# Vanuatu Citizenship by Investment

Vanuatu offers the fastest citizenship-by-investment route worldwide, from USD 130,000 with approval often in 1-2 months. Note: it does not provide visa-free access to the EU Schengen Area following the 2024 suspension.

- **$130,000** From
- **45-60 days** Processing
- **88 visa-free** Mobility
- **None** Min. stay

## What is the Vanuatu programme, in short?

Vanuatu offers the fastest citizenship-by-investment route worldwide, from USD 130,000 with approval often in 1-2 months. Note: it does not provide visa-free access to the EU Schengen Area following the 2024 suspension.

### Evidence

- 01 Travel access [en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_requirements_for_Vanuatu_citizens) 2026-10-22
- 02 Family inclusion [vancitizenship.gov.vu](https://vancitizenship.gov.vu/) Official 2026-09-26
- 03 Government fees [vancitizenship.gov.vu](https://vancitizenship.gov.vu/) Official 2026-09-26
- 04 Minimum investment [vancitizenship.gov.vu](https://vancitizenship.gov.vu/) Official 2026-09-26
- 05 Path to citizenship [vancitizenship.gov.vu](https://vancitizenship.gov.vu/) Official 2026-09-26
- 06 Processing time [vancitizenship.gov.vu](https://vancitizenship.gov.vu/) Official 2026-09-26

## What is the Vanuatu programme?

Vanuatu grants citizenship in exchange for a qualifying investment from $130,000. The programme is run by the government, which decides every application; Mirabello Consultancy prepares and coordinates your side of the application. A Mirabello specialist then confirms the right route and the full cost for your family.

Vanuatu offers the fastest citizenship-by-investment route worldwide, from USD 130,000 with approval often in 1-2 months. Note: it does not provide visa-free access to the EU Schengen Area following the 2024 suspension.

- Fastest route globally (~1-2 months)
- No EU Schengen access since 2024

The **Vanuatu Citizenship by Investment** programme is the fastest route to a second passport anywhere in the world, typically completed in **45 to 60 days** from a compliant application in our practice. It grants direct citizenship, not residency, with no naturalisation wait and no residence requirement, regulated by the Vanuatu Citizenship Commission.

### The two routes, and what really differs

The **Development Support Programme (DSP)** is the route most applicants use: a non-refundable contribution to the Government of Vanuatu starting at **US$130,000** for a single applicant, **US$150,000** for a main applicant and spouse, **US$165,000** for a couple with one child, and **US$180,000** for a family of four. The Citizenship Office fee schedule lists each further applicant at **US$10,000**; a specialist confirms the rate for adult dependants and larger families. The **Capital Investment Immigration Plan (CIIP)** is the alternative: part of the contribution is placed in the government-approved Cocoa Sustainable Fund and can be redeemed after a holding period, which lowers the net cost once that redemption is taken. The Citizenship Office does not publish the CIIP amounts, so a specialist confirms the current total, the fund allocation and the holding period before you commit. The two routes are not simply a question of price: DSP is a single, final contribution with no moving parts, while CIIP trades a higher initial outlay for a partial return of capital later, provided the fund performs as intended. That fund allocation is an **investment carrying risk**, not a guaranteed cash-back, and should be treated as such.

### The total cost picture

On top of the contribution itself, government charges are modest by the standards of this industry: a **US$5,000** FIU due-diligence fee per application and an application fee of **5,000 vatu** (around US$40) per application, both set by the Citizenship Office. Biometric enrolment, mandatory since November 2025, carries its own cost that varies by location and is confirmed at engagement. There is no separate legal or agent fee published by the government; total cost is the route chosen plus these fixed government charges.

### Timeline: the fastest route in the world, and why

In our practice, approval in principle typically follows within around two weeks of a complete submission, the full contribution is then paid, citizenship approval follows within a further two weeks, and the passport is issued within roughly a month after the oath of allegiance, which the Citizenship Office states is taken in Vanuatu. The path from a complete file to passport in hand runs to **45 to 60 days** for most applicants; the government does not publish an official processing time. There is no interview and no language test at any stage. What actually drives the timeline is the completeness of the due-diligence file at submission; Vanuatu does not offer a faster or slower tier, unlike programmes with expedited options, because its standard processing is already the fastest available anywhere.

