Commencement: 30 July 1980

LAWS OF THE REPUBLIC OF VANUATU
REVISED EDITION 1988

CHAPTER 108

PASSPORTS

JR 11 of 1980
Act 3 of 1987

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

SECTION

1.	Interpretation
2.	Appointment of Principal Passport Officer
3.	Issue of passports
4.	Endorsement of names of young persons
5.	Certificates of identity or travel documents
6.	Persons entering or leaving Vanuatu to be in possession of valid current passports
7.	Discretion of Principal Passport Officer to permit persons to enter without passports
8.	Principal Passport Officer may require person to deliver passport for retention
9.	Power of court to order delivery of passport to it in criminal proceedings
10.	Power of court to order delivery to it of passport in civil proceedings
11.	Power of Principal Passport Officer to take possession of passports in certain circumstances
12.	Confiscation of passports of citizens
13.	Offences
14.	Regulations

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PASSPORTS

To make provision for the issue and the production of passports and matters connected therewith.

INTERPRETATION

1.	In this Act unless the context otherwise requires -

"Minister" means the Minister for the time being responsible for home affairs;

"passport" means a passport issued by or on behalf of a Government of the country of which the person to whom it relates is a subject or citizen and which by means of an attached photograph and otherwise identifies that person and which is still in force;

"passport holder" means a person in whose name and to whom a passport has been issued;

"Principal Passport Officer" means the Principal Passport Officer appointed under section 2 or any other immigration officer or other officer acting under the authority of the Principal Passport Officer.

APPOINTMENT OF PRINCIPAL PASSPORT OFFICER

2.	The Minister shall appoint in writing a person as he may think fit to be the Principal Passport Officer who shall be responsible for carrying out the duties of the Principal Passport Officer under this Act.

ISSUE OF PASSPORTS

3.	(1)	A citizen of the Republic of Vanuatu shall be issued with a passport if he makes application either himself or by his parent or lawful guardian to the Principal Passport Officer on the prescribed form.

(2)	An applicant for a passport under subsection (1) shall provide such evidence of his entitlement to citizenship as may be prescribed.

ENDORSEMENT OF NAME OF YOUNG PERSONS

4.	The Principal Passport Officer may endorse the name and particulars of a person under the age of 16 years on the passport of the parent or lawful guardian of that person.

CERTIFICATES OF IDENTITY OR TRAVEL DOCUMENTS

5.	(1)	When for any reason it is not practicable to issue a passport to a citizen the Principal Passport Officer shall if he considers that the citizen has urgent need to travel issue him with a certificate of identity or travel document.

(2)	The Principal Passport Officer may issue a certificate of identity or travel document to a person who, he is satisfied, is either a stateless person or a refugee.

PERSONS ENTERING OR LEAVING VANUATU TO BE IN POSSESSION OF VALID CURRENT PASSPORTS

6.	(1)	Subject to section 7 all persons entering or leaving Vanuatu shall be in possession of a valid current passport.

(2)	All persons entering or leaving Vanuatu shall on demand by the Principal Passport Officer produce their passport for inspection and endorsement by him.

DISCRETION OF PRINCIPAL PASSPORT OFFICER TO PERMIT PERSONS TO ENTER WITHOUT PASSPORTS

7.	(1)	The Principal Passport Officer may in his discretion permit persons to enter or leave Vanuatu who carry a certificate of identity or travel document.

(2)	The Principal Passport Officer may in his discretion permit a person to enter Vanuatu without a passport or a current passport if he is satisfied that-

(a)	the passport of that person has been lost on his journey to Vanuatu or because of a genuine mistake expired during that journey; and

(b)	a new passport or renewal of passport can be obtained before the end of the period in which that person is lawfully permitted to remain in Vanuatu.

PRINCIPAL PASSPORT OFFICER MAY REQUIRE PERSON TO DELIVER PASSPORT FOR RETENTION

8.	(1)	The Principal Passport Officer may require any person entering Vanuatu or who is present in Vanuatu but not a resident therein to deliver his passport to the Principal Passport Officer for retention by him.

