Vanuatu

Vanuatu Citizenship by Investment Overview

The Vanuatu Citizenship by Investment program is open to foreign nationals aged 18 to 65 who meet qualifying financial thresholds, who then receive full Vanuatu citizenship and a Vanuatu passport. 

Citizenship is granted with full Ni-Vanuatu rights, except for voting rights and formal political participation.

There is no minimum stay requirement before or after receiving citizenship. Citizenship and passports are issued for life.

The main applicant can include a spouse and dependent children up to age 25. All approved family members receive full citizenship in Vanuatu and passports.

Citizens of Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Yemen, and Venezuela are generally not eligible.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must be aged 18 to 65, hold a clean criminal record, pass due diligence checks conducted by the Vanuatu Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), and demonstrate assets of at least US$250,000. 

All applications must be submitted through a designated agent authorized by the Citizenship Office and Commission. Three routes are available:

Development Support Program (DSP) Route

A non-refundable contribution to the government development fund. Fees are structured by family size:

• Single applicant: US$130,000
• Married couple: US$150,000
• Married couple and one child: US$165,000
• Married couple and two children: US$180,000
• Each additional dependent: US$10,000
• FIU due diligence fee: US$5,000 per family, paid at the application stage and non-refundable

Capital Investment Immigration Plan (CIIP) Route

A partially refundable investment structured as a contribution plus a fund placement:

• Total commitment of US$150,000 covers a single applicant, a married couple, or a family of up to four
• Includes a US$50,000 placement in the Cocoa Sustainable Development Fund, redeemable after approximately four to five years
• The remaining amount is a non-refundable government contribution
• Each additional dependent beyond four family members attracts an additional fee
• FIU due diligence fee applies

Real Estate Option (REO) Route

A purchase of property in a Vanuatu Government Approved (VGA) project, in addition to the applicable citizenship fee:

• Property must be in one of the currently approved VGA projects; four projects are currently approved, all located on the islands of Efate or Espiritu Santo
• Citizenship fees apply in addition to the property purchase price; applicants should confirm current fee levels directly with the authorized master agent, Naika Holdings Limited
• Applications under this route are processed exclusively through Naika Holdings Limited, appointed by the government as the exclusive master agent for the REO program worldwide
• FIU due diligence fee applies

Route to Citizenship

All three routes grant full Vanuatu citizenship directly upon approval with no prior residency period required. 

Once the Citizenship Commission approves the application, the applicant has three months to complete the oath of citizenship. The oath must be taken in Vanuatu or at an authorized location abroad. 

Failure to complete the oath and pay the citizenship certificate fee within three months results in the approval expiring, requiring a new application.

Vanuatu permits dual nationality. Applicants are not required to relinquish their prior citizenship, though they should confirm their country’s dual nationality rules before proceeding.

Mobility and Taxation

Mobility

Vanuatu citizens can access approximately 88 destinations visa-free or on arrival, including Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Russia, and most Caribbean and Oceania countries. 

Key destinations that now require a visa include all EU Schengen Area countries, following the permanent revocation of Vanuatu’s visa exemption by the EU Council in December 2024, and the United Kingdom, which reimposed a visa requirement in July 2023. 

The United States requires a standard B-1/B-2 visa, though Vanuatu passport holders are typically issued a five-year multiple-entry visa permitting stays of up to 180 days per year. 

Taxation

Vanuatu imposes no personal income tax, capital gains tax, inheritance tax, wealth tax, or tax on worldwide income, dividends, or gifts. 

This applies to both citizens and residents. Holders who do not reside in Vanuatu remain outside the Vanuatu tax system entirely. 

How to Apply

The program is administered by the Citizenship Office and Commission of Vanuatu under the Citizenship Act Cap. 112. 

Applications must be submitted through a designated agent authorized by the Commission; direct applications are not accepted. 

Real estate applications are handled exclusively through Naika Holdings Limited. 

The process typically runs as follows.

• Step 1: Select a designated agent from the official list published by the Citizenship Office and Commission at vancitizenship.gov.vu and verify the agent’s current authorized status before engaging.
• Step 2: Provide the agent with a copy of your passport and undergo the agent’s internal pre-screening; once cleared, sign the engagement agreement and pay the FIU due diligence fee of US$5,000.
• Step 3: Compile all required documents, including a valid passport, police clearance certificate from each country of residence and citizenship, proof of assets of at least US$250,000, financial documents evidencing lawful source of funds, and birth and marriage certificates for any family members included in the application.
• Step 4: Transfer the applicable contribution or investment amount; the agent submits the complete application package to the Citizenship Commission.
• Step 5: The Commission conducts its internal screening and due diligence review; upon approval, receive the Commission’s notification letter.
• Step 6: Complete the oath of citizenship within three months of approval at an authorized location; pay the citizenship certificate fee, and receive the Vanuatu citizenship certificate and passport.