A Vanuatu citizenship application can include a spouse, children and parents. Children aged 18-25 qualify if they study full time, have no income and are unmarried, while children over 25 and other relatives are considered individually. Family size decides both the price and the better program: for three to five people the fund is cheaper from the start.
Who can be included
The basic rules are simple. Look at the relationship first, then the age, and only then work out the cost. The order matters, because the number of participants determines which program comes out ahead.
The conditions for a child aged 18-25 all apply at once. If they work, have income or have married, the standard path does not fit and their situation needs separate review. The same goes for a child over 25. You can ask about this during the free preliminary check, which takes 1-2 working days and happens before any contract.
| Participant | Condition |
|---|---|
| Spouse | Included in the application |
| Child under 18 | Included in the application |
| Child aged 18-25 | Full-time study, no income, unmarried |
| Child over 25 | Individually |
| Parents | Included in the application |
| Other relatives | Individually |
What the application costs, by family size
The price is set for the whole application, not per person. The figures below include the due diligence fee: $5 000 under the contribution program and $8 000 under the CIIP fund. In the fund, $50 000 of the amount is a 5-year share, which the fund then buys back from its own reserves under its own documents.
| People | Contribution | Fund upfront | 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 |
Which program suits your family
Under the contribution program (DSP), each participant after the fourth adds $10 000. Under the CIIP fund the amount is flat for 1-4 people, and from the fifth on it rises by $26 500 each. That leads to some simple conclusions.
- A couple: it depends on whether you are willing to leave $50 000 in place for 5 years.
- Three, four or five people: the fund is cheaper from the start.
- Six, seven or eight people: the fund wins after the share is returned.
- Nine or ten people: the contribution program wins even after the return.
Examples: how to count your family
A couple with two children under 18 makes four participants. The contribution program totals $185 000 with the fee, and the fund $165 000. The fund is $20 000 cheaper right away, and after the share is returned the figure falls to $115 000.
The same family plus one parent makes five participants. The contribution program comes to $195 000 and the fund to $191 500. The gap is small, but the fund is still cheaper at once, and after the return the figure is $141 500.
A couple with three children and one parent makes six participants. The contribution program is $205 000, the fund $218 000 upfront and $168 000 after the return. This family has to decide which matters more: a smaller payment now or a smaller total in 5 years.
Leave other relatives out of the calculation at first, as they are considered individually. Find out whether they can be included, and only then recalculate.
What each participant provides
The FIU check is passed by the main applicant, who assembles the fullest pack, including financial papers and proof of source of funds. Others prepare less, but everyone has a part to play.
A police clearance certificate is required from everyone aged 18 and over. It comes from the country of citizenship and residence, and from any country where the person lived for more than a year during the past 10 years. It is valid for 6 months, so a large family is better off ordering these at about the same time.
A spouse who does not work needs a certificate from a public organization. Signatures also depend on age: the main applicant signs personally, a parent signs for children under 12, and children sign for themselves from 12. There is no power of attorney in this process.
The main applicant carries the largest share of the work, so check early that they have all the financial papers: the 6-month statement, bank letter and business letter, statement of assets and proof of source of funds. Proof is mandatory for every application, and the applicant pays personally. Another person's company or card will not go through.
Biometrics and the oath for the whole family
Every participant gives biometrics in person, including children, at 30-60 minutes each. No trip to Vanuatu is needed: sessions run in Moscow and St Petersburg at least once a month, and in another city a staff member will come to your home, office or hotel. Biometrics can also be given in Port Vila, Dubai and Hong Kong.
Family members do not have to be in one place, as each can use whichever location suits them. The oath is taken online by video call at a convenient time, separately from biometrics.
What happens if the family changes
A family can change both during the process and after the passport is issued. There are clear rules for this.
| Situation | What happens | Our work |
|---|---|---|
| Child born during the process | Added to the application before the oath | $2 500 |
| Child born later, parent already a citizen | Citizen by birth, government fees by invoice | $5 000 |
| New spouse | Separate application | Confirmed separately |
What the family ends up with
Each participant receives a biometric passport. An adult passport is valid for 10 years and a child's for 5. An expired document does not cancel citizenship. Citizenship is for life and passes to children, and dual citizenship is allowed.
If the family is planning a Greek residence permit through buying a home, note that children under 21 can live with their parents under a property-based permit. It is worth thinking about this early, when you are deciding who to include in the application.
Russian citizens have one further duty. Second citizenship is allowed, but it must be reported to the Ministry of Internal Affairs within 60 calendar days of the certificate date, or within 60 days of entering Russia if the person was abroad. Each Russian citizen does this personally, a parent does it for children, through Gosuslugi or in person. In a large family, mark this date in the calendar straight away.
Common questions
Can I include an adult child?
Yes, if they are 18-25, study full time, have no income and are unmarried. Over 25 is decided individually.
Can I include my parents?
Yes. Parents can join the application. They provide a police clearance certificate and attend biometrics in person.
Are all family members checked?
The FIU check is passed by the main applicant. A police clearance certificate is required from all participants aged 18 and over.
A child was born while the application is in progress. What now?
The child can be added before the oath, and our work costs $2 500. If the child is born later and a parent is already a citizen, they are a citizen by birth. Our work then costs $5 000, with government fees by invoice.