The Vanuatu Citizenship by Investment (CBI) program grants eligible foreign nationals dual citizenship and an alternative passport in exchange for a financial contribution to the nation.

Commonly referred to as the Vanuatu Golden Visa program, it gives investors and their families the opportunity to enhance their personal protection and increase global mobility by accessing 118 countries without a visa.

Eligibility requires applicants to make a significant economic investment, starting with a non-refundable contribution of $130,000 to the Development Support Program (DSP), which funds national development initiatives.

This guide will walk you through Vanuatu’s CBI program, including its benefits, eligibility criteria, and step-by-step application process.

• Visa free countries: 118
• Visa free to Schengen Area: No
• Tax framework: No personal income taxes
• Processing time: 2 to 3 months
• Minimum government fund contribution: $130,000
• Minimum investment amount: $50,000 refundable investment (plus a $115,000 non-refundable contribution)
• Minimum real estate investment: $200,000
• Minimum total for one applicant: $135,820
• Minimum total family of four: $171,780
• Eligible dependents:
  • Spouse
  • Children under 18
  • Children under 25 and in fulltime education
  • Parents and grandparents over 50
• Passport validity:
  • 10 years for adult passports
  • 5 years for children’s passports
• Visit or residency requirement: None
• Citizenship interview: Yes

The Vanuatu Citizenship by Investment Program (CBI) awards investors second citizenship and a Vanuatu passport in exchange for an investment in the country’s economy. Applicants can choose to qualify through a donation or a real estate investment.

This Vanuatu investor visa program offers foreign investors a passport offering visa free travel to 118 countries and the opportunity to include their family members in the application. As Vanuatu allows dual citizenship, investors can add Vanuatu citizenship alongside their original citizenship.

There are three foreign investment options, starting from $130,000 for a solo investor and $165,000 for a family of four:

• Donation to the Development Support Program (DSP)
• Investment in the Real Estate Option Program (REO)
• Donation to the Capital Investment Immigration Plan (CIIP)

1. Affordable second citizenship: Vanuatu citizenship starts at just $130,000 for a single applicant.
2. Partially-refundable investment: The Cocoa Sustainable Fund (CSF) option allows investors to partially recoup the initial investment, reducing the total investment outlay to $115,000.
3. Tax friendliness: Tax advantages include zero personal income tax, inheritance, or capital gains tax.
4. Short application process: Vanuatu dual citizenship by investment is the fastest way to obtain a second passport. The Vanuatu citizenship application process takes as little as two months.
5. No residency requirements: Vanuatu Citizenship by Investment requirements do not include residency requirements to obtain or maintain a Vanuatu second passport.
6. Family inclusion: In addition to a spouse and children, qualifying dependents include parents and grandparents.
7. No in-person interviews: Applicants complete the Vanuatu Citizenship by Investment process remotely.
8. Vanuatuans are happy: Vanuatu is recognized as one of the world’s happiest countries, ranking sixth in the Happy Planet Index (HPI) is produced by the New Economics Foundation (NEF).
9. Visa free travel: A Vanuatu passport facilitates visa free access to 118 countries, including Hong Kong, New Zealand, Russia, and Singapore.
10. Dual citizenship allowed: Vanuatu recognizes dual citizenship, allowing successful applicants to maintain multiple citizenships when obtaining Vanuatu CBI.
11. Security of a Plan B: Secure a Plan B for yourself, your family, and future generations with a solid alternative citizenship to ensure financial stability in a safer, more politically stable environment.

Main applicant

• Over 18 years old
• Have a clean criminal record
• Have the means to invest at least $130,000
• Have equivalent the equivalent of at least $250,000 in your bank account

Qualifying dependents

• Spouse
• Children of the main applicant or spouse
  • Under 18
  • Between 18 and 25 and in full-time education
• Dependent parents of the primary applicant or the spouse aged 50 or over

Banned nationalities

• Iraq
• Iran
• North Korea
• Yemen

Nationals of the following countries can obtain citizenship in Vanuatu, provided they have no ties to the country and have lived in a non-restricted country for at least ten years.

01/ Development Support Program (DSP)

Investors can contribute $130,000 to Vanuatu’s local development fund through the Vanuatu Development Support Program (VDSP) to obtain citizenship by investment in Vanuatu.

02/ Real Estate Option Program (REO)

Foreign nationals can get Vanuatu citizenship by real estate investment through purchasing Vanuatu real estate in approved projects for at least $200,000. Approved real estate projects include:

• Pacific Springs on Efate island
• Narpow Point Coral Bay on Efate island
• FPF Rainbow City Project on Efate island
• Milai on Espiritu Santo island

03/ CIIP (Capital Investment Immigration Plan)

The Capital Investment Immigration Plan (CIIP) option allows investors to donate $165,000 to acquire citizenship. Notably, $50,000 from the donation is allocated to the country’s CFS, which is redeemable after four years.

