Vanuatu Passport Renewal: Applying from Overseas

Get the current passport form

The Department of Immigration and Passport Services says that an expired passport can be renewed using passport application Form C, with the old passport returned as required.[1] Obtain the currently accepted form and checklist from the receiving authority, and check the document’s title and purpose.

This is a passport application form. A visa or citizenship form with the same letter is not a substitute. Papers kept from an investment-citizenship application may help locate identity records, but still need to be checked against the current renewal requirements.

Confirm how to apply and receive the passport

The official FAQ identifies a channel through Vanuatu’s heads of mission overseas and also mentions electronic submission.[1] Ask the office handling the application where it can be made and which steps can be completed remotely.

Explain the country you are in, the expiry date, whether you have the old passport and any changes to personal details. Then confirm identity checks, original documents, any attendance or biometric requirements, and arrangements for collection or delivery. The public pages do not set out all these practical details.

If the old passport is needed for an upcoming journey, check when it must be returned before dispatching the application. Establish how travel can be handled during the renewal period.

Check name changes and children’s documents

The official passport page asks for previous names and lists birth, citizenship and, where applicable, marriage records. Applicants under 18 also need parental or guardian consent and a signed declaration.[2]

After a change of surname through marriage, start with the name on the old passport and check that the marriage record and other identity documents explain the change. Differences in spelling across documents should also be investigated and explained.

For a child, check the birth record, parents’ names and the identity of the person signing. If guardianship has changed, confirm the supporting evidence with the receiving office. Review the documents and consent requirements for each child separately.

Explain a missing passport at the outset

The department distinguishes returning an existing passport from cases involving loss, damage or theft. Its fees also vary by service speed and the charges that apply.[2] If the old document cannot be returned, explain why and confirm the replacement procedure and evidence needed.

When checking costs, separate government fees, overseas handling, certification, courier and professional services. Published domestic processing times are not the total time for an overseas application. Submission, checks, requests for further documents and international delivery can all affect when the new passport arrives.

Update records linked to the old passport

Check the name, date of birth and validity dates on the new passport, and retain the necessary records of the old one. If a visa, residence document or travel booking still uses the old passport number, ask the issuing authority or service provider how to update or use it.

Before the next journey, check the document requirements for the destination and any transit country. Planning renewal alongside travel gives more time for further documents, delivery and updates to existing records.

Official sources

1. Vanuatu Immigration and Passport Services: renewal and overseas applications

2. Vanuatu Immigration and Passport Services: citizen passport requirements and fees

General information. Check the applicable rules, documentary requirements and fees for the individual application.