90 days stay. Immigration categories page: up to 180 days with multiple entry and not extendable for the listed business category.
Work Permit
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Permit validity depends on approval; use alongside the relevant working resident visa where required.
Working Resident Visa
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Long-term employment: two years, unlimited entries, extendable. Short-term employment: six months single entry, extension after first six months.
Student Visa
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Two years; extendable.
Dependent / Family Relationship Visa
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Up to two years for listed dependant/family categories; extension available where stated.
Permanent Resident Visa
No sponsor · Leads to settlement · Five years; extendable.
Republic of Vanuatu (7)
Residence Visa (Employee ground)
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Issued for set periods (commonly one to several years) and renewable while you remain employed by the sponsoring business. Confirm the current bands on the official Department of Immigration page.
Residence Visa (Self-funded ground)
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Issued for set periods and renewable while you keep meeting the income condition. Confirm the current bands on the official Department of Immigration page.
Residence Visa (Foreign Investor ground)
No sponsor · Leads to settlement · Issued for set periods and renewable while you hold a valid VIPA certificate and the investment continues. Confirm the current bands on the official Department of Immigration page.
Residence Visa (Leasehold Holder ground)
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Issued for set periods and renewable while you maintain the qualifying leasehold and income. Confirm the current bands on the official Department of Immigration page.
Residence Visa (Partner / Child ground)
Sponsor · Leads to settlement · Issued for set periods and renewable while the qualifying relationship continues. Confirm the current bands on the official Department of Immigration page.
Permanent Resident Visa
No sponsor · Leads to settlement · Longer-term permanent residence status, subject to the conditions and any renewal or reporting requirements set by the Department. Confirm the current terms on the official Department of Immigration page.
Development Support Program (citizenship by investment)
No sponsor · Leads to settlement · Grants citizenship, not a time-limited residence; the underlying programme rules can change. Confirm the current rules with the Vanuatu Citizenship Office.
Frequently asked questions
Which country has an easier skilled-migration route, Solomon Islands or Republic of Vanuatu?+
Solomon Islands’s Work Permit is the dominant skilled route; Republic of Vanuatu’s Residence Visa (Employee ground) is the dominant skilled route. “Easier” depends on your salary, sponsor situation, and nationality — see each visa’s eligibility detail.
Does Solomon Islands or Republic of Vanuatu have more visa routes without an employer sponsor?+
Republic of Vanuatu has more: 5 of its covered routes can be pursued without an employer sponsor, against 3 for Solomon Islands. No-sponsor routes — such as digital-nomad, self-employment, and points-based skilled migration — matter most if you do not yet have a job offer.