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Champagne Beach on Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu

Citizenship by Investment

Vanuatu

Pacific citizenship by investment, processed remotely.

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Time to citizenship

1–2 months

Minimum investment

$130,000+

Travel access

93 destinations

Figures as of August 2026, per the official program source; travel access is our own count — confirmed on application.

Program Overview

About the Vanuatu program

In brief

The Vanuatu program is a citizenship-by-investment program that grants full legal citizenship. The minimum qualifying investment is $130,000+, and approvals typically take 1–2 months. It requires no residence or relocation, and Vanuatu citizens can reach 93 destinations on our travel-access count — visa-free, on arrival, or with an eTA or e-visa granted on arrival terms. Figures are indicative minimums for the main applicant.

Vanuatu's Development Support Program is a citizenship by investment route that is processed remotely: applicants do not need to visit the islands at any stage.

The Pacific nation offers a straightforward contribution structure, making it a pragmatic second-citizenship option for families who value simplicity.

Presence requirement

No visit required — fully remote, including the oath

Document validity

Passport valid for 10 years, renewable

Dual nationality

Dual citizenship permitted

Program Finder

Plan Vanuatu for your family

Estimate the total cost with every government fee, check who in your family can be included, get the document checklist for everyone applying, and see how Vanuatu ranks against the other 17 programs.

Open the Program FinderCompare with others

What Vanuatu citizenship unlocks

Citizenship under the Development Support Program. What it changes from day one:

  • Processed remotely, no visitBiometrics are enrolled abroad — Port Vila never needs to see you. The published processing time is shown on this page; only the government decides.
  • Dual citizenship since 2014A 2013 constitutional amendment, in force since 2014, expressly recognizes dual citizenship — no renunciation required.
  • No personal income taxVanuatu levies no personal income, capital-gains, inheritance, or wealth tax — revenue runs on VAT and duties. Whether that benefits you depends on your tax residence.
  • Three generations, one applicationSpouse, children, and parents or grandparents aged 50+ can all be included.
  • Passes to your childrenChildren born after your grant are entitled to citizenship by descent.
  • Melanesian Spearhead Group founderCitizenship of a founding member of the region's trade bloc, headquartered in Port Vila.

Capabilities follow from the status itself — citizenship or residence as the program grants it; specifics are confirmed during your assessment.

Investment Pathways

Champagne Beach on Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu

Development Support Program

From $130,000

A non-refundable contribution to Vanuatu's Development Support Program: USD 130,000 for a single applicant, USD 150,000 for a married couple, and USD 180,000 for a family of four (plus roughly USD 15,000 per additional dependant).

A jetty on the lagoon at Port Vila, Vanuatu

Capital Investment Immigration Plan

From $165,000

A capital-investment route including a USD 50,000 unit in the Cocoa Sustainable Development Fund, part of which is redeemable — returning a portion of the investment.

USD 50,000 component redeemable after 5 years

Explore your route

From (indicative)

$130,000

A non-refundable contribution to Vanuatu's Development Support Program: USD 130,000 for a single applicant, USD 150,000 for a married couple, and USD 180,000 for a family of four (plus roughly USD 15,000 per additional dependant).

Who comes with you

  • Spouse of the main applicant
  • Dependent children under 25
  • Dependent parents aged 50 and over

Family additions are quoted individually — request your exact figure

Application Timeline

Government processing time

The Vanuatu authorities publish a processing time for complete files — the numbered stages below show where those months go. Here is the figure to plan around.

1–2 months

Official processing time, complete files

Plan around the top of the range — 2 months end to end leaves room for queries without changing your plans.

Your dates

Complete files are typically processed in 1–2 months.

Based on the officially published range — last re-verified August 2026. Government timelines are not guaranteed.

  1. 1

    Weeks 1–2

    Preparation & screening

    Document collection, KYC checks, and preliminary clearance by the Citizenship Commission.

  2. 2

    Weeks 3–5

    Application & due diligence

    Formal submission and background checks; approval in principle typically follows within weeks.

