What Vanuatu citizenship gives you: visa-free travel, taxes, banks and a route to EU residence

What Vanuatu citizenship gives: in brief

In brief: Vanuatu citizenship gives permanent status, a passport for visa-free travel to Asia, Oceania, the Caribbean, Latin America and Russia, the right to live and work in the country, a tax system without income tax, citizenship passed to children and a first step to residence in Europe.

A citizen’s rights are the same for everyone who acquired citizenship under the law, including through the investment programme. It takes 2-3 months without a trip to the islands: under DSP the contribution is paid after approval, and for a family of three or more the CIIP fund with $50,000 returned after 5 years is better value. How the programme works as a whole is covered in the article Vanuatu citizenship by investment. Below the rights are covered in the order people usually start using them: document and travel, Europe, life and taxes, family and finance.

Citizen status: permanent and documented

In brief: Vanuatu citizenship does not need renewing or confirming through residence. The status is confirmed by a citizenship certificate from the Citizenship Commission, and for travel the citizen receives a 10-year biometric passport.

The certificate is issued once and is valid permanently, and a copy is kept separately from the passport. The passport is renewed every 10 years or if lost; citizenship is not re-examined for renewal, the certificate and previous passport are enough. There is no need to live in Vanuatu, visit it or own property there to keep the status. The status also does not depend on where the citizen lives or which other citizenships they acquire later.

Citizenship under the programme is full citizenship: the citizen has the same rights as a citizen by birth, except political participation for dual citizens. The Constitution of Vanuatu provides that a dual citizen does not hold public office or stand for election, while all other rights are kept. The programme’s legality and how documents are issued are covered in the article the legality of the programme.

Citizenship is lost only on legal grounds: if it was obtained by fraud or concealment. It can be renounced voluntarily using the renunciation form with an oath. For an applicant with a complete and accurate package, the status is secure.

Travel: 46 countries without a visa and 42 with a visa on arrival

In brief: a Vanuatu citizen enters 46 countries without a visa, 42 with a visa on arrival and 5 with an eTA electronic authorisation, 93 destinations in all according to the Passport Index 2026. About 39 more countries issue an eVisa online.

The passport is especially convenient for business trips to Asia: Hong Kong admits visa-free for up to 90 days, and Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines for up to 30 days. In the Caribbean, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados and Dominica give up to 180 days, Fiji in Oceania up to 120 days, Panama up to 90 and Peru up to 180 days. A Vanuatu citizen enters Russia without a visa for up to 90 days.

For the Schengen area, the UK, the US, Canada and Australia a Vanuatu citizen obtains a visa. Council of the EU Decision 2022/2198 suspended visa-free travel from 4 February 2023, and EU Regulation 2025/11 moved Vanuatu to the visa list from 3 February 2025. The UK has required a visa since 19 July 2023, including for transit. Visas for these countries are obtained through a consulate on the standard terms, and to live in Europe the citizen obtains Greek residence. The full list of destinations is in the article where the Vanuatu passport gets you in.

How the passport works in practice is shown by the case of an entrepreneur trading with Asia: a year of trading with Asia without visa forms. For such tasks the Vanuatu passport complements the main one, and visa forms are replaced by entry on arrival.

Visa-free travel follows a few rules. Length of stay is counted under each country’s rules: in some it is days per trip, in others days per half-year or year, so frequent trips to one country are planned on a calendar. You enter and leave a country on the same passport, and the ticket is bought in the name and number of the passport you will travel on. The passport must be valid for at least six months on the date of entry, as many countries require.

Transit is also considered in advance. The UK requires Vanuatu citizens to hold a visa, including a transit visa, so a connection through a British airport is replaced with one in Asia or the Middle East. For an eVisa the application is filed online before travel, and processing depends on the country and takes from a few days.

Europe: Greek or Hungarian residence as the next step

In brief: the Vanuatu passport is a first step to Europe. A Vanuatu citizen obtains Greek residence under the Golden Visa programme or Hungary’s programme, and until then travels to the Schengen area with a visa.

The combination works in a set order. First the family obtains Vanuatu citizenship in 2-3 months: a second passport and a document for travel across Asia and Oceania. Then a residence permit is obtained in Greece, giving the right to live in the country and travel across the Schengen area without visas. BRIDGES handles both steps all-in within 9 months in total.

Greek residence is obtained through the property programme, and Hungary has its own residence programmes. For the family, what matters is that both programmes include the spouse and children, and the children’s Vanuatu citizenship is kept wherever they live. More on visas and residence in the article the Vanuatu passport and Schengen.

