A child born during the process is added to the application before the oath, and our work costs $2 500. A child born later, once a parent is already a citizen, is a Vanuatu citizen by birth, our work costs $5 000, and state fees are billed separately. In the first situation, what matters most is telling us about the birth before the oath.
Two different situations
One line decides everything: was the parent already a citizen when the child was born? Before that point, the child becomes a new participant in the application. After it, the child is a citizen by birth who needs documents.
Here is the comparison at a glance:
| Born during the process | Born afterwards | |
|---|---|---|
| Parent's status | Application still running | Already a Vanuatu citizen |
| What happens | Child added before the oath | Citizen by birth |
| Our work | $2 500 | $5 000 |
| Also | Family size changes, total by invoice | State fees by invoice |
A child born while the application is running
Write to us as soon as the child is born. There is one clear deadline: the child must be added before the oath. So the stage you have reached matters, whether that is gathering documents, the check, waiting for a Commission meeting, or the period after approval.
After approval you have 3 months for payment and the oath, and you can ask for a 2-month extension if needed. The oath is taken online by video call at a convenient time. A family with a newborn therefore usually has room to plan the order calmly and avoid taking the oath before the child is added.
The child follows the same rules as other children in the application. Every participant gives biometrics in person, children included, and it takes 30-60 minutes. Sessions run in Moscow and St Petersburg at least once a month, and in another city a staff member will come to a home or hotel, even for one person. For a family with a baby, that visit is usually easier than travelling to a session. A parent signs for a child under 12.
How a birth changes the program amount
The $2 500 covers only our work to add the child. On top of that, the application now has one more person, and the program price depends on the size of the family.
In the CIIP fund, $157 000 is the same for a family of 1 to 4. If the child is the third or fourth participant, the program line does not change. If the child is the fifth or later, $26 500 is added per person. In the contribution program, the amount follows the table: spouses pay $150 000, spouses and a child $165 000, spouses and two children $180 000, and each further person adds $10 000. The invoice shows the final total.
Vanuatu citizen documents, biometrics and the child's passport are billed separately. We do not quote those lines here; they arrive as separate invoices.
- A couple in the contribution program having a first child: $150 000 becomes $165 000.
- A couple with one child in the contribution program having a second: $165 000 becomes $180 000.
- A family of four in the contribution program having a third child: $180 000 becomes $190 000.
- A family of up to four in the fund: $157 000 stays the same.
A child born after citizenship is granted
If a parent is already a Vanuatu citizen at the time of birth, the child is a citizen by birth. No application is needed for the child, and the applicant check and program are not repeated. What the child needs is documents that confirm the status.
Our work in this situation costs $5 000, with state fees billed separately. The documents are those of a Vanuatu citizen: a birth registration certificate, an ID and a passport. A child's passport is biometric and valid for 5 years.
Do not put this off just because the status arises by itself. Without documents the child cannot travel on the passport, which complicates family plans even though citizenship is not at risk. We will tell you which papers apply to your situation once you let us know about the birth.
What to compare if the birth falls close to the oath
Sometimes a family knows the timing in advance: approval has come or is expected, and the birth falls in the same months. Tell us early so we can compare both routes using your numbers.
The comparison is not just $2 500 against $5 000. A child added before the oath goes through the program and may raise its total. A child born afterwards adds no program line, but there is the $5 000 plus state fees. In the fund, for families up to four, the first route is usually simpler and cheaper. In the contribution program the sums can come out differently.
The window after approval has limits: 3 months and a possible 2-month extension. You can only fit the oath around the birth date within those limits. It is better to agree the plan in writing than to decide in the final week.
What the child receives
Vanuatu citizenship is for life and passes to children, and dual citizenship is allowed. The child's passport gives the same travel as a parent's: 85 destinations without a prior visa under the index of 4 October 2026, including Hong Kong for 90 days, Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines for 30 days, Panama for 90 days and Peru for 180 days.
If the family plans Greek residence through a home purchase, children under 21 live with their parents under that permit. Keep this in mind early: a newborn does not become a separate problem, but the child's documents need to be ready for the filing.
If the child is also a Russian citizen
Russia allows a second citizenship. But the Interior Ministry (MVD) must be notified within 60 calendar days of receiving it, counted from the certificate date, or within 60 days of entering Russia if the person is abroad. A parent files for a child, through Gosuslugi or in person.
Keep the certificate date and the birth date together. When a family is handling a child's new documents and the parents' own notices at the same time, deadlines are easy to miss.
A related point about adults: a new spouse is not added the way a child is, and needs a separate application. If anything else in the family is changing, tell us everything at once so we can work out the whole plan in one calculation. The preliminary check is free, takes 1-2 working days and happens before any contract.
Common questions
Until when can a newborn be added to the application?
Until the oath. Tell us about the birth straight away. After approval there are 3 months for payment and the oath, and you can ask for a 2-month extension if needed.
Does a baby really need biometrics?
Yes, every participant gives biometrics in person, children included. In a city without a session, a staff member will come to a home, office or hotel.
The child was born after the parent's oath. Do we have to apply and pay for the program again?
If the parent is already a citizen, the child is a citizen by birth and the program is not repeated. Our work costs $5 000, and state fees are billed separately.
How long is a child's passport valid?
5 years. It is a biometric passport, and letting it expire does not cancel the child's citizenship.