MIDAS: A New Dawn for Vanuatu's Border Security and Seamless Travel

Vanuatu – Just as all Pacific Island countries, Vanuatu, an archipelago of 83 islands, is not immune to the threats and challenges arising from labour exploitation, human trafficking and the increased vulnerability of the region being targeted as a highway for drug cartels.

However, the Government of Vanuatu has set the benchmark towards improved human safety and border security in the region. Achieving this benchmark is necessary for migrants travelling to and from Vanuatu to enjoy seamless immigration clearance, while embarking in their journey across the South Pacific. With the launch of the Migration Information Data Analysis System (MIDAS) and a new eVisa website, Vanuatu takes a leap forward in safeguarding its borders, streamlining its immigration processes and setting a bold example for the region.

The Past: Navigating Through Manual Borders

For years, Vanuatu’s visa process was fully reliant on manual work, leading to many challenges. "We processed visa applications without systematic tracking or verification between arriving travellers and the visas issued by our head office," said Moses Namak, Acting Visa Manager in the Department of Vanuatu Immigration and Passport Services. These limitations undermined the detection of irregular migration and fraudulent documents. Risks of labour exploitation and human trafficking were also harder to detect and report for prosecution.

Stationed at Port Vila's international seaport and airport, border control officer Graziella Thavo recalleds how travellers arriving by cruise ships or yachts were handled manually: "We stamped passports without seeing travellers, without interviewing, and that was it."

A New Vision for Human Safety and Border Security

Seeing the urgent need for a modern, streamlined system, the Government of Vanuatu partnered with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to begin implementing MIDAS in 2022. By the time MIDAS officially launched in June 2024, the initiative had already received significant investment and commitment from Vanuatu’s leadership. The Honourable Johnny Koanapo, Minister of Internal Affairs, voiced his unwavering support for the project.:

"Border management is a top priority for our government," he stated. "That is why we self-funded the pilot phase of MIDAS. This system will play a crucial role in strengthening our border security."

Key to this success was the dedication of Vanuatu Immigration’s MIDAS Technical Working Group, which included compliance, ICT, data processing, visa, and border control units. Siripa Anuntawong, IOM’s Immigration and Border Governance Project Officer, credited the group's strong dedication for bringing MIDAS to life.

Building Skills and Capabilities

With MIDAS came the need for an enhanced skillset among local staff. IOM facilitated extensive capacity-building sessions for immigration and customs officials, from technical training to user instruction and “Train-the-Trainer” programmes, empowering Vanuatu’s teams to be self-sufficient and fully own the MIDAS system – including its data and maintenance. An additional investment from Japan, through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), established a permanent MIDAS training room in December 2023. This space now stands as a vital resource, ensuring that immigration staff have a dedicated facility for ongoing capacity building trainings.

The Future of Travel in Vanuatu: Safe, Secure, and Streamlined

The new eVisa system, connected with MIDAS, has already transformed the visa process, making it faster and more secure. "Now, border control officers at the airports can authenticate visas, ensuring only authorized individuals enter the country," Namak noted, highlighting the improvements in security and efficiency.

Officer Thavo, who is now a MIDAS trainer, said MIDAS has streamlined her work while enhancing security. "With the mobile kit, we now require travellers to be present. We collect biometric data, and interact with them, all before allowing them to enter," she explained. "The travel record is saved systematically. MIDAS at the airport also checks travellers against national and Interpol alert lists."

MIDAS is more than a registration tool –; it provides insights into travel trends and data that can help shape Vanuatu’s operational responses against border risks as well as policy decisions. "This system gives us a broad view of movement patterns," saidy data processing officers Lyvannia Tari and Christine Tasale. "We are now equipped to use travel data to guide national decision-making."

Sharing Knowledge Across the Pacific

Vanuatu’s commitment to strong borders is not confined to its shores. In collaboration with MIDAS trainers from IOM’s headquarters, Vanuatu immigration trainers have started conducting MIDAS training in Tonga, empowering officials there to implement the system. “Sharing our experiences is essential for the whole region,” said Jeffrey Markson, Director of Vanuatu Immigration. "When Pacific nations collaborate and learn from each other, we all benefit."

What Lies Ahead

With the successful launch of MIDAS, Vanuatu is already planning the next phases of its border security evolution. This includes expanding MIDAS to other points of entries and incorporating Advance Passenger Information (API) and Passenger Name Record (PNR). By doing so, Vanuatu will boost its border intelligence's ability to screen travellers in advance, detecting suspicious travels, informing operational decisions, and potentially referring migrants at borders.

This journey will need a joint approach between the Government of Vanuatu and its international partners, but with continued collaboration, Vanuatu and the wider Pacific region are on the path to a safer, more resilient future.

This story is written by Siripa Anuntawong, Immigration and Border Governance Project Officer, IOM Vanuatu and Roneel Akash Lal, Senior Media and Communications Assistant, IOM Fiji