Moving to Portugal from Vanuatu

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from Vanuatu to Portugal, and you’d need to navigate life in Portuguese. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Lisbon averages 69°F vs 83°F in Port Vila, making it significantly cooler.

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Key Indicator Comparison

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

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

VU
0.3
PT
0.8
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

VU
12.5
PT
7.2

Vanuatu generally does better on safety, though Portugal leads in road traffic deaths.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

VU
$141
PT
$4,928
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

VU
1.6
PT
57.7

Portugal 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

VU
57.0
PT
10.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

VU
0.9t
PT
3.3t

Vanuatu generally does better on environment, though Portugal leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

VU
1.1
PT
43.5
Internet access The World Factbook, 2021

share of households with internet

VU
66.0%
PT
82.0%

Portugal 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%
PT
6.5%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

VU
$3,000
PT
$41,700

Vanuatu generally does better on employment & economy, though Portugal leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

VU
75.1 yrs
PT
81.5 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

VU
14.3
PT
2.5

Portugal performs significantly 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.

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

Avg. annual high / low

Lisbon Rain: 29.6 in/yr (751 mm)
69° / 55°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Port Vila Lisbon
Jan–Mar 86°/74°F (30°/23°C) 61°/48°F (16°/9°C)
Apr–Jun 82°/70°F (28°/21°C) 71°/56°F (22°/13°C)
Jul–Sep 79°/67°F (26°/19°C) 81°/63°F (27°/17°C)
Oct–Dec 84°/71°F (29°/22°C) 65°/53°F (18°/12°C)
View all months
Month Port Vila Lisbon
Jan 87°/74°F (30.3°/23.4°C) 58°/47°F (14.5°/8.2°C)
Feb 86°/74°F (30.2°/23.6°C) 60°/48°F (15.6°/9.0°C)
Mar 86°/74°F (29.9°/23.4°C) 64°/50°F (17.6°/9.9°C)
Apr 84°/72°F (28.9°/22.5°C) 66°/52°F (19.1°/11.1°C)
May 82°/70°F (27.7°/21.3°C) 71°/55°F (21.7°/13.0°C)
Jun 80°/69°F (26.7°/20.5°C) 77°/60°F (24.8°/15.6°C)
Jul 79°/67°F (25.9°/19.5°C) 81°/63°F (27.4°/17.4°C)
Aug 79°/67°F (26.1°/19.3°C) 82°/64°F (27.9°/17.7°C)
Sep 80°/67°F (26.7°/19.6°C) 80°/63°F (26.4°/17.0°C)
Oct 82°/69°F (27.8°/20.6°C) 72°/58°F (22.4°/14.6°C)
Nov 84°/71°F (28.9°/21.7°C) 64°/52°F (17.8°/11.2°C)
Dec 85°/72°F (29.7°/22.4°C) 59°/48°F (14.8°/8.9°C)

Data: Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-hazards Department Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-hazards Department, Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Vanuatu passport

Vanuatu passport holder visiting Portugal

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

Portugal passport holder visiting Vanuatu

Visa Free
Portugal 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 Portugal?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Portugal has 43.5 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 Portugal safe for expats?

Vanuatu generally does better on safety, though Portugal leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Portugal is 0.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.3 in Vanuatu.

How is healthcare in Portugal compared to Vanuatu?

Portugal generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Vanuatu leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 57.7 doctors per 10,000 people in Portugal, compared to 1.6 in Vanuatu. Portugal scores 88 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Vanuatu: 47).

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

The average high temperature in Lisbon is 69°F, compared to 83°F in Port Vila. Lisbon receives around 29.6 in of rainfall per year, while Port Vila gets 87.5 in.

What language do they speak in Portugal?

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

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At a Glance

VU PT
Population 308,043 10,242,081
Currency Vanuatu Vatu (VUV) Euro (€)
Languages Bislama, English, French Portuguese
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +678 +351
Time zones 1 2
Emergency number 112