Vanuatu

The procedures for the Vanuatu Citizenship by Investment (CBI) program begin with submitting an application. Once the initial inquiry is made, the applicant submits all required documentation, including personal identification, financial records, and proof of clean criminal history.

The application is then reviewed by the Citizenship Commission of Vanuatu.The next step involves making a contribution to the Vanuatu Development Support Program (VDSP), which is the primary route for obtaining citizenship. Applicants can make the required donation directly to the government’s approved account.

After the payment is made, the due diligence process is conducted, which typically takes around 30 to 60 days. The due diligence process is thorough to ensure that applicants do not have any criminal backgrounds and are not involved in illegal activities.

Once due diligence is completed, the applicant receives an approval-in-principle from the Citizenship Commission. After approval, the applicant is required to make the final payment to confirm their citizenship. Once all payments are made and the necessary documentation is provided, the applicant is granted citizenship, and a Vanuatu passport is issued.

The overall timeline for the Vanuatu CBI process is relatively fast, typically taking between 2 to 3 months from the submission of the application to the receipt of citizenship, depending on the speed of the due diligence process and payment finalisation.

The legal foundation for the Vanuatu CBI program is based on the Vanuatu Citizenship Act and its amendments. The program operates under the regulations set by the Vanuatu Citizenship Commission, which oversees the citizenship process.

Yes, you can obtain a Vanuatu passport while retaining your current citizenship, as Vanuatu legally recognises dual citizenship.
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However, keep in mind that not all countries permit dual citizenship, and your country of current citizenship may not allow you to acquire citizenship elsewhere. If your country does not allow it, the only way to hold multiple passports would be to renounce your existing citizenship.

The legal basis for the Vanuatu Citizenship by Investment (CBI) program is founded on the Vanutu Citizenship Act (Cap 112) and its subsequent amendments. This act governs the requirements and processes for acquiring citizenship in Vanuatu, including provisions for individuals applying through the country's investment program.

The program is regulated and administered by the Vanuatu Citizenship Commissiowhich ensures compliance with the legal framework, conducts due diligence, and issues citizenship upon successful application.

Additionally, theVanuatu Development Support Program (VDSP) established under the Citizenship Act, specifies the financial contributions required from applicants. The Commission oversees the collection of these contributions, which are used for national development initiatives.

At present, the Vanuatu passport offers visa-free, visa-on-arrival, or ETA access to the countries listed below. Please note that these are subject to frequent changes and may be updated periodically.

Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Comoros, Costa Rica, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eswatini, Fiji, Gambia, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Iran, Israel, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kosovo, Laos, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Micronesia, Moldova, Montenegro, Mozambique, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Palestinian Territory, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

We advise consulting with your Free From Borders advisor for the most up-to-date information at the time of your application. We are not responsible for any changes to the above that occur during or after your application is completed, as these changes are beyond our control and at the discretion of foreign governments' border policies.