You do not need to fly to Vanuatu. The oath is taken online by video call at a convenient time, and biometrics are given in person in 30-60 minutes: in Moscow, St Petersburg, Port Vila, Dubai or Hong Kong. In another city, a staff member will come to your home, office or hotel, even for one person.
These are two separate steps
People often treat the oath and biometrics as one event, but they happen separately. That is convenient: one can be done from anywhere, without being tied to the schedule of the other. The table sets out the main differences.
| Detail | Oath | Biometrics |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Online, by video call | In person |
| When | At a convenient time | At a session or by arrangement with a staff member |
| Where | Wherever suits you | Moscow, St Petersburg, Port Vila, Dubai, Hong Kong, or a staff visit |
| What it takes | A connection and a convenient time | 30-60 minutes per participant |
How the oath works
Once the application is approved, you have 3 months for payment and the oath. If that is not enough, you can request a 2-month extension. The oath is taken by video call, so it requires no tickets, no visas and no time off.
The time is chosen to suit you. Plan it in advance, especially if you travel often: a vacation or trip in the middle of the process is a common reason for timelines stretching.
This is also the moment to think about a newborn. A child born during the process can be added to the application before the oath, so the birth needs to be reported before that date.
No flight is needed for a simple reason: the oath is designed to be taken remotely. For a sense of scale, Vanuatu lies about 1 750 km east of Australia, in the UTC+11 time zone. There is no need to travel there for the oath: the whole step fits into one video call.
Where to give biometrics
Biometrics can be given at fixed locations or through a staff visit. The choice depends on where you live, or where it is easiest to be on the day.
It is best to plan a session in advance. If the next date in Moscow or St Petersburg does not work, a staff visit is available and needs no group. For those living outside Russia, Dubai and Hong Kong are convenient, and Port Vila if you happen to be there. The procedure itself does not change with the location: each participant attends in person, and it takes 30-60 minutes.
- Moscow and St Petersburg: sessions run at least once a month.
- Another city: a staff member will come to your home, office or hotel, even if only one person is giving biometrics.
- Port Vila, Dubai and Hong Kong: useful for those who live there or travel there for work.
Who has to attend
Every participant gives biometrics in person, including children. One person cannot attend for the whole family. There is no power of attorney in this process.
So think ahead about how to bring everyone together. If the family lives in one city, it is simple. If parents or adult children live elsewhere, they can use different locations: one part of the family might attend a session in Moscow while a staff member visits the others.
Signature rules go by age: the main applicant signs personally, a parent signs for children under 12, and children sign for themselves from 12.
For a large family, draw up the biometrics schedule before approval rather than after it. After the letter you have 3 months for payment and the oath, and it helps for everyone to know their dates early. Passports are issued after biometrics, so a participant who attends late delays their own document.
How these steps fit the overall timeline
The whole program usually takes 2 months, 3 at most. The oath and biometrics come towards the end, when documents, the check and the Commission meeting are already behind you.
| Stage | Timing |
|---|---|
| Documents | 1-2 weeks |
| Check | About a week |
| Commission meeting | Twice a month |
| Letter | Roughly a week after the meeting |
| Payment and oath | Up to 3 months after approval, with a possible 2-month extension on request |
| Passports | 2-4 weeks after biometrics |
What comes after biometrics
Passports arrive 2-4 weeks after biometrics. They are biometric documents: an adult passport is valid for 10 years and a child's for 5. Biometrics and the passport are invoiced separately and are not part of the due diligence fee.
Russian citizens have one more step. Second citizenship is allowed, but it must be reported to the Ministry of Internal Affairs within 60 calendar days of acquiring citizenship, counted from the date on the certificate. If the person is abroad, the 60 days run from the day of entry into Russia. Each Russian citizen reports personally, a parent reports for children, either through Gosuslugi or in person.
With the passport in hand you can move on to other citizen documents: ID, certificates, apostille, a driving license and a tax number. Not everyone needs these, so decide based on your own goals. The birth registration certificate and ID are invoiced separately.
Example: a family of four in two cities
Say a husband, wife and 8-year-old live in St Petersburg, while a son of 19 studies full time and lives in another city. The parents and the younger child attend the next session in St Petersburg, as these run at least once a month. It takes 30-60 minutes each. The child must attend in person, but a parent signs on their behalf.
For the older son, a staff member comes to his home or another convenient place, with no need to wait for a group to form. The son signs documents himself. The family takes the oath by video call at an agreed time, so nobody has to travel to one city for it. Passports are ready 2-4 weeks after biometrics.
How to prepare in advance
Both procedures are simple, but they do require coordinating people and dates. A few early steps help you stay within the usual timeline.
- List all participants and the cities where they will be during that period.
- Choose a biometrics location for each person: a session in Moscow or St Petersburg, a staff visit or another city.
- Mark vacations and long trips in advance.
- If a child is on the way, say so before the oath.
- Keep the payment and oath deadline in mind: 3 months from approval.
Common questions
Do I have to fly to Vanuatu?
No. You do not need to travel to or live in Vanuatu. The oath is taken online and biometrics can be given in other cities.
How long do biometrics take?
30-60 minutes per participant. Everyone attends in person, including children.
I do not live in Moscow or St Petersburg. What are my options?
A staff member will come to your home, office or hotel, even for one person. You can also give biometrics in Port Vila, Dubai or Hong Kong.
How long do I have for the oath?
After approval you have 3 months for payment and the oath. You can request a 2-month extension.