Vanuatu citizenship costs $135 000 for one person under the contribution program, fee included. A family of up to four pays $165 000 through the fund, and its net cost falls to $115 000 once the share is returned. Only four clear items are billed on top.
The contribution program: the official table
These amounts are published on the official program site, vancitizenship.gov.vu. The money goes to the program and is not paid back. The FIU due diligence fee of $5 000 is charged once per application.
Beyond six people the math stays simple: each further person adds $10 000, and the final total appears on your invoice.
| Family | Contribution | Fee | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single applicant | $130 000 | $5 000 | $135 000 |
| Couple | $150 000 | $5 000 | $155 000 |
| Couple and one child | $165 000 | $5 000 | $170 000 |
| Couple and two children | $180 000 | $5 000 | $185 000 |
| Five people | $190 000 | $5 000 | $195 000 |
| Six people | $200 000 | $5 000 | $205 000 |
The CIIP fund: one price for up to four people
The fund follows a different logic. A family of 1 to 4 pays the same $157 000, and from the fifth person each participant adds $26 500. The fee is higher, at $8 000 per application.
Of the total, $50 000 becomes a share in the fund for 5 years. When the term ends, the fund buys the share back from its own reserves under its own documents. This is a buyback by the fund rather than a payment from the state, and it should not be called a guaranteed refund. So look at two numbers: what you pay now and what remains as your cost after the buyback.
Treat that $50 000 as committed for the full 5 years. If you might need the money sooner, say for another purchase, compare the routes with that in mind.
| People | You pay now, with fee | After share return |
|---|---|---|
| 1-4 | $165 000 | $115 000 |
| 5 | $191 500 | $141 500 |
| 6 | $218 000 | $168 000 |
What to compare when choosing
A single applicant is better off with the contribution, which starts $30 000 below the fund. A couple faces a harder call. The contribution is $10 000 cheaper today, but after the share returns the fund ends up $40 000 cheaper. It comes down to whether you are willing to leave $50 000 in place for 5 years.
A family of three to five pays less in the fund from the outset. For six to eight people, the fund wins after the return even though it may cost more up front: $218 000 against $205 000 for six. With nine or ten people the contribution is cheaper, and the share return does not change that.
How the amount adds up, with examples
The formula is always the same and only the number of participants changes. Below are four typical families with the full calculation for both routes. Separate invoices are not included.
The makeup of your application drives the whole budget, so settle it early. Children aged 18-25 qualify if they study full time, have no income and are not married. Parents can be included too, while anyone older than 25 and other relatives are considered individually. Under the contribution each new person adds to the total, while the fund only starts charging extra from the fifth participant.
| Family | Contribution + fee | Fund + fee |
|---|---|---|
| Single applicant | $130 000 + $5 000 = $135 000 | $157 000 + $8 000 = $165 000 |
| Couple and two children | $180 000 + $5 000 = $185 000 | $157 000 + $8 000 = $165 000 |
| Five people | $190 000 + $5 000 = $195 000 | $183 500 + $8 000 = $191 500 |
| Six people | $200 000 + $5 000 = $205 000 | $210 000 + $8 000 = $218 000 |
What is billed separately
On top of the program amount there are four items. They arrive as separate invoices:
- translations and certification
- Vanuatu citizen documents: birth registration certificate and ID
- biometrics and the passport
- bank charges
There are no other payments
Our work is included in the program cost, so there is no separate line for support. Nothing else is charged either, which means the table figure plus the four items above give you the full picture.
Extra costs arise only from new family events. A child born during the process is added before the oath, and our work is $2 500. A child born after a parent became a citizen is a citizen by birth; our work is $5 000 and government fees are invoiced. A new spouse files a separate application.
You do not need to fly to Vanuatu, so a trip to the islands is not part of the calculation. The oath is taken online, and biometrics are held in Moscow and Saint Petersburg, Port Vila, Dubai and Hong Kong. In another city a staff member will come to your home, office or hotel, even for one person.
When and how you pay
Payments follow the stages of the process. The fee is due when you sign the contract. The contribution follows the contract schedule, either in one payment or in parts. Documents and biometrics are paid by invoice as they come up.
After approval you have 3 months to pay and take the oath, and you can ask for a 2-month extension if needed. Plan the transfer in advance, since a slow payment is among the main causes of delay. The applicant pays personally, and someone else's company or card will not be accepted.
Payment options are limited if you pay from Russia: banks in Russia and Belarus will not get through. A personal account abroad, rubles through a broker, cryptocurrency or your own company account will work.
What happens to the money after a refusal
The due diligence fee is not refunded under any outcome. What happens to the remaining funds is set by the program rules and your contract, so read the contract before signing.
Nobody is in a position to promise approval. The free preliminary check reduces the risk: it takes 1-2 working days and happens before the contract and before your first payment.
Common questions
What is the lowest amount for one person?
$135 000 under the contribution program: a $130 000 contribution and a $5 000 fee. Translations, documents, biometrics, the passport and bank charges are invoiced separately.
Do I pay separately for support?
No, our work is included in the program cost. It is charged separately only in specific situations, such as adding a newborn.
Can I pay in parts?
The contribution follows the contract schedule, in one payment or in parts. The fee is paid at signing, and documents and biometrics by invoice.
Will I get my $50 000 back from the fund?
After 5 years the fund buys the share back from its reserves under its own documents. The buyer is the fund, not the state, and it is not a guaranteed refund.
How much does it cost to add a child?
Under the contribution, the first and second child each add $15 000 to the couple amount, and further participants add $10 000 each. The fund charges nothing extra up to four people, then $26 500 from the fifth participant.