FAQ
Brief replies on the formal route to Vanuatu citizenship, leaving lifestyle, tax planning and marketing questions to one side.
Reviewed by Dr. Anatoliy Yarovyi, Senior Partner
These frequently asked questions cover the official procedure for acquiring Vanuatu citizenship under the investment-based programmes — who handles a file, what is paid and when, and what the authorities do and do not decide — as set by the Citizenship Act [CAP 112] and the regulations made under it. They deliberately leave aside lifestyle, tax planning and marketing questions.
The answers are short by design. Where a topic needs more space, the answer points to the page of this site that deals with it in full. Amounts and dates reflect the position as of October 2026; anything not fixed by a published rule is described as such.
Who Runs the Official Procedure?
Who decides whether I become a citizen of Vanuatu?
The Citizenship Commission. It considers files that reach it through the Citizenship Office and grants or refuses citizenship for the main applicant and dependants. No agent, consultant or website takes part in the decision.
Can I apply directly to the Citizenship Office?
No. Applications under the programmes are lodged only through a licensed designated agent, who then remains your channel of communication with the Citizenship Office throughout.
Is the firm I am talking to a designated agent?
Possibly not. Many firms abroad work as sub-agents or promoters for a licensed agent in Vanuatu. Ask for the legal name of the licensed entity, a copy of its current licence, and confirmation of who will actually lodge your file.
Who issues the passport?
The Department of Immigration and Passport Services, once your citizenship has been granted. Issuing the travel document is a separate administrative step from the citizenship decision.
Which Programmes Are Open?
The Citizenship Office lists three programmes. The position on each is summarized below.
| Programme | Current position |
|---|---|
| Honorary Citizenship Development Support Program (DSP) | Open; the main route for most applicants |
| Citizenship Contribution Program | Listed by the Citizenship Office |
| Citizenship Real Estate Option Program | Operating since 23 July 2021; limited to a Government Approved Project, with the investment threshold and holding period set for the project |
| Capital Investment Immigration Plan (CIIP) | Citizenship Commission stopped taking new applications in March 2025; reopening not confirmed |
If an adviser presents the CIIP as available, ask for the official notice reopening it. None has been confirmed.
Applying and Paying
How much is the official contribution?
Development Support Program contributions: a single applicant US$130,000, a couple US$150,000, a three-person family US$165,000, a four-person family US$180,000. Further dependants are charged according to the schedule, and your designated agent will confirm the figure that applies to your family.
Can my family apply in the same file?
Yes. A spouse and dependants can be included in the main application, which is why the contribution is set by family size. Who counts as a dependant is defined by the regulations, so confirm with your agent before assuming that an adult child or a parent qualifies. Each family member included in the file goes through the same checks.
What other official costs are there?
A due diligence fee of US$5,000, plus small administrative fees set by regulation. Your agent's professional fee is separate and should be shown separately.
When is the contribution paid?
Only once approval has been given. You pay in US dollars, and only into the account shown in the official payment instructions that reach you via your agent. Payment in cryptocurrency is not possible.
What documents are usually needed?
In broad terms:
- passports and civil-status documents for the main applicant and every dependant, certified and translated where required;
- police certificates from the relevant countries;
- evidence of the source of the funds used for the contribution;
- the application forms and declarations prepared with your agent.
The exact list depends on your circumstances and the countries in your history. The order of steps is set out on the statutory stages page.
Why are my finances checked so closely?
Because the programmes operate within Vanuatu's anti-money laundering framework, and because weak screening in the past cost the passport its visa-free access to Europe. The role of the Financial Intelligence Unit in that framework is explained separately.
What Happens After Lodging and Approval?
How long does a decision take?
There is no published deadline that entitles you to a decision by a particular date. A straightforward file usually takes around two to four months. Claims of a guaranteed 30-day passport are sales promises, not part of the procedure. The official timeframes page separates fixed deadlines from estimates.
What if the Commission asks for more information?
That is a normal part of the procedure, not a refusal. The request reaches you through your agent, and your file waits until you answer, so respond promptly and keep your supporting documents current.
What happens if I am refused?
A refusal is a decision of the Commission, and any reconsideration comes from the same body. Paying additional fees to an agent does not reopen a file. The options are discussed on the decision and appeal page.
Do I have to live in Vanuatu?
The investment-based programmes do not require you to move to Vanuatu. Ordinary naturalization by residence, by contrast, requires ten years of living in the country.
Travel and Status Questions
Can I keep my current citizenship?
Vanuatu permits dual citizenship. Whether your current country lets you keep its nationality is decided by that country's law.
Does a Vanuatu passport give visa-free access to Europe?
No. The EU's visa waiver with Vanuatu has been fully suspended since 4 February 2023, and under Regulation (EU) 2025/11 visas became a permanent requirement for all 29 Schengen countries from 3 February 2025. The UK, for its part, has required Vanuatu nationals to hold a visa since 19 July 2023.
Does Vanuatu citizenship change where I pay tax?
Not by itself. Tax obligations in most countries depend on residence and local rules rather than on holding a second passport. Acquiring Vanuatu citizenship does not end tax residence anywhere else; that requires advice under the law of the country concerned.
Where can I travel without a visa?
Around 88 destinations admit Vanuatu passport holders visa-free or with a visa on arrival. The list is set by each destination and can change, so check before every trip.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Citizenship matters belong to the Citizenship Office and the Citizenship Commission; once citizenship has been granted, the Department of Immigration and Passport Services issues the passport.
Ask your designated agent before lodging, because adding a family member changes the contribution and requires the dependant's own documents and checks. Any extra charge is set by the schedule.
Payment of the contribution is accepted only in US dollars, sent to the account specified in the official instructions; crypto cannot be used.
Yes, a grant of citizenship is evidenced by a certificate issued through the Citizenship Office. It is the document to keep, together with your approval letter and payment confirmations.
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