Vanuatu citizenship gives you a second passport for life, 85 destinations without a prior visa, the option to apply for Greek residence and a status your children inherit. It does not give you visa-free Schengen. Here is what really changes and what stays the same.
A second citizenship without relocating
The main value is the status itself. Citizenship lasts for life, passes to children and may be held alongside another, so you do not give up your current passport. You do not have to live on the islands or even visit them to receive it.
A child born after a parent became a citizen is a citizen by birth. An expired passport does not end your citizenship, since only the document has lapsed. Revocation is limited to three situations: deception in the application, a breach of law when citizenship was granted, or a prison sentence of 10 years or more.
The status rests on clear rules. In 2025 parliament tightened oversight of the program. In March 2026 the Commission confirmed it accepts Russian citizens on general terms.
Travel: 85 destinations without a prior visa
As of the index dated 4 October 2026, the passport opens 85 destinations without a visa obtained in advance. That breaks down into 49 visa-free, 7 with an electronic authorization and 29 with a visa on arrival. A further 41 destinations offer an electronic visa.
In practice that means Asia and the parts of Europe outside Schengen: Hong Kong for 90 days, Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines for 30, and Moldova, Bosnia and Montenegro for 90. Russia is included too. In Latin America you have Panama for 90 days and Peru for 180.
Europe through residence
A Vanuatu passport does not give visa-free entry to Schengen. Suspension applied partly from 3 March 2022 and fully from 4 February 2023, and the country moved onto the visa-required list on 3 February 2025. Promising a quick return of visa-free access would be dishonest.
A different route works, though: residence. A Vanuatu passport lets you apply for Greek residence through buying a home, which a Russian passport currently does not allow. The threshold is 400 000 € for most of the country and 800 000 € for Attica, Thessaloniki and the large islands. Children under 21 live with their parents under property-based residence. Hungary is a possible second option.
Timing matters because of tax. Buyers pay 3% today, and the Greek government has announced 15% for non-EU buyers from 1 July 2027. There is no law yet, but it makes sense to close your purchase before that date.
For commercial-to-residential conversions and restored heritage buildings the threshold is 250 000 €. The reservation and deposit can be placed before the passport, while the purchase and application are done on the Vanuatu passport. If you do not want to buy, there is income-based residence: from 3 500 € a month, a spouse adds 20%, a child 15%, with a 3-year card.
Taxes: what changes and what does not
The passport on its own does not change your taxes. You pay according to tax residence, so acquiring citizenship neither cancels nor adds anything automatically.
Vanuatu itself has no tax on income, capital gains or inheritance, and it does have 15% VAT. Those terms matter for people planning something there, such as setting up a company in Vanuatu. Discuss your tax residence separately with your own tax adviser.
Your family gets the same
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.
For a family of up to four, the fund amount does not change: $165 000 with the fee and $115 000 after the share is returned. Under the contribution program each participant adds to the total. That is why the benefit for a family is often noticeably greater than for one person.
Banking and finance: realistic expectations
National Bank of Vanuatu, ANZ, BRED and Bank South Pacific operate in the country. Still, the passport does not open accounts by itself, as the bank always decides. Do not count on automatic acceptance.
Other practical steps open up after the passport: an ID, certificates, an apostille, a driving license, a tax number, a company in Vanuatu. Foreigners can also lease land for up to 75 years.
The country itself is 83 islands with 343 320 residents as of 01.06.2025, the capital Port Vila and a UTC+11 time zone. It has three official languages: Bislama, English and French. You do not have to visit, but it helps to know where your passport comes from.
What citizenship does not give you
An honest picture has to include the limits. Citizens by investment cannot vote or hold government office. The US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, China and the UK require a visa in advance, the UK since 19 July 2023.
The passport does not resolve tax questions and does not replace European residence. If life in the EU is the goal, treat Vanuatu as the first step, followed by a residence permit. For that plan the two work well together.
Who really benefits
This citizenship suits people who value a second passport for the family, travel across Asia and a route to Greek residence, especially if their current passport closes that route. The process needs no flight, and the usual timeline is 2 months, with 3 at most.
The cost starts at $135 000 with the fee for one person under the contribution program. You can check whether the program suits your family for free: the preliminary check takes 1-2 working days and happens before any contract.
Judge this citizenship by your family's specific goals, not a general impression. Write down which countries matter to you, whether you need residence in Europe and whether you will leave $50 000 in the fund for 5 years. The answers quickly show which route wins and whether you need one at all.
Common questions
Does a Vanuatu passport give visa-free Schengen?
No, a visa is required today. But this passport lets you apply for Greek residence through buying a home, which is a practical way into Europe.
Does citizenship pass to my children?
Yes. A child born after a parent became a citizen is a citizen by birth. Our work is $5 000, with government fees invoiced.
Will a new passport lower my taxes?
The passport itself does not change taxes, which follow tax residence. Vanuatu has no tax on income, capital gains or inheritance, but that matters only if you are tax resident there.
Can citizenship be revoked?
Only for deception in the application, a breach of law when it was granted, or a prison sentence of 10 years or more.
Do I have to live in Vanuatu to keep citizenship?
No. You do not need to fly there or live there, either to obtain citizenship or afterward, and it lasts for life.