For a family, Greek residence is convenient because the application includes the spouse, children and parents, and living in Greece permanently is not required to keep the status. The residence card is renewed under the programme terms as long as the property remains owned. Children study at schools in Greece or other European countries, and their Vanuatu citizenship is kept in any case.

The family’s sequence is simple: first choose the Vanuatu citizenship programme and gather the documents that will also be needed for Greece, then select a property and apply for residence. Some documents, such as police clearances, apostilles and translations, are prepared with both applications in mind, so the package is not gathered twice.

Life and business in Vanuatu

In brief: a citizen lives and works in Vanuatu without permits, sets up a company and uses public services on an equal footing with other citizens. Land, as for all residents, is taken on long-term lease because it belongs to customary owners.

For a foreigner, living in Vanuatu requires a residence permit and a work permit, while a citizen needs neither. A citizen registers a company and obtains a business licence and tax number on the standard terms. Children are enrolled in schools teaching in English or French.

Land leases for foreigners are possible for up to 75 years, and the same agreements are available to citizens. Property near Port Vila and on Espiritu Santo is acquired through a lease registered in the state register. Rental tax is 12.5% of gross rent for landlords letting housing. The market is covered in the article property in Vanuatu.

Most citizens under the programme live in other countries and use the passport for travel. For those planning to live on the islands, climate, connections with neighbouring countries and healthcare matter: see the article life and relocation in Vanuatu.

In Port Vila medical care is provided by the public hospital and private clinics, and residents often receive complex treatment in Australia and New Zealand, 2-3 hours away by air. Schools operate in English and French, and higher education is offered by the University of the South Pacific campus in Port Vila. A citizen uses public services like other residents and arranges health insurance for travel and treatment abroad separately.

Taxes: what citizenship changes and what it does not

In brief: Vanuatu has no personal income tax, capital gains tax or inheritance tax. The country collects tax through 15% VAT, rental tax, duties and licences. The passport, however, does not change tax residence in the country where the person lives.

Tax residence is determined by where you live, your centre of interests and the number of days in the country, not by your passport. So a person who keeps living in their home country remains its tax resident. A tax benefit appears when a person moves and becomes resident in a country with a suitable system, and the Vanuatu passport makes travel and accounts easier along the way. More in the article taxes in Vanuatu.

Banks in different countries exchange account information based on the client’s tax residence. Vanuatu citizenship does not replace the country of residence in this reporting, so the bank form shows your actual residence and tax number.

In practice the tax picture works like this. An entrepreneur who lives in their home country pays tax there and uses the Vanuatu passport for travel and as a second document. A family that moved to Greece on a residence permit and spent most of the year there becomes Greek tax resident and pays tax under Greek rules. A person who lives in Vanuatu and earns income there pays no personal income tax. The tax outcome is always determined by the country of residence, so a decision to relocate is discussed with a tax adviser in that country.

Family: children in the application and citizenship by descent

In brief: one application includes a spouse, children, including dependent adult children under 25, and parents over 50. Children born after citizenship is granted become citizens by descent without a contribution, and citizenship passes on to future generations.

A family application saves time and money: the FIU fee is paid once per application, and the contribution rises with the family rate. Under DSP the contribution is $150,000 for a couple, $165,000 with a child and $180,000 with two children. The CIIP fund costs $157,000 for a family of up to four, so it is better value for a family of three or more, and after 5 years $50,000 is returned from the fund.

A child born after citizenship is granted is registered on the birth certificate and the parent’s certificate, with no contribution. A spouse who joins the family after citizenship is granted is added with a separate application. Who can be included in the application is covered in the article Vanuatu citizenship for families.

Registering a child born after citizenship takes three steps. First an apostilled and translated birth certificate is obtained, then an application to register citizenship by descent is filed with the parent’s certificate, and after registration a passport is issued. If the parents do not live in Vanuatu, documents are passed through the designated agent and no trip to the islands is needed.

A spouse married after citizenship is granted receives citizenship through a separate application: by marriage to a citizen on Form B, with a lawful marriage and at least 2 years of residence in Vanuatu, or through the investment programme with no residence requirement. The choice depends on where the family lives and how soon the passport is needed.

For retirees and families with parents

In brief: parents over 50 are included in the family application and receive the same rights as the applicant: a passport, visa-free travel to Asia and Oceania and the right to live in Vanuatu. For retirees who relocate, the country’s tax system matters: Vanuatu has no personal income tax.

Parents in the same application as their children go through the FIU check together with the family, and a separate surcharge on the contribution applies to them. Older applicants should gather in advance the documents confirming their relationship to the applicant and the source of funds if they contribute to payment. A medical certificate is required for all participants, so it is obtained in the country of residence before filing.

