Work and Travel in Solomon Islands

VOLUNTEER AND PAID WORK OPPORTUNITIES IN SOLOMON ISLANDS FOR TRAVELLERS

The Solomon Islands are a set of islands deep in the Pacific Ocean. Expensive and difficult to get to, few travellers travel in the Solomon Islands. That’s why true adventurers looking for a real challenge might want to consider work and travel in this Pacific paradise.

Sadly, there’s little information on work in the Solomon Islands. That’s why our travel guide to the Solomon Islands is going to reveal everything you need to know about surviving here.

1. Become a Teacher in the Solomon Islands

The Solomon Islands are severely underdeveloped due to civil unrest in the late 1990s and the early 2000s. Volunteers who are able to work and travel in the Solomon Islands as teachers are in high demand. There’s a big emphasis on education to enable local people to improve their futures.

You don’t need a teaching degree to help with this. Working with younger children and teaching them how to read and write is imperative. You’ll be able to make a big difference and leave these young people with skills that will stick with them for the rest of their lives.

2. Help Improve the Infrastructure of the Solomon Islands

The real problem in the Solomon Islands is the infrastructure. Roads are often impassable due to bad weather and they’re extremely bumpy. That’s why many of the volunteering opportunities in the Solomon Islands revolve around helping to improve the infrastructure.

You don’t need to be a professional builder in order to help improve the infrastructure of the islands. All you have to do is be willing to work. These projects typically focus on road construction and maintenance.

You’ll also get to visit parts of the islands you otherwise wouldn’t have been able to enjoy.

3. Volunteer in the Tourism Industry in the Solomon Islands

Work in the Solomon Islands often revolves around tourism. It’s one of the country’s biggest industries. But to take advantage of this they need help. Whether it’s training or general support in guesthouses, there are plenty of volunteering opportunities in the Solomon Islands for anyone who wants to gain experience in tourism.

Yes, it does help if you have prior experience, but if you don’t there are still positions for you. Most of these projects revolve around Honiara, which is the capital region.

VOLUNTEER WORK VISA / PERMIT REQUIREMENTS FOR SOLOMON ISLANDS

To travel in the Solomon Islands you may need to acquire a visa. First of all, Israel, the United Arab Emirates and the Schengen Zone countries are all entitled to enter the country without a visa for a duration of 90 days.

For the UK, Canada, the US, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, and Japan they will need to acquire a visitor’s permit. For more info click here. Essentially this means that they get a visa-on-arrival for 90 days. All you have to do is fill out a form when you land. It takes just a few minutes.

For Russians, South Africans, and the Chinese they will need to apply for a visa to the Solomon Islands in advance. This can be tricky due to the relative absence of embassies around the world, so you need to be prepared to travel to get your visa.

SEASONAL BACKPACKER SKILLS NEEDED IN SOLOMON ISLANDS

SPRING WORK

To work in the Solomon Islands you need to be prepared for the different seasons. The spring season is just after the rainy season, therefore it’s the ideal time to come to the islands. It encompasses both the shoulder season and the beginning of the dry season.

We recommend that you visit at this time of year because it’s not as hot and you won’t have to deal with persistent rain.

At this time of year, you can indulge in various conservation projects both on land and in the sea. The Solomon Islands, after all, has a variety of unique wildlife that are under protection orders.

SUMMER JOBS

This is an extremely popular time for people to travel in the Solomon Islands. At this time of year you might want to consider working in the tourism industry.

You’ll have the chance to work with both travellers and locals alike. It will also give you the opportunity to get real experience in the industry.

Another option involves working on infrastructure restoration. These projects will take you away from the traditional tourist hotspots and to the more remote areas of the island.

AUTUMN

The autumn season is much the same as the spring season. It’s the shoulder season. We recommend you refer back to the ‘Spring’ section for further information on some of the options open to you.

WINTER

The winter season is the middle of the rainy season, where torrential rainstorms are not uncommon. This can make many of the volunteering opportunities in the Solomon Islands difficult to access.

But if you stick to the capital region you’ll be able to engage in a variety of community development projects. Smaller charities concentrate on poorer urbanised areas. You can offer education, teaching in IT skills, or just working with young people in sports.

You don’t necessarily have to be qualified for these roles, but it does help if you already have some prior experience.

ATTITUDE TO FOREIGNERS WORKING OR VOLUNTEERING IN SOLOMON ISLANDS

Despite the fact that this is a paradise in the Pacific Ocean, it receives relatively few tourists each year. Most visitors are regional and are often visiting family members or migrating for economic reasons. So the tourism industry here isn’t as developed as you might initially think.

So unlike other areas, such as French Polynesia, you don’t get the same level of indifference to your presence here. The people of the Solomon Islands are still interested in foreigners and they’re excited to see visitors from half the world away.

You don’t need to worry about any specific cultural norms here. Apart from getting there in the first place, this is a relatively easy place to work and travel in.

Do you want to work and travel in the Solomon Islands?