(2)	The Principal Passport Officer shall return a passport delivered to him in accordance with subsection (1) when the person to whom it was issued leaves Vanuatu.

POWER OF COURT TO ORDER DELIVERY OF PASSPORT TO IT IN CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS

9.	(1)	A court may order any person to deliver to it the passport of any non-citizen who is granted bail, remanded in custody or sentenced to a term of imprisonment or a fine.

(2)	The court shall return the passport to the passport holder or the person claiming lawful custody thereof when the passport holder is no longer subject to criminal proceedings, has completed his term of imprisonment or paid his fine.

(3)	A court may make an order under subsection (1) on its own motion or on application by a person conducting the prosecution of the passport holder.

POWER OF COURT TO ORDER DELIVERY TO IT OF PASSPORT IN CIVIL PROCEEDINGS

10.	(1)	A court may on its own motion or on the application of any person order any person to deliver to it the passport of any non-citizen as security for payment of a judgment debt including an order for periodic payments.

(2)	A court shall not make an order under subsection (1) if the passport holder provides other adequate security.

(3)	The court shall return a passport delivered to it under subsection (1) when either adequate security has been provided to it or it is satisfied that security is no longer required.

POWER OF PRINCIPAL PASSPORT OFFICER TO TAKE POSSESSION OF PASSPORTS IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES

11.	(1)	The Principal Passport Officer may take possession of any passport which he reasonably believes is in the wrongful possession of a person or has been issued or renewed by means of any wilfully false or misleading statement.

(2)	A person having in his possession or control a passport, to which subsection (1) applies shall on demand deliver it without unreasonable delay to the Principal Passport Officer.

CONFISCATION OF PASSPORTS OF CITIZENS

12.	Subject to section 11 a passport issued in accordance with this Act may only be taken from a citizen -

(a)	in accordance with emergency regulations made under article 69 of the Constitution; or

(b)	by order of a court made in the same circumstances and in the same manner as is provided for the passports of non-citizens in sections 9 and 10.

OFFENCES

13.	A person who wilfully -

(a)	refuses or neglects to comply with a lawful request or demand made pursuant to this Act;

(b)	makes any false statement for the obtaining of a passport, certificate of identity or travel document;

(c)	makes any false statement or representation to the Principal Passport Officer in connection with section 7;

(d)	knowingly and unlawfully makes any alteration, addition, deletion or endorsement in any passport, certificate of identity or travel document;

(e)	in any other manner contravenes the provisions of this Act; or

(f)	aids or abets any person to do or neglect to do as the case may be any of the aforementioned is guilty of an offence and on conviction shall be liable to imprisonment for 5 years or to a fine of VT100,000 or to both such fine and imprisonment.

REGULATIONS

14.	The Minister may by Order make regulations not inconsistent with this Act prescribing any thing that may be required to be prescribed including the form of passports to be issued under this Act and the fees payable on applications made under this Act.

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[Subsidiary]

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION

VALIDITY AND APPLICATION FOR PASSPORTS REGULATIONS

Order 11 of 1980
Order 51 of 1985

ARRANGEMENT OF REGULATIONS

REGULATIONS

1.	Validity of passport
2.	Application for passport
3.	Application for passport by persons under 16 years
4.	Fees

SCHEDULE
Part 1-Application for passport or for renewal of a passport
Part 2-Application for addition of names of persons under the age of 16 years to a passport

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[Subsidiary]

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION

VALIDITY AND APPLICATION FOR PASSPORTS REGULATIONS

To provide for the length of validity of passports the manner of applying for passports and their renewal and the fees payable on applications.

VALIDITY OF PASSPORT

1.	A passport shall be valid for 5 years from the date of issue but may be renewed for a further 5 years from the date of expiry of validity.

