Citizenship by Investment

Vanuatu

The fastest route to a second citizenship — a Pacific island passport in as little as two months, entirely remotely.

Time to citizenship

1–2 months

Minimum investment

$130,000+

Visa-free access

90+ countries

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 the passport provides visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 90+ destinations. Figures are indicative minimums for the main applicant.

Vanuatu's Development Support Program is the fastest citizenship by investment route in the world: qualified applicants routinely complete the process in under two months without visiting the islands.

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

Presence requirement

No visit required — fully remote, including the oath

Document validity

Passport valid for 10 years, renewable

Dual nationality

Dual citizenship permitted

How it compares

Vanuatu against other citizenship programs

Where Vanuatu sits among the 9 citizenship by investment programs we advise on. The gold marker is the peer average.

Minimum investment (lower is better)$130,000

Peer average $228kBelow the peer average

Time to approval (lower is better)1–2 months

Peer average ≈ 6 monthsBelow the peer average

Visa-free destinations (higher is better)90+

Peer average 117+Below the peer average

Investment is compared on a USD-normalized basis; the label shows this program's own currency. Time uses the upper end of the published range. Figures are indicative.

Key Benefits

Among the fastest citizenship programs in the world — often under two months
Straightforward, fully remote application process
No personal income, wealth, or inheritance tax
Citizenship extendable to spouse, children, and dependent parents

The Life It Unlocks

Citizenship at the speed of a season.

Eight weeks, start to oath

The fastest legislated citizenship in the world — begin this month and, typically, take the oath before the season changes.

Without leaving your living room

Fully remote from first document to final oath. No travel, no interview trips, no disruption to the life you're already living.

The trade-off, named

Vanuatu's speed comes without Schengen access since the EU suspension — if Europe matters most, we'll say so and point you elsewhere. That honesty is the point.

Investment Pathways

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).

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

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

Your dates

Complete files are typically processed in 1–2 months.

Indicative — based on typical processing of 1–2 months for complete files. Government timelines are not guaranteed.

1
Weeks 1–2
Preparation & screening
Document collection, KYC checks, and preliminary clearance by the Citizenship Commission.
2
Weeks 3–5
Application & due diligence
Formal submission and background checks; approval in principle typically follows within weeks.
3
Week 6
Contribution
Payment of the qualifying contribution after approval in principle.
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

What to Weigh

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

Vanuatu citizens currently need a visa for the EU — the EU suspended its visa-waiver agreement — 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.

Does Vanuatu fit you?

Three questions, scored by the same engine as our Program Finder — with an honest answer, even when it isn't this program.

What are you ultimately looking for?

What investment level are you comfortable with?

How soon do you want this in hand?

Frequently Asked Questions

How fast is it, really?

Complete files are routinely approved within four to eight weeks — the fastest of any citizenship program. Preparation quality is what keeps it fast.

Can Vanuatu citizens travel to Europe visa-free?

Not currently. The EU suspended visa-free access for Vanuatu passport holders. If Schengen access is a priority, a Caribbean program is likely a better fit — we'll tell you so directly.

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, routinely completed in one to two months, and there is no visit, interview, or language requirement. If Schengen access is essential, a Caribbean program fits better.