Vanuatu citizenship by investment

Yes, a foreigner can obtain a Vanuatu passport by investment, provided they meet the requirements. These include making a non‑refundable contribution to Vanuatu’s government fund and undergoing thorough Due Diligence checks.

An application for Vanuatu citizenship must be submitted through a licensed agent. The agent is responsible for verifying the applicant’s eligibility, preparing documents and submitting the application.

Vanuatu citizenship cannot be purchased directly but can be obtained by investment. The minimum investment is $130,000 for a single applicant. The total cost increases if family members are included in the application.

Additional costs include a Due Diligence fee of $5,500, a biometric fee starting at $1,000, as well as fees for document translation and other legal services.

Vanuatu CBI offers several advantages, including visa‑free travel to over 100 countries, the ability to retain your original citizenship, and tax benefits for both individuals and companies.

Vanuatu citizens are no longer allowed visa‑free access to the UK or Schengen countries, but other European destinations remain open.

Popular visa‑free countries in Europe for Vanuatu passport holders include Andorra, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Vatican City, Greenland, Ireland, Cyprus, Kosovo, Moldova, Monaco, Romania, San Marino, Faroe Islands and Montenegro.

A Vanuatu passport is issued for 10 years and must be renewed afterwards. Passportivity assists investors in renewing their documents; in some cases, biometric data submission is required for the new passport format.

Once Passportivity’s lawyers receive the passports, they send them to investors at their preferred address.

Yes, one can add new family members after the Vanuatu citizenship application is approved by paying the applicable fees and charges.

Under the non‑refundable contribution option to the state fund, an investor pays:

• $20,000 for a child under 18;
• $25,500 for children over 18 or other relatives;
• $45,500 for a spouse.

To become a tax resident of Vanuatu, an individual must live in the country for at least 183 days per calendar year. Residents are exempt from taxes on income, wealth, inheritance, exports, and capital gains. Vanuatu applies the same tax rules to both residents and non‑residents.

Vanuatu citizens lost visa‑free access to Schengen countries in March 2022. This measure also affected investors who obtained citizenship by investment.

Although initially introduced as a temporary measure, on 21 November 2024, the European Parliament voted to permanently end visa‑free access.

The EU cited concerns such as insufficient background checks, lack of information sharing, and the absence of a residence requirement for applicants.

Citizenship obtained by investment in Vanuatu is not automatically inherited. A child only becomes a citizen automatically if born in the country. However, an investor may apply to add the child to their citizenship by paying the applicable fees.

No. Vanuatu does not offer a real estate option under its Citizenship by Investment program. The three available routes involve contributions to state‑approved funds.