APPLICATION FOR PASSPORT

2.	A person applying for a passport or renewal thereof shall complete the particulars and furnish the evidence provided for in the form in Part 1 of the Schedule.

APPLICATION FOR PASSPORT BY PERSONS UNDER 16 YEARS

3.	A person applying to have the names of persons under the age of 16 years added to a passport shall complete the form contained in Part 2 of the Schedule.

FEES

4.	The fees payable shall be -							VT

(a)	Application for a new passport ............................................		3,000

(b)	Application for renewal of a passport ..................................		1,500

(c)	Application for addition of name of a person under the
age of 16 years to a passport ………………………………		750

(d)	Application for a certificate of identity or other travel document	1,000

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SCHEDULE

Part 1

(regulation 2)
Passports Act, Cap. 108

APPLICATION FOR PASSPORT OR FOR RENEWAL OF A PASSPORT

1.	Particulars of Applicant:

NAME .............................................................................................................…….
FORENAMES ....................................................................................................…..
PLACE OF BIRTH ..............................................................................................….
DATE OF BIRTH ...............................................................................................…..
OCCUPATION ........................................................................................................ 
ADDRESS ................................................................................................................ 
HEIGHT ................................................................................................................... 
COLOUR OF EYES ................................................................................................ 
SPECIAL MARKS .................................................................................................. 
SEX .......................................................................................................................... 
MARITAL STATUS ................................…........................................................... 

2.	Persons under the age of 16 years whose names are to be endorsed on passport (if applicable)

NAME ..................................................	NAME ...........................................
FORENAMES .....................................	FORENAMES ......................…….
DATE OF BIRTH .................................	DATE OF BIRTH .................…….

3.	I hereby apply for a passport/renewal of passport no. ......................... and attach 3 photographs which are at least 2 ins x 1 ½ ins but not larger than 2 ½ ins x 2 ins, I photograph of which is certified on the back as follows -

"I certify that this photograph is a true likeness of .............................. whom I have known for not less than 2 years."

4.	I declare that the particulars contained in this application are correct and the person(s) named in Part 2 to be my child(ren) or my adopted child(ren).

Signature or right thumb print of applicant or parent or guardian
of applicant under age of 18 years			…….....................................

*Passport should be lodged with application for renewal. Photograph not required in case of renewal.

Part 2

Passports Act, Cap. 108

APPLICATION FOR ADDITION OF NAMES OF PERSONS
UNDER THE AGE OF 16 YEARS TO A PASSPORT

I ........................................ holder of passport no. ......................... hereby apply to have the name(s) of the person(s) under 16 years whose particulars are given below endorsed on my passport and declare him/her/them-to be my child(ren)+ or my adopted child(ren)+.

Dated ................................... 

Signature of applicant (or tight thumb print) ......................................................................

*Passport must be lodged with application.
+delete where necessary.

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SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION

FORM OF PASSPORTS ORDER

Order 13 of 1980

To provide for the form of passports issued to citizens of Vanuatu.

Passports issued in accordance, with section 3 of the Passports Act, Cap. 108 shall conform to the model laid down in the Schedule.

SCHEDULE

(a)	Cover

1.	National Coat of Arms together with the words -

"Republic of Vanuatu" and		"République de Vanuatu" et "PASSPORT"				"PASSEPORT"

2.	Provision shall be made for the name of the passport holder and the passport number.

(b)	Inside the front cover of the passport the following shall be printed -

Coat of Arms

The President of the Republic of Vanuatu requests and requires in the name of the Republic all those whom it may concern to allow the bearer peacefully to pass without let or hindrance and to afford the bearer such assistance and protection as may be necessary.

Au nom de la Nation, le Président de la République de Vanuatu prie instamment toutes les autorités compétentes de bien vouloir laisser passer librement le titulaire du prdsent passeport et de lui offrir assistance et protection le cas échéant.

