Moving to Palau from Vanuatu

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Vanuatu to Palau.

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Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

per 100,000 people per year

VU
0.3
PW
11.2
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

VU
12.5
PW
22.2

Vanuatu performs better than Palau across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

VU
$141
PW
$1,857
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

affects wait times and access to care

VU
1.6
PW
17.8

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

What about the environment?

CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

VU
0.9t
PW
82.8t

Vanuatu performs better than Palau across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

VU
1.1
PW
6.9

Palau performs significantly 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

VU
5.1%
PW
1.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

VU
$3,000
PW
$15,800

Palau performs significantly 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

VU
75.1 yrs
PW
74.6 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

VU
14.3
PW
11.3

Palau generally does better on family life, though Vanuatu leads in life expectancy.

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

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Vanuatu and Palau. To live, work, or study long-term in Palau, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Palau's immigration authority.

Vanuatu passport

Vanuatu passport holder visiting Palau

Visa on Arrival
Vanuatu passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Palau.
Palau passport

Palau passport holder visiting Vanuatu

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

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Palau?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Palau has 6.9 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 Palau safe for expats?

Vanuatu performs better than Palau across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Palau is 11.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.3 in Vanuatu.

How is healthcare in Palau compared to Vanuatu?

Palau generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Vanuatu leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 17.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Palau, compared to 1.6 in Vanuatu. Palau scores 65 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Vanuatu: 47).

What language do they speak in Palau?

The official languages in Palau are English and Palauan. In Vanuatu, the official languages are Bislama, English and French.

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At a Glance

VU PW
Population 308,043 21,695
Currency Vanuatu Vatu (VUV) United States Dollar ($)
Languages Bislama, English, French English, Palauan
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +678 +680
Time zones 1 1