### Residency, passport strength, and what it does not give

Citizenship is immediate on approval and carries no ongoing residency or stay requirement of any kind. The passport is valid for **ten years** and, as of 2026, gives visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to **88 destinations**, including Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and a range of Latin American and African states. **It must be stated plainly: the Vanuatu passport does not give visa-free access to the Schengen Area or the United Kingdom.** On 12 December 2024 the Council of the European Union removed Vanuatu from the list of visa-exempt countries, ending an exemption suspended since 2022, and the UK has required visas of Vanuatu citizens since August 2023; a Schengen visa and a UK visa must be applied for in the ordinary way. In June 2026 Vanuatu and Australia signed the ten-year Nakamal Agreement, under which Vanuatu commits to distinguishing investment citizenship from citizenship by birth and Australia commits to developing enhanced mobility arrangements for Vanuatu visitors, a treaty-level step that strengthens the programme's international standing, though it defines no specific visa product yet and is under annual review.

### Family inclusion

A spouse and financially dependent children up to age 25 can be included on the same application, at the family pricing set out above. Financially dependent parents and grandparents aged 50 or over can also be added. Siblings of the main applicant are not eligible under either route. Every family member included receives citizenship and a passport in the same timeframe as the main applicant, with no separate qualifying period.

### Tax treatment

Vanuatu levies no personal income tax, no capital gains tax and no inheritance tax on individuals. Companies structured as International Companies pay no corporate tax for twenty years. Vanuatu citizenship does not, on its own, establish tax residency anywhere else, and it does not remove an individual's existing tax obligations in their home country. Banks may apply extra checks, as Vanuatu is on EU and OECD tax lists; each applicant's own tax position should be confirmed with a qualified adviser.

### Where this programme is a poor fit

Vanuatu citizenship is a poor fit for anyone whose primary objective is European travel, EU business access or a UK-linked lifestyle: **there is no Schengen or UK visa-free access**, and Caribbean programmes with broader mobility are usually the better answer for that need. The main applicant must be between 18 and 65, which rules out older investors seeking their own citizenship (though they may still be added as a dependent parent or grandparent to a younger family member's application). A minimum of **US$250,000** in net assets is required of the main applicant, and Vanuatu does not publish a full public fee schedule for every scenario, so the CIIP amounts, family bands beyond four and some ancillary charges are confirmed case by case with a specialist rather than quoted as a fixed table. None of this is a reason to avoid the programme; it is a reason to be clear, from the outset, about what it is for: speed, tax simplicity and Asia-Pacific mobility, not a European gateway.

Considering a home here as well? Read our guide: [Vanuatu real estate and citizenship by investment](https://www.mirabelloconsultancy.com/real-estate-countries/vanuatu)

## How do you qualify for Vanuatu?

The Vanuatu programme offers 2 approved investment routes, each independently verified by the Mirabello data team against official government sources. Minimum required investment starts from $130,000. A Mirabello specialist will confirm which route best matches your nationality, family composition, budget and preferred timeline.

| Route | From | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Development Support Programme (DSP) | **US$130,000 single** | donation |
| Capital Investment Immigration Plan (CIIP) | **Confirmed on engagement (part redeemable after a holding period)** | mixed donation investment |

## How does Vanuatu rank among all programmes?

Vanuatu is scored by the Mirabello Investment Migration Index across seven dimensions: investment cost, visa-free mobility, processing speed, path to citizenship, regulatory stability, family inclusion and tax treatment. A higher composite score signals a more competitive, accessible and well-regulated programme.

#### Vanuatu

Scored on cost, mobility, speed, path, stability, family and tax.

**Our read:** Vanuatu offers the fastest citizenship-by-investment route worldwide, from USD 130,000 with approval often in 1-2 months. Note: it does not provide visa-free access to the EU Schengen Area following the 2024 suspension. Strategic perspective, advisory only; figures provenance-tracked, unconfirmed items flagged for verification.

