The Constitution stipulates that, in order to be a candidate for parliamentary elections, a person needs to be a Ni-Vanuatu citizen and at least 25 years of age and above. Additionally, the law prescribes that a candidate must not be disqualified from voting, serving a prison sentence, be an undischarged bankrupt or have any debts due to government or a government agency.

Under the law, public servants are disqualified from contesting elections. The law also states that the following additional persons shall not be qualified as candidates for election to Parliament: (a) the President of the Republic; (b) judges and magistrates; (c) members of the police force; (d) members of the National Council of Chiefs, any member of the District Council of Chiefs, Island Council of Chiefs and Area Council of Chiefs, who holds the position of chairman, vice-chairman, secretary or treasurer of these councils; (e) members of the teaching service; and (f) members of the Citizenship Commission.

A person wishing to contest an election in a rural constituency must be a native or a person originating from that rural constituency. Consequently, a person not originating from a rural constituency is not eligible to qualify as a candidate for election for that particular constituency.

The aspiring candidate should make a deposit of VT 100,000 (non-refundable), and provide two full face personal photographs (preferably black and white).

A person is eligible to stand as a candidate for election to a municipal council if he/she is a citizen of Vanuatu, is registered as an voter in the municipality in which he/she is a candidate, is not disqualified from voting, has not received a sentence including a suspended sentence of a term or terms of imprisonment which has not ended, is not an undischarged bankrupt, and has attained 21 years of age.

A person is not qualified for election as a councillor if he/she is a Minister, is disqualified from being a member of Parliament, is in the service of the council, is the legal advisor or auditor of the council or the partner or employee of such advisor or auditor. Additionally, if a person engaged in a profession, is disqualified for or suspended from the practise of such profession, he/she is disqualified to run for the municipal council. Finally, if a person is also disqualified to run if he/she is in default of payment of any rates, charges or other debts due to the council for a period exceeding two months or is a person having a contract with the council to provide municipal services.

There is a non-refundable nomination fee of VT20,000.