Can an Indian Drive in Vanuatu? — IDP Recommended, Island Roads & the Side Switch

Vanuatu is a string of Pacific islands where a hire car on Efate gets you to the blue holes, the beaches and the villages the tour buses skip. For an Indian visitor the licence is rarely a problem; the practical adjustments are the side of the road and the state of the surface once you leave Port Vila.

The verdict for Indian licence holders

You can drive in Vanuatu on your Indian licence, with an IDP recommended to carry alongside it. The permit is cheap reassurance for the rental desk and any roadside check, and it translates your details into a recognised form. Arrange it in India before you fly, and keep it with your licence and passport.

Mind the side and the surface

The data records a side switch from India’s left-hand traffic, so treat your first hour with care — roundabouts and junctions are where the wrong-way reflex surfaces. Beyond that, the bigger reality is the road itself. Posted speeds top out at 80 km/h, with 50 in town and 70 rural, but away from the main Efate ring road you will meet potholes, gravel and single-lane sections. Drive to what you can see, not to the sign, and slow right down for villages where children and animals share the road.

The alcohol limit is looser — don’t read that as licence

Vanuatu’s limit of 0.08 is higher than India’s 0.03, which can mislead. On unfamiliar island roads at night the sensible standard is none at all when driving. Fuel and services thin out quickly outside Port Vila, so fill up before longer runs and carry water. The emergency number commonly cited is 112.

See the wider rules on our Vanuatu driving guide, confirm your documents with the Driving Permit Checker, and estimate any penalty risk with the Speeding Fine Calculator.