Moving to Vanuatu from Cook Islands
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Cook Islands to Vanuatu — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Cook Islands to Vanuatu. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.
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Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Cook Islands to Vanuatu.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Vanuatu performs significantly better than Cook Islands across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
Vanuatu generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Cook Islands leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
share of households with internet
Cook Islands generally does better on infrastructure, though Vanuatu leads in internet access.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
Cook Islands generally does better on employment & economy, though Vanuatu leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
Cook Islands generally does better on family life, though Vanuatu leads in infant mortality.
Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Cook Islands and Vanuatu. To live, work, or study long-term in Vanuatu, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Vanuatu's immigration authority.
Vanuatu passport holder visiting Cook Islands
Visa FreeData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work remotely from Vanuatu?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Vanuatu has 1.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
Is Vanuatu safe for expats?
Vanuatu performs significantly better than Cook Islands across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Vanuatu is 0.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 3.5 in Cook Islands.
How is healthcare in Vanuatu compared to Cook Islands?
Vanuatu generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Cook Islands leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 1.6 doctors per 10,000 people in Vanuatu, compared to 13.4 in Cook Islands. Vanuatu scores 47 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Cook Islands: 46).
What language do they speak in Vanuatu?
The official languages in Vanuatu are Bislama, English and French. In Cook Islands, the official languages are Cook Islands Māori and English.