(c)	Inside the back cover and on last page if necessary the following notes shall be printed -

IMPORTANT NOTES			RECOMMENDATIONS
IMPORTANTES

1.	This Travel Document is the property	1.	Le présent titre demeure la
of the Republic of Vanuatu.				proprieté de la République de
Vanuatu.

2.	Passports should not be sent from one	2.	Il ne peut être achemind d'un pays A un country to another by post unless		autre par voie postale, sauf en absolutely necessary.					cas de nécessité absolue.

3.	This is a valuable document and should	3.	Le present passeport est un document not be altered in any way or		important qui ne doit subir allowed to pass into the possession of an		aucune altération, de quelque unauthorised person.					nature que ce soit, ni se
If lost or destroyed, the fact and circumstances	trouver en la possession d'une should be reported to the nearest Vanuatu		personne non qualifié pour le Consulate or police station.				détenir. En cas de perte ou de
destruction, un rapport circanstancié doit être fait au Consulat Vanuatuan ou au Commisariat de Police le plus proche.

4.	Children who have reached the age		4.	Les enfants ayant atteint age de 16 of 16 years require separate			ans doivent être munis d'un travel documents.					passeport individuel.

5.	The renewal of this passport is		5.	Le renouvellement d'un normally effected by the issuing			passeport est en principe
authorities.						effectué par le Chef du
If this document has already been renewed		Service des passeports.
the holder should make sure before 			S'il a déjà été prorogé, son leaving the Republic that it will be			titulaire doit s'assurer avant valid until his return. 					son à part pour l'étranger qu'il
In the event of expiry of validity outside		suffisante possèdé une durée 
Vanuatu the holder may apply for ex-		de validité. La prorogration tension at a Consulate or Mission acting		d'un passeport expiré au for or representing Vanuatu or by post.			cours d'un séjour A l'étranger
peut être demands soit á un Consulat ou à une Mission agissant pour le compte ou représentant la République de Vanuatu soit par voie postale en l'adressant au Chef du Service des Passeports.

(d)	Pages 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 shall be as follows -

Page 1

COAT OF ARMS

REPUBLIC OF VANUATU		REPUBLIQUE DE VANUATU
PASSPORT					PASSEPORT

Name:
Nom:

Forenames:
Prénoms:

Birth Place:
Lieu de naissance:

Date of Birth:
Date de naissance:

Occupation: Profession:
Address: Domicile:

Page 2

DESCRIPTION:
SIGNALEMENT:

Height:
Taille:

Colour of Eyes:
Couleur des yeux:

Special Marks:
Signes particuliers:

Accompanied by:				children
Accompagné de:				enfants

Name					Forenames			Date of birth
Nom					Prénoms			Date de naissance

.........................................................................................................................……..................…………….........................................................................................................……………..........................................................................................................................…………..

Page 3

Photograph of bearer				Photographie du titulaire
Signature of bearer:				Signature de titulaire:

Page 4

This passport is valid for all countries	Ce passeport est délivré pour tous pays

Issued at:
Dé1ivré à:

On the:
Le:

Date of Expiry:
Il expire le:

Signature and stamp of the issuing		Signature et cachet de l'autorité ayant
authority 					délivré le passeport

Page 5

The validity of this passport is renewed to:	La validité du présent passeport est prorogo
Renewed at:					jusqu'au:
Dait à:

On the:
Le:

Signature and stamp of the renewing		Signature et cachet de l'autorité ayant pro-
authority					rogé la validité

(e)	Page 6 shall bear the word "observations" at the top.

(f)	Page 7 onwards shall bear the word "visas" at the top.

(g)	Last page before notes shall have the following -

Emergencies-the holder should insert below		Cas d'urgence-personnes pouvant
particulars of two relatives or other persons		étre pré venues en cas de maladie ou who may be contacted in the event of illness or	d'accident.
accident.

NAME							NAME
NOM							NOM

ADDRESS						ADDRESS
ADRESSE						ADRESSE

TELEPHONE						TELEPHONE
TELEPHONE						TELEPHONE

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