## How does Vanuatu compare to alternatives?

The table below compares Vanuatu against its closest alternatives, scored on the Mirabello Investment Migration Index across cost, visa-free mobility, processing speed, regulatory stability and path to citizenship. All investment figures and processing times are sourced from official government data and independently verified by the Mirabello data team.

| Programme | From | Timeline | Min. stay | Mobility | Outcome |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 🇻🇺 Vanuatu | **$130,000** | 45-60 days | None | 88 visa-free | Passport |
| 🇰🇳 [St. Kitts and Nevis](https://www.mirabelloconsultancy.com/immigration/citizenship-by-investment-in-st-kitts-nevis) | **$250,000** | 3-6 months | None | 157 visa-free | Passport |
| 🇬🇩 [Grenada](https://www.mirabelloconsultancy.com/immigration/grenada-citizenship-by-investment) | **$235,000** | 60 business days | None | 147 visa-free | Passport |
| 🇦🇬 [Antigua and Barbuda](https://www.mirabelloconsultancy.com/immigration/antigua-and-barbuda-citizenship-by-investment) | **$230,000** | 4-7 months | 5 days in 5 years | 154 visa-free | Passport |

Other citizenship programmes to compare: [Nauru](https://www.mirabelloconsultancy.com/immigration/nauru-citizenship-by-investment) · [Turkey](https://www.mirabelloconsultancy.com/immigration/turkey-citizenship-by-investment) · [St. Kitts and Nevis](https://www.mirabelloconsultancy.com/immigration/citizenship-by-investment-in-st-kitts-nevis) · [Dominica](https://www.mirabelloconsultancy.com/immigration/dominica-citizenship-by-investment)

## What are the most common questions about Vanuatu?

The questions below cover Vanuatu investment costs, processing timelines, eligibility and family inclusion, minimum-stay requirements, the path to citizenship and tax obligations. All figures are provenance-tracked against official sources; where a threshold is time-sensitive, the verified date is shown alongside the answer.

Figures verified against official sources, provenance-tracked, information, not advice · Last updated 2026-09-26

### How much does Vanuatu citizenship cost under the Development Support Programme?

The Development Support Programme (DSP) starts at US$130,000 for a single applicant, US$150,000 for a main applicant and spouse, US$165,000 for a couple with one child, and US$180,000 for a family of four. The Citizenship Office fee schedule lists each further applicant at US$10,000; a specialist confirms the rate for adult dependants and larger families. On top of the contribution, a US$5,000 FIU due-diligence fee and an application fee of 5,000 vatu (around US$40) apply per application.

### What is the Capital Investment Immigration Plan (CIIP) and how does it compare to DSP?

CIIP is the alternative route: part of the contribution is placed in the government-approved Cocoa Sustainable Fund and can be redeemed after a holding period, which lowers the net cost once redeemed. The Citizenship Office does not publish the CIIP amounts, so a specialist confirms the current total, the fund allocation and the holding period before you commit. DSP is a single, final contribution with no moving parts; CIIP trades a higher initial outlay for a partial return of capital later, and the fund component is an investment carrying risk, not a guaranteed cash-back.

### How long does Vanuatu citizenship by investment take?

In our practice, most complete applications run to 45 to 60 days from submission to passport in hand; the Government of Vanuatu does not publish an official processing time. Approval in principle typically follows within around two weeks, citizenship approval within a further two weeks after the contribution is paid, and the passport within roughly a month after the oath of allegiance, which the Citizenship Office states is taken in Vanuatu.

### Can my family be included, and how does the price change?

Yes. A spouse and financially dependent children up to age 25 can be included, along with financially dependent parents or grandparents aged 50 or over, at the family pricing set out for each route. Siblings of the main applicant are not eligible. Every included family member receives citizenship and a passport in the same timeframe as the main applicant.

### Does the Vanuatu passport give visa-free access to Europe?

No. On 12 December 2024 the Council of the European Union removed Vanuatu from the list of visa-exempt countries, ending the Schengen visa exemption that had been suspended since 2022, and the United Kingdom has required visas of Vanuatu citizens since August 2023. A Schengen or UK visa must be applied for in the ordinary way.

### What visa-free access does the Vanuatu passport give?

As of 2026 the Vanuatu passport gives visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 88 destinations, including Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and a range of Latin American and African states. It is strongest for Asia-Pacific travel, not European access.

### What tax do I pay as a Vanuatu citizen?

Vanuatu levies no personal income tax, no capital gains tax and no inheritance tax on individuals, and no corporate tax for twenty years on companies structured as International Companies. Vanuatu citizenship does not by itself establish tax residency there or remove existing tax obligations in an applicant's home country. Banks may apply extra checks, as Vanuatu is on EU and OECD tax lists; confirm your position with a qualified tax adviser.

### Do I need to live in Vanuatu, before, during or after the process?

No. There is no residence requirement before or after citizenship is granted, and no interview. The Citizenship Office states that the oath of allegiance is taken in Vanuatu, so applicants should plan a short visit for that step. Biometric enrolment, mandatory since November 2025, is completed at an approved location (Vanuatu, Dubai, Hong Kong, Noumea, or via a mobile unit) and does not require a longer stay.

