Vanuatu Passport: Fastest, Low Cost Option
The Republic of Vanuatu is a Melanesian archipelago comprised of 83 tropical islands located in the southwest Pacific Ocean. Established in 2017, Vanuatu citizenship by investment (CIP) is a compelling option for a second passport. Furthermore, the expedient two step closing process eliminates redundancy and lowers the costs.
The Vanuatu CIP allows investors to qualify by making a minimum $130,000 nonrefundable contribution to the Development Support Program in exchange for Vanuatu citizenship. In addition, the Vanuatu CIP now includes a new low cost investment option, see more below.
Vanuatu Citizenship Benefits
- No redundant fees. The main applicant only pays the one time $5,500 fee for due diligence.
- As a Vanuatu citizen you are a citizen of the British Commonwealth. Therefore, you may receive assistance at British Embassies and consulates in addition to preferential treatment inside the UK.
- Visa free or visa on arrival access to Russia, Commonwealth Nations, plus Hong Kong, Singapore and much more.
- Fast application processing of only 30-60 days.
- Vanuatu has no income tax, no inheritance tax, no capital gains tax, no wealth tax or business taxes.
- There is no requirement to report offshore assets e.g. FBAR.
- Dual citizenship is permitted with no requirement to renounce your current citizenship.
- It is not necessary to visit Vanuatu during the application process.
- There is no residency requirement to obtain or retain Vanuatu citizenship.
- Vanuatu has been an established financial center since 1972 with international banks present and simple account opening procedures.
- Stunning natural environment with a low cost of living and low priced real estate.
- Buy secluded beach front property or even whole islands for sale on secure long term land tenure.
- Eligibility for Australia Visitor Visa (Subclass 600) multiple entry option with a duration 3 months, 6 months or 12 months.
- Multi-currency payment options include traditional USD plus AUD, NZD, JPY and also cryptocurrency payment options BTC, USDT and ETH.
Cryptocurrency Payment Options
Since 2017, the Vanuatu CIP has accepted cryptocurrency as a form of payment. Indeed, using cryptocurrencies is a tried and tested payment method in Vanuatu. Accepted cryptocurrencies for the Vanuatu CIP include BTC, USDT and ETH.
To be clear the Vanuatu government does not take direct payment in cryptocurrency. Instead, the cryptocurrency used for payment will be converted to fiat USD at our over the counter (OTC) desk. After the correct amount has been converted to fiat USD, it will be submitted to the Vanuatu government on your behalf.
The trade is conducted live over Telegram or SKYPE with the active participation of the investor. Please note that there is a 3% processing fee that will be included in the conversion amount.
However, the applicant can bypass the 3% processing fee by doing their own conversion on a cryptocurrency exchange. Options include Coinbase and then transferring the fiat USD to their affiliated bank account. The applicant can then use the fiat USD to make payment directly for the Vanuatu CIP.
Vanuatu Development Support Program (DSP)
The Vanuatu DSP was enacted by the Vanuatu government under the Citizenship Act (CAP112) with the powers conferred on the prime minister by section 20 order number 215 of 2016. The proceeds from the DSP are used to benefit the Vanuatu people with improved infrastructure, medical facilities, education and hurricane relief.
Applicants possessing a clean background, net assets in excess of $250,000 and verifiable identity meet the Vanuatu CIP requirements. The Vanuatu citizenship cost is submitted in two steps 1) $5,500 due diligence fee plus 2) the contribution amount listed below.
The selling price is all inclusive. This includes all of the government fees, processing fees plus the filing, certificate and passport production fees. In comparison to other passport programs, this is the most simplified pricing structure. Fast processing in combination with the all in cost of the Vanuatu CIP are second to none.
| Applicant Categories | Fees in USD, All Inclusive |
| Single Applicant | $130,000 |
| Married Couple | $150,000 |
| Married with One Child (under 18 years of age) | $165,000 |
| Married with Two Children (under 18 years of age) | $180,000 |
| Additional Dependent | $25,000 |
| FIU Due Diligence Fee (main applicant only) | $5,500 |
*Note: Family members on the application can include the spouse plus dependent children to age 25 and dependent parents.
Vanuatu Passport Application Process (Easy 2 Step Approval)
STEP ONE – The $5,500 due diligence fee along with the required step one documents are submitted. Due diligence is then carried out by the Vanuatu Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU). FIU review only takes 7-14 days to complete. Upon successful completion of step one, the applicant is given a letter of acceptance.
| Step One Required Documents |
| Partially completed and signed DSP form |
| Passport Copy (Bio Page, notarized, minimum 6 months before expiration) |
| ID Card or Driving License (notarized) |
| CV/Personal Profile Summary |
| Police Clearance Report from Country of Origin (notarized copy if translated) |
STEP TWO – The full investment amount and the remaining step two documents are now submitted. *Note after the letter of acceptance is issued by the FIU, we have a 100% approval rate. Additionally, the Vanuatu Citizenship Commission sits once a month. As a result, it is possible your Vanuatu passport application could be approved within 30 days. This depends on what day of the month you initiated the FIU review.
| Step Two Required Documents |
| Completed and signed DSP form |
| Medical Certificate |
| 6 Color Photos (40mm x 50mm, JPEG file) |
| Birth Certificate (notarized) |
| Statement of Assets (notarized) |
| Bank Reference/Statement (main applicant only) |
| Employment Verification Letter |
| Marriage Certificate (if applicable, main applicant only) |
| 3 Professional references (main applicant only) |
| Academic Reference (if applicable) |
Capital Investment Immigration Plan (CIIP)
In addition to the DSP outlined above, Vanuatu now offers a new investment option. The new CIIP was first introduced by the Vanuatu government in 2023. CIIP offers single investors and families a low cost opportunity to obtain Vanuatu passports. Total cost is $160,500 including the $5,500 FIU due diligence fee, plus $50,000 invested in the Cacao Sustainability Fund. There are no additional costs for families with up to four members.
As a result, a family of four pays the same amount as a single investor. Additional dependents require an additional $25,000 each. This cost structure is significantly lower then the DSP, but there is more!
In further benefit, the $50,000 that was invested in the Cacao Sustainability Fund is redeemable after the 4 year holding period. Therefore, the total cost would be $105,500 for a family of four. The $50,000 investment also has the potential for profit accrual. If so, you may receive more than $50,000 at the end of 4 years! See the table below for the cost breakdown.
| Applicant Categories | Fees in USD, All Inclusive |
| Single Applicant | $155,000 |
| Married Couple | $155,000 |
| Married with One Child (under 18 years of age) | $155,000 |
| Married with Two Children (under 18 years of age) | $155,000 |
| Additional Dependent | $25,000 |
| FIU Due Diligence Fee (main applicant only) | $5,500 |
| Redeemable Investment | ($50,000) |
*Note: Family members on the application can include the spouse, plus dependent children to age 25 and dependent parents.
