Vanuatu grants citizenship in exchange for a contribution or a fund investment: from $135 000 including the fee for one person, or $165 000 for a family of up to four through the fund. The whole process usually takes 2 months and 3 at most. You do not need to travel there or live there.
What the applicant receives
This is full citizenship, not a residence permit. It lasts for life and passes to your children. Dual citizenship is allowed, so you keep your current passport. There is no requirement to live on the islands.
There are limits too. Citizens by investment cannot vote or hold government office. You cannot apply directly: every application goes through an authorized representative. Citizenship can be revoked for deception in the application, a breach of law when it was granted, or a prison sentence of 10 years or more.
Vanuatu has been independent since 30 July 1980, joined the UN in 1981 and Interpol on 20 November 2018. It consists of 83 islands about 1 750 km east of Australia, with its capital, Port Vila, on Efate. The program matters to the country: in the first half of 2026 it provided about 39% of budget revenue, and in 2025 parliament tightened oversight.
The two routes and what they total
The first route is the contribution program (DSP), where the money is paid in and does not come back. A single applicant pays $130 000, a couple $150 000, a couple with one child $165 000, a couple with two children $180 000, and each further participant adds $10 000. The FIU due diligence fee is $5 000 per application.
The second route is the CIIP fund: $157 000 for a family of 1 to 4 people, plus $26 500 for each person from the fifth onward, with a fee of $8 000 per application. Of this amount, $50 000 becomes a share in the fund for 5 years. After that the fund buys the share back from its own reserves under its own documents. The buyer is the fund, not the state, and this should not be described as a guaranteed refund.
| People | Contribution with fee | Fund with fee | Fund after share return |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $135 000 | $165 000 | $115 000 |
| 2 | $155 000 | $165 000 | $115 000 |
| 3 | $170 000 | $165 000 | $115 000 |
| 4 | $185 000 | $165 000 | $115 000 |
| 5 | $195 000 | $191 500 | $141 500 |
| 6 | $205 000 | $218 000 | $168 000 |
Choosing between them
A single applicant is best served by the contribution. A couple should decide whether they are comfortable leaving $50 000 in the fund for 5 years. For a family of three to five, the fund costs less from day one. For six to eight people, the fund comes out ahead once the share is returned. At nine or ten people, the contribution stays cheaper even after the return.
Billed separately are translations and certification, Vanuatu citizen documents (birth registration certificate, ID), biometrics and the passport, and bank charges. There are no other payments. Our work is included in the program cost.
How long it takes
The usual timeline is 2 months and the maximum is 3. Documents take 1-2 weeks and the check takes about a week. The Commission meets twice a month, and the decision letter arrives roughly a week after the meeting. After approval you have 3 months to pay and take the oath, and you can ask for a 2-month extension if needed. Passports are ready 2-4 weeks after biometrics.
Two things stretch the timeline most often: a holiday in the middle of the process and a slow money transfer. Both are in your hands, so plan for them in advance.
Who can be included
An application can include a spouse, children and parents. Children aged 18-25 qualify if they study full time, have no income and are not married. Anyone older than 25 and other relatives are considered individually.
A child born during the process is added before the oath, and our work for this costs $2 500. A child born after a parent has become a citizen is a citizen by birth; our work is $5 000, with government fees billed separately. A new spouse files a separate application.
Documents and checks
The FIU check covers the main applicant. Source of funds must be evidenced in every application, with no exceptions. Everyone aged 18 or over provides a police certificate from their country of citizenship and country of residence, valid for 6 months. Anyone who lived in another country for more than a year during the last 10 years needs one from there too.
The main applicant prepares the following set:
- international passport and a second ID document
- police certificate and birth certificate
- employment letter and medical certificate
- 35 x 45 mm photo
- 6-month bank statement, bank letter and business letter
- asset report and proof of source of funds
Oath and biometrics without flying to the islands
The oath is taken online by video call at a convenient time, separately from biometrics. Each participant, children included, gives biometrics in person, which takes 30-60 minutes. Locations are Moscow and Saint Petersburg, with sessions at least once a month, plus Port Vila, Dubai and Hong Kong. In any other city a staff member will come to your home, office or hotel, even for one person.
There is no power of attorney in this process. The applicant signs personally, a parent signs for children under 12, and children aged 12 and over sign for themselves.
What the passport gives, and its limits
The passport is biometric, valid for 10 years for adults and 5 for children. An expired passport does not cancel your citizenship. According to the index as of 4 October 2026, it opens 85 destinations without a prior visa, including Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Peru. A further 41 destinations offer an electronic visa, and 100 require a visa in advance.
Schengen and the UK require a visa, yet there is still a route into Europe: a Vanuatu passport lets you apply for Greek residence by buying a home from 400 000 €, which a Russian passport currently does not allow. Banks make their own decisions, and tax depends on tax residence rather than on the passport.
Nobody can promise approval. That is why a free preliminary check takes place before any contract, within 1-2 working days.
Common questions
Do I have to travel to Vanuatu?
No. The oath is taken by video call, and biometrics can be done in Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Dubai, Hong Kong or Port Vila. In another city a staff member comes to you.
How long does it take?
Usually 2 months and 3 at most. A holiday mid-process or a slow transfer can extend this.
Can I keep my current citizenship?
Yes, Vanuatu allows dual citizenship. Check separately whether your home country requires you to report a second citizenship.
What happens to the money if I am refused?
The due diligence fee is not refunded. Everything else follows the program rules and your contract. The free preliminary check exists to assess your application before you sign.
Can I apply directly, without a representative?
No, applications go only through an authorized representative. Our work is included in the program cost, so you do not pay for it separately.