### Is the CIIP fund investment guaranteed?

No. The Cocoa Sustainable Fund component of CIIP is redeemable only after a holding period and is not a guaranteed cash-back; it should be treated as an investment carrying risk. Applicants comparing DSP and CIIP should weigh that risk against the single, non-refundable DSP contribution.

### What are the eligibility requirements?

The main applicant must be between 18 and 65 years old, hold a minimum of US$250,000 in net assets, and have a clean criminal record; there is no language test and no business-experience requirement. Vanuatu applies enhanced scrutiny by nationality case by case rather than publishing a fixed banned list.

### Is biometric enrolment required?

Yes, for all applicants regardless of age, mandatory since November 2025. Enrolment (fingerprints and photo) takes place at an approved location in Vanuatu, Dubai, Hong Kong or Noumea, or via a mobile unit at additional cost for applicants unable to travel to one of those locations.

### Who is Vanuatu citizenship by investment best suited for?

It suits investors who need a second passport quickly, value a jurisdiction with no personal income tax, and mainly travel to or do business in Asia-Pacific rather than needing Schengen or UK access. Applicants whose priority is European travel or an EU-adjacent lifestyle are better served by a Caribbean citizenship programme instead.

## Still have a question?

Ask Mira, our AI guide for immigration and relocation. Mira answers questions on costs, timing, family members and alternatives from the same verified data as this page, in your language, and a Mirabello specialist confirms any specific case before you commit.

- [Vanuatu: what would it cost for my family?](https://www.mirabelloconsultancy.com/immigration-ai?q=Vanuatu%3A%20what%20would%20it%20cost%20for%20my%20family%3F&utm_source=ask_mira_band&utm_medium=programme_page&utm_content=cost)
- [Vanuatu: how long would it take for my nationality?](https://www.mirabelloconsultancy.com/immigration-ai?q=Vanuatu%3A%20how%20long%20would%20it%20take%20for%20my%20nationality%3F&utm_source=ask_mira_band&utm_medium=programme_page&utm_content=time)
- [Vanuatu: is it the right fit for me, and what are the alternatives?](https://www.mirabelloconsultancy.com/immigration-ai?q=Vanuatu%3A%20is%20it%20the%20right%20fit%20for%20me%2C%20and%20what%20are%20the%20alternatives%3F&utm_source=ask_mira_band&utm_medium=programme_page&utm_content=fit)

AI-generated general information, not legal or tax advice.

## How does Vanuatu succession law affect your estate?

If you acquire the nationality of Vanuatu, you can, in defined circumstances, elect the law of that nationality to govern your estate under EU Regulation 650/2012, Article 22, in place of the law of the country where you habitually live. The choice is not automatic, it must be made expressly, and it changes no tax position.

The law of Vanuatu reserves no fixed share for family members, so an estate can generally be left as you choose, although dependants may still have claims.

[See the Vanuatu position in our succession matrix](https://www.mirabelloconsultancy.com/which-law-governs-your-estate#j-VU), or read [which law governs your estate](https://www.mirabelloconsultancy.com/which-law-governs-your-estate). General information, not legal advice.

### Official references

The primary official sources the Vanuatu figures on this page are verified against. Where a mandatory fee is not in a published schedule, it is marked as disclosed by Mirabello from case experience.

- [vancitizenship.gov.vu/index.php/citizenship/fees-and-charges](https://vancitizenship.gov.vu/index.php/citizenship/fees-and-charges)
- [vancitizenship.gov.vu](https://vancitizenship.gov.vu/)

High approval rate across 2,100+ cases, IMC member, ACAMS-certified leadership

## Is Vanuatu *right for you?*

Book a confidential, no-obligation consultation with a Mirabello investment migration specialist, in your own language. We will confirm which programme fits your profile, your budget and your timeline, and outline the precise path to your second citizenship or residence permit, at no cost and with no commitment.

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Source: Mirabello Consultancy, verified 2026-10-31, https://www.mirabelloconsultancy.com/immigration/citizenship-by-investment-in-vanuatu
Free consultation: https://www.mirabelloconsultancy.com/contact-us-for-your-free-consultation
Machine-readable data: Mirabello MCP https://mcp.mirabelloconsultancy.com/v1/programmes/vanuatu-cbi