  3. 3

    Week 6

    Contribution

    Payment of the qualifying contribution after approval in principle.

  4. 4

    Weeks 7–8

    Citizenship & passport

    Citizenship certificate issued; passports follow, with remote oath available.

Requirements

  • Main applicant must be 18 or older with a clean criminal record
  • Proof of the legal source of contribution funds
  • No visit to Vanuatu required
  • Successful completion of government due diligence

Family Eligibility

  • Spouse of the main applicant
  • Dependent children under 25
  • Dependent parents aged 50 and over

Required documents

The standard checklist for a single applicant. Get the checklist for your whole family in the Program Finder.

  • Passport & national ID Every applicant
  • Birth certificate Every applicant
  • Police clearance Adult applicants
  • Medical certificate Every applicant
  • Photographs Every applicant
  • Marriage certificate If married
  • Source of funds & CV Main applicant
  • Translations Main applicant

Exact formats — apostille or legalization, sworn translation, issue dates — vary by your country of origin and are confirmed document-by-document during your engagement.

What to Weigh

Honest advice includes the trade-offs. Before committing to the Vanuatu program, consider:

  • Vanuatu citizens need a visa for the Schengen Area — the EU suspended the visa waiver in 2023 and moved Vanuatu to its visa-required list in 2025 — so check the travel destinations that matter to you.
  • The DSP contribution is non-refundable.
  • Speed is the program's strength; its due diligence history has drawn scrutiny, which is why working through careful advisors matters.

Travel access with Vanuatu citizenship

Where a Vanuatu citizen can travel, and what each destination requires. Entry is always at the discretion of the destination authority — confirm before booking.

93destinations, our travel-access count — 46 visa-free + 30 on arrival + 4 eTA + e-visas granted on arrival terms

76 of 198 destinations need no visa arranged before travel. Counted from the Passport Index dataset, as of 19 October 2026.

Compare Vanuatu with our other citizenship programs

Last updated 19 October 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

How fast is it, really?

The published processing time is shown on this page; it is not a guarantee, as only the government decides. Preparation quality is the main variable within your control.

Can Vanuatu citizens travel to Europe visa-free?

Not currently. Since 2025 the EU lists Vanuatu among the countries whose citizens need a visa. If Schengen access is a priority, we'll compare the programs that offer it today — and tell you plainly that the EU is also reviewing visa-free access for the Caribbean programs.

Is the CIIP route worth the extra cost?

The CIIP includes a $50,000 redeemable component, so its net long-term cost can undercut the DSP. It suits applicants comfortable with the longer redemption horizon.

Who is Vanuatu citizenship best suited to?

Applicants for whom speed and simplicity outweigh European travel access: the process is fully remote, and there is no visit, interview, or language requirement. If Schengen access is essential, we'll compare the programs that offer it today.

Regulatory framework

Act No. 16 of 1980

Citizenship Act [Cap 112]

Act of 1980 · DSP in force 1 January 2017

Section 20 honorary-citizenship power — DSP Regulation Order No. 215 of 2016; CIIP under section 13C and Order No. 8 of 2023

The Citizenship Act's section 20 power underpins the Development Support Program, created by Regulation Order 215 of 2016, granting citizenship for a qualifying contribution; the Capital Investment Immigration Plan operates in parallel under section 13C and its 2023 Order. Dual citizenship is recognized by a 2013 constitutional amendment (Act No. 27 of 2013), in force since 2014.

View the law (opens in a new tab)

Official Citizenship Office — legislative framework

Sources & verification

Program terms are set by the issuing government and may change without notice — figures last re-verified against the official source in August 2026. Investment figures are indicative minimums for the main applicant; fees, due diligence, and family additions are quoted individually. Government timelines are not guaranteed.

Alternatives

Related Programs

Families often weigh this program against these alternatives.

Is Vanuatu right for your family?

A private assessment covers eligibility, total cost, and timeline for your situation — and says so if another route fits better.

Book a consultationSpeak with an advisor

Vanuatu1–2 months

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