The following documents listed on the Vanuatu Citizenship by Investment official website are required for applications:

• A completed citizenship application form
• Certified copy of your passport (must be valid)
• Birth certificate
• National identity card
• Police clearance certificate
• Pass the Vanuatu due diligence check (FIU)
• Marriage certificate (if applicable)
• Birth certificates of children (if applicable)
• Medical certificate proving you’re in good health
• A comprehensive personal profile outlining your employment history (curriculum vitae)
• Colored passport photograph
• Proof of having sufficient funds, at a minimum of $250,000

The Vanuatu citizenship requirements include a sworn translation of documents to English, French, or Bislama.

Note: The Vanuatu citizenship by investment process will include a requirement to submit biometric information for passports to be issued by the end of 2025.

The Government of Vanuatu allows Vanuatu dual citizenship, permitting foreigners to acquire Vanuatuan passports without relinquishing their original citizenship. The legislation was added to the Citizenship Act in 2013 to attract investors and accommodate the diaspora. Both natural-born and naturalized citizens can hold multiple nationalities, provided they register their citizenships with the Citizenship Commission.

The minimum Vanuatu Citizenship by Investment cost as a single applicant is $130,000. Additional fees apply  for due diligence checks and to include spouses and other dependents in the application. The following table outlines estimates of the Vanuatu citizenship price, including the minimum donation and additional fees required for a single applicant:

The Development Support Program (DSP) and the Capital Investment Immigration Plan (CIIP) are investment options that allow foreign investors to obtain Vanuatu citizenship through a donation, with some differences regarding structure and overall investment.

Solo investors

• DSP: A single investor must make a non-refundable donation of $130,000.
• CIIP: A single investor must make a partially refundable donation of $165,000. After four years, $50,000 of the donation directed to the Cocoa Sustainable Fund (CFS) is refunded, reducing the net expense overall.

Family applications

• DSP: Adding dependents to a main investor’s application results in incremental donations based on the number of dependents.
  • Principal investor and spouse: $150,000
  • Principal investor, spouse, and two children: $180,000
  • Additional dependents: $25,000 per dependent
• CIIP: The partially refundable donation of $165,000 to the CIIP qualifies a main applicant and up to three eligible dependents. A fifth dependent or more requires an additional donation of $25,000 per dependent. As with solo applications, $50,000 of the donation allocated to the CSF is refunded after four years.

While the CIIP requires a higher upfront contribution for a Vanuatu investment visa, its partial refund after four years lowers the total cost to $115,000 for up to four applicants, making it more affordable than the DSP, which requires a non-refundable contribution of $130,000 for single applicants and $180,000 for families of four.

The Vanuatu passport is a relatively strong South Pacific passport that facilitates visa free travel to 118 countries and territories worldwide. The passport ranks 111th in the 2025Global Passport Index, and destinations Vanuatu second passport holders can visit without a visa include New Zealand, Hong Kong, Russia, Singapore, and Latin American countries. Vanuatu citizens also qualify to apply for a US visitor visa.

Vanuatu

• Strengths:
  • Fastest CBI process at three to four months
  • More affordable than Caribbean citizenship programs
  • No income taxes, including corporate income taxes
• Weaknesses:
  • Reputation issues leading to revoked visa free access
  • Limited real estate options

Antigua and Barbuda

• Strengths:
  • Most family-friendly program
  • Zero personal income tax
• Weaknesses:
  • Only country with a minimum residency requirement

Dominica

• Strengths:
  • Most affordable CBI program
  • Most affordable real estate investment
• Weakness:
  • No visa free access to the UK or Ireland
  • Only two investment options

Grenada

• Strengths:
  • Eligibility for the US E-2 Visa
  • Broad list of government-approved real estate projects
  • Fast processing time of six months
• Weaknesses:
  • Only two investment options

Nauru

• Strengths:
  • Cheapest CBI program for single applicants and families
  • Only passport offering visa free access to the UAE
• Weaknesses:
  • Remote location with limited access
  • No investment route providing ROI

St Kitts and Nevis

• Strengths:
  • Fastest processing time
  • Most reputable CBI program
  • Strongest Caribbean passport
• Weakness:
  • Most expensive donation and real estate options
  • Minimum seven-year holding period for property investments

The Vanuatu citizenship program has faced scrutiny in recent years, losing free access to the UK, Ireland, and the EU’s Schengen Area. As a result, the Vanuatu Citizenship Office & Commission announced changes to the due diligence process in August 2024 to align with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) requirements.

Key updates include the launch of new electronic passports in December 2024. In addition, enhanced requirements forVanuatu Citizenship by Investment for Russians and other nationalities include a mandatory requirement to submit biometrics in person in Port Vila, Vanuatu, or at consular posts in the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, or the French territory of New Caledonia.

The Vanuatu government plans to announce additional locations designated for biometric submissions alongside the option for applicants to opt for a mobile biometric unit at an additional cost to avoid travel.

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