Citizenship by Investment Programme

Vanuatu's Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programme grants full citizenship and a Vanuatu passport to foreign nationals who make a qualifying financial contribution or real estate investment. Operating under the Citizenship Act [CAP 112] of 1980, the programme offers three pathways: the Development Support Program (DSP), the Capital Investment Immigration Plan (CIIP), and the Real Estate Option (REO). It is one of the fastest CBI programmes globally, with processing in approximately 45-60 days, and does not require the applicant to reside in Vanuatu. Vanuatu recognises dual citizenship, so applicants do not need to renounce their existing nationality.

• Be aged 18-65 years
• Clean criminal record with no ongoing criminal investigations
• No prior visa denials from countries where Vanuatu has visa-free access
• Demonstrate a legal source of income
• Must not have serious illnesses
• All applicants aged 16 and above are subject to a background check conducted by the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU)

Development Support Program (DSP): Non-refundable contribution to the government development fund. USD 130,000 for a single applicant, USD 150,000 for a couple, USD 180,000 for a family of four.

Capital Investment Immigration Plan (CIIP): USD 155,000 for a single applicant or family of up to four, with USD 25,000 per additional dependant. Includes a USD 50,000 allocation to the Cocoa Sustainable Development Fund, redeemable after 5 years.

Real Estate Option (REO): Minimum USD 200,000 real estate investment in a Vanuatu Government Approved (VGA) Project, plus prescribed government fees. Currently four approved projects are available on the islands of Efate and Espiritu Santo.

• Nomination Form
• Certified copies of passport and identity card
• Police clearance certificate from country of origin and any country of residence for 12+ months in the past 10 years
• Proof of legal income source and bank statements
• Recent passport-sized photographs
• Birth certificate
• Marriage certificate (if applicable)
• Proof of address
• Medical declaration confirming no serious illnesses

Citizenship is permanent. The Vanuatu passport is valid for 10 years and is renewable. No residency requirement exists to obtain or maintain citizenship.

Eligible dependants include a spouse, children under 18, children aged 18-25 if financially dependent or full-time students, and parents over 50 if financially dependent. All dependants receive the same citizenship status and passport as the main applicant. Each pathway has its own fee structure for dependants -- the DSP increases the contribution amount, the CIIP charges USD 25,000 per additional dependant beyond a family of four, and the REO adds per-dependant fees on top of the property investment.

Vanuatu has no personal income tax, no capital gains tax, no inheritance tax, no wealth tax, and no withholding tax on dividends or interest. Obtaining Vanuatu citizenship alone does not change tax obligations in the applicant's country of actual residence, as most countries determine tax residency based on physical presence or domicile.

Applications must be submitted through authorised agents appointed by the Vanuatu government. The process begins with paying the non-refundable due diligence fee of USD 5,500 per application and submitting all required documents. The Financial Intelligence Unit conducts comprehensive due diligence screening. Upon approval in principle, the applicant completes the full investment payment. Biometric submission is required either in Vanuatu or at an authorised overseas office. Following biometrics, the citizenship certificate and 10-year passport are issued. The entire process typically takes 45-60 days.

• As of December 2024, the European Union suspended visa-free travel for Vanuatu passport holders to the Schengen Area, requiring Schengen visas for EU travel
• The Vanuatu passport still provides visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to approximately 95 countries
• Applications through unauthorised agents may not be processed
• The biometric submission requirement means applicants must travel to Vanuatu or an authorised overseas office at least once