The main advantage is fast, lifelong citizenship for the whole family with no trip to the country. The main caveat is that the Schengen area, the UK and the US require a visa, and the route to Europe runs through residence, for example in Greece. Your decision depends on what you need the passport for.
The short version: what sits on each side
If you are short of time, start with this table. We then go through each line and show who will not find a given drawback to be a problem.
| Advantage | What to bear in mind |
|---|---|
| Usually 2 months, 3 at most | A holiday or a slow money transfer lengthens the process |
| 85 destinations without a prior visa | Schengen, the UK, the US and Canada need a visa in advance |
| No need to fly to or live in the country | Biometrics are in person, for each participant |
| For life, passes to children | Revocation is possible on a limited list of grounds |
| Family in one application | Price depends on family size; the due diligence fee is non-refundable |
| Dual citizenship allowed | Russian citizens must notify the MVD |
Advantage: a fast, clear process
The whole route usually takes 2 months, 3 at most. Documents take 1-2 weeks, the check about a week, and the Commission meets twice a month. The decision letter arrives about a week after the meeting. Passports are issued 2-4 weeks after biometrics.
You do not need to live in the country or fly there. The oath is taken online at a convenient time. Biometrics take 30-60 minutes and can be done in Moscow, St Petersburg, Dubai, Hong Kong or Port Vila, and in another city a staff member will come to you. For a busy person this is a strong argument in favour.
Advantage: what the family receives
You can include a spouse, children and parents in the application. Children aged 18-25 qualify if they are in full-time study, have no income and are unmarried. Older children and other relatives are considered individually. Citizenship is for life and passes to children. A child born after a parent has obtained citizenship is a citizen by birth.
Dual citizenship is allowed, so you do not give up your existing passport. In March 2026 the Commission confirmed that Russian citizens are accepted on general terms.
Advantage: travel and a route to Europe
According to the index of 4 October 2026, the passport gives 85 destinations without a prior visa: 49 visa-free, 7 with an electronic authorisation, 29 with a visa on arrival. Another 41 offer an electronic visa. Visa-free destinations include Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Russia, Moldova, Bosnia, Montenegro, Panama and Peru.
For Europe the passport matters as a step towards residence. With a Vanuatu passport you can apply for a Greek residence permit by buying a home, which a Russian passport does not allow at present. The threshold depends on location: 400 000 € for most of Greece, 800 000 € for Attica, Thessaloniki and large islands, 250 000 € for commercial property converted to housing and restored monuments. Hungary is a second residence option.
What to bear in mind: visas for major countries
This is the main thing to understand up front. The Schengen area requires a visa: the suspension of visa-free travel was partial from 3 March 2022 and became full on 4 February 2023, and Vanuatu has been on the visa list since 3 February 2025. The UK has required a visa since 19 July 2023. The US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and China also require a visa in advance.
Nobody can promise that visa-free travel will soon return, so do not base the value of the passport on visa-free entry to Europe. If Europe is your goal, plan it through residence and budget for that step from the outset. It is best to close the purchase before 1 July 2027: the tax is 3% today, and the Greek government has announced 15% for non-EU buyers, although no law has been passed yet. Booking and a deposit can be made before the passport, while the deal and the filing go through on the Vanuatu passport.
What to bear in mind: price and money
For one person the contribution program costs $135 000 with the fee, and for a family of four $185 000. The fund costs $165 000 with the fee for a family of 1 to 4, but $50 000 of that is a share held for 5 years. After 5 years the fund buys it back from its own reserves under its own documents; this is not a state obligation.
Invoiced separately are translation and certification, Vanuatu citizen documents, biometrics and the passport, and bank charges. The due diligence fee is not refunded, and everything else on refusal follows the program rules and the contract. If you pay from Russia, note that payments through Russian and Belarusian banks will not go through, and the applicant must pay personally.
What to bear in mind: checks and limits
Source of funds is mandatory for every application. If part of your money is hard to explain, start with the documents, not the payment. The main applicant goes through the FIU check, and a police certificate is needed from everyone aged 18 and over. Nobody can name the outcome in advance.
Citizens by investment do not vote or hold public office. A passport alone does not change your taxes, which follow tax residency. Banks also make their own decisions. A child's passport lasts 5 years and an adult's 10, and it will need renewing, although an expired passport does not cancel citizenship.
Who it suits and who it does not
It suits people who want a second passport for the family quickly and without relocating, as well as those planning a Greek residence permit who cannot apply on a Russian passport at present. It also helps that this option does not involve buying a home in Vanuatu or travelling there.
It suits less well anyone who needs to enter Schengen or the US without a visa today, or who expects tax savings from the passport without changing their residency. If you are unsure, send your details for the free preliminary check: 1-2 working days, before any contract. You will get a calculation for your family and see whether it makes sense to go further.
Common questions
What is the main drawback of a Vanuatu passport?
The Schengen area, the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and China require a visa in advance. You can move towards Europe through residence, for example in Greece.
Can citizenship be lost?
It is for life. Revocation is possible for deception in the application, a breach of law when it was granted, or a sentence of 10 years or more.
How long does it take?
Usually 2 months, 3 at most.
Which is better for a family: contribution or fund?
For one person, the contribution. A couple should decide whether they are willing to leave $50 000 in place for 5 years. For three to five people the fund is cheaper from the start, and for six to eight it is better value once the share is returned.