Moving to Vanuatu from Japan

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Japan to Vanuatu — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Japan to Vanuatu, and you’d need to navigate life in Bislama, English and French. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Port Vila averages 83°F vs 69°F in Tokyo, making it significantly warmer.

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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Japan to Vanuatu.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

JP
0.2
VU
0.3
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

JP
2.7
VU
12.5

Japan performs better than Vanuatu across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

JP
$5,365
VU
$141
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

affects wait times and access to care

JP
26.1
VU
1.6

Japan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Vanuatu leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

JP
12.0
VU
57.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

JP
7.8t
VU
0.9t

Japan generally does better on environment, though Vanuatu leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

JP
37.2
VU
1.1

Japan performs better than Vanuatu across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

JP
2.6%
VU
5.1%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

JP
$46,300
VU
$3,000

Japan performs better than Vanuatu across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

JP
84.8 yrs
VU
75.1 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

JP
1.9
VU
14.3

Japan performs better than Vanuatu across all family life metrics.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Tokyo Rain: 62.9 in/yr (1598 mm)
69° / 54°F

Avg. annual high / low

Port Vila Rain: 87.5 in/yr (2222 mm)
83° / 71°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Tokyo Port Vila
Jan–Mar 53°/37°F (12°/3°C) 86°/74°F (30°/23°C)
Apr–Jun 73°/58°F (23°/14°C) 82°/70°F (28°/21°C)
Jul–Sep 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) 79°/67°F (26°/19°C)
Oct–Dec 63°/49°F (17°/9°C) 84°/71°F (29°/22°C)
View all months
Month Tokyo Port Vila
Jan 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C) 87°/74°F (30.3°/23.4°C)
Feb 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C) 86°/74°F (30.2°/23.6°C)
Mar 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C) 86°/74°F (29.9°/23.4°C)
Apr 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C) 84°/72°F (28.9°/22.5°C)
May 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C) 82°/70°F (27.7°/21.3°C)
Jun 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C) 80°/69°F (26.7°/20.5°C)
Jul 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C) 79°/67°F (25.9°/19.5°C)
Aug 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C) 79°/67°F (26.1°/19.3°C)
Sep 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C) 80°/67°F (26.7°/19.6°C)
Oct 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C) 82°/69°F (27.8°/20.6°C)
Nov 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C) 84°/71°F (28.9°/21.7°C)
Dec 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C) 85°/72°F (29.7°/22.4°C)

Data: Japan Meteorological Agency Japan Meteorological Agency, Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-hazards Department Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-hazards Department

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Japan 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.

Japan passport

Japan passport holder visiting Vanuatu

Visa Free
Japan passport holders can enter Vanuatu without a visa.
Vanuatu passport

Vanuatu passport holder visiting Japan

Visa Required
Vanuatu passport holders need a visa to enter Japan.

Data: 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?

Japan performs better than Vanuatu across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Vanuatu is 0.3 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.2 in Japan.

How is healthcare in Vanuatu compared to Japan?

Japan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Vanuatu leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 1.6 doctors per 10,000 people in Vanuatu, compared to 26.1 in Japan. Vanuatu scores 47 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Japan: 83).

What's the weather like in Vanuatu compared to Japan?

The average high temperature in Port Vila is 83°F, compared to 69°F in Tokyo. Port Vila receives around 87.5 in of rainfall per year, while Tokyo gets 62.9 in.

What language do they speak in Vanuatu?

The official languages in Vanuatu are Bislama, English and French. In Japan, the official language is Japanese.

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At a Glance

JP VU
Population 124,214,766 308,043
Currency Japanese Yen (¥) Vanuatu Vatu (VUV)
Languages Japanese Bislama, English, French
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +81 +678
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 110