The Data Protection and Privacy Act No. 13 of 2024 establishes a comprehensive legal framework for the protection of personal data in Vanuatu. Applicable to both public and private sector entities, the Act possesses extraterritorial reach and stipulates conditions for cross-border data transfers. It delineates the rights of data subjects and prescribes detailed provisions governing the processing of personal data, including sensitive categories.

According to Art. 35.2 of the Foreign Investment Act No. 25 of 2019, foreign investors must not carry out an investment without a valid certificate. Moreover, Art. 46.1 establishes that foreign investors are subject, among other conditions, to employing locals and capacity building.

Vanuatu is not a party to the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).

Vanuatu has a clear regime of copyright exceptions that follows the fair dealing model, which enables the lawful use of copyrighted work by others without obtaining permission. The exceptions include the purposes of research or private study, legal advice, criticism or review.

Vanuatu has ratified the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Copyright Treaty.

Vanuatu has ratified the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Performances and Phonograms Treaty.

The Trade Secrets Act provides a framework for the effective protection of trade secrets. According to the Act, a trade secret is information that is not commonly known or easily accessible to those involved in similar fields. It can also pertain to someone's business or professional matters and, if disclosed, would negatively impact their lawful activities. Additionally, a trade secret holds commercial value due to its confidentiality and exclusivity. If a trade secret is acquired, used, or disclosed by a person without the authority of the owner of the trade secret, the owner has the right to apply to the Court for a declaration that the trade secret has been acquired, used, or disclosed without authority. The Court may grant an injunction preventing anyone from dealing with, or otherwise using, the secret in a commercial way; and if it is satisfied that the owner has suffered damage because of the unauthorised disclosure—award damages to the owner.

It is reported that passive infrastructure sharing is not mandated, but it is practised in the market in both the mobile and fixed sectors (based on commercial agreements).

In a joint market announcement in September 2025, the Vanuatu National Provident Fund (VNPF) announced that it acquired a 14% shareholding in Telecom Vanuatu Limited (trading as Vodafone Vanuatu).

It is reported that Vanuatu does not mandate accounting separation for operators with significant market power (SMP) in the telecom market. However, it is reported that functional separation has been an obligation since 2022.

Vanuatu has appended the World Trade organization (WTO) Telecom Reference Paper to its schedule of commitments.

It is reported that the Telecommunications and Radiocommunications Regulator, the executive authority for the supervision and administration of services in the telecommunications sector, is independent from the government in the decision-making process.

Art. 45.9 of the Foreign Investment Act No. 25 of 2019 stipulates that foreign investors must establish a joint partnership with a citizen of Vanuatu if their business activities are expanded more than three times through variations.

According to Art. 83(5) of the Companies Act, as amended in December 2018, requires companies to ensure that at least one director must be a natural person who ordinarily resides in Vanuatu.