Retirees choose the Vanuatu passport for two reasons: a second document for visiting children in different countries and the option to live on the islands without income tax. To live in Europe near their children, families obtain Greek residence, whose application also includes parents. More in the article Vanuatu citizenship for retirees.

For entrepreneurs: a passport for travel and deals

In brief: for an entrepreneur, the Vanuatu passport gives visa-free travel to Asia’s financial centres, a second document for banks and company registrars and a backup when the main passport is held for a visa or expiring.

For trading with Asia the passport saves time on visas: Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines admit visa-free, so a trip to negotiations does not wait for a consulate. To register a company and open a corporate account, the passport holder goes through the same check as other directors: document, address and the company’s source of funds.

For an entrepreneur it matters that citizenship takes 2-3 months without pausing the business: no trip to the islands is needed, biometrics are given in a designated city and documents are prepared alongside work. The source of funds package assembled for the FIU is later used for banks and counterparties that check beneficial owners.

Banks and finance: a second document and a transparent profile

In brief: the Vanuatu passport serves as a second identity document for banks and payment services. The bank decides whether to open an account based on the client’s profile: residence, tax residence and source of funds.

A second passport is useful when the main document is expiring, held for a visa or the bank in your country of residence asks for a document from another jurisdiction. The bank usually asks for a passport, proof of address no older than a few months, a tax residence form and source of funds documents if the amount is large or the path of the money is complex. The source of funds package gathered for the FIU check during the citizenship application works for the bank too, so it is kept after the passport is issued.

Vanuatu is served by the National Bank of Vanuatu and subsidiaries of ANZ, BRED and Bank South Pacific. A citizen can open an account there on the passport, but most citizens under the programme bank in their country of residence. The procedure is covered in the article a bank account with a Vanuatu passport.

The banking side matters for the programme itself too: the FIU fee and contribution are paid from your own account, which appears in the source of funds documents. If the money passes through several accounts or countries, each step is explained with documents before payment. This later makes talking to any bank easier, because the history of the money has already passed a government check.

Dual citizenship: your first citizenship is kept

In brief: Vanuatu recognises dual citizenship, so there is no need to give up your first one. The decision on a second citizenship also depends on the law of your first country: some allow it freely and some require notification.

The amendment to the Constitution of Vanuatu on dual citizenship has been in force since 2014. The citizen uses both passports: enters and leaves a country on the same document, declares all citizenships on visa forms and enters their own country on its passport.

If your first country requires giving up previous citizenships on naturalisation in a third country, the decision is made in advance, before filing. How citizenship is renounced and restored is covered in the article renouncing Vanuatu citizenship.

Using two passports comes down to a few rules. The name on the ticket matches the passport you fly on. The visa goes into the passport you applied with. The second citizenship is declared on forms that ask for it, and the citizenship certificate is kept with the Vanuatu passport to confirm status when replacing the document or at the bank.

Citizenship or a residence permit

In brief: a residence permit gives the right to live in a country and requires renewal and residence, while Vanuatu citizenship is permanent, passes to children and gives a passport for travel. For Europe, families combine both statuses: Vanuatu citizenship and Greek or Hungarian residence.

A residence permit is chosen when you need life in a specific country, schools and healthcare, and citizenship when you need a travel document, a backup and a status your children inherit. The comparison of Vanuatu residence and citizenship is covered in the article citizenship or residence.

Your first country’s rules on a second citizenship

In brief: for holders of passports with many visa restrictions, the Vanuatu passport gives a second document for visa-free travel across Asia, Oceania and the Caribbean, a document from another jurisdiction for banks and a first step to residence in Europe. The first citizenship is kept, but some countries require notification of a second one.

Notification rules differ by country. For example, Russia requires notification of the Interior Ministry within 60 days of receiving the second citizenship document or of entering the country, and failure to notify is punishable under article 330.2 of its Criminal Code. Tax residence is still determined by where you live, so the Vanuatu passport does not exempt you from tax in your home country.

For families from countries with restricted access to Europe, the Vanuatu passport most often works in combination: Vanuatu citizenship now, then Greek or Hungarian residence. The situation of Russian citizens is covered in the article the Vanuatu passport for Russian citizens.

When travelling, a dual citizen uses the passports in turn. You leave and enter your home country on its passport, and enter Hong Kong, Singapore or Malaysia on the Vanuatu passport if it faces no visa requirements there. A ticket to a third country is bought on the passport you will use at the destination border, and at check-in both documents are shown if the airline asks how the passenger will enter the destination country.

What citizenship requires of the holder

In brief: a Vanuatu citizen’s rights require no annual payments, residence in the country or military service. Three things are expected of the holder: to comply with the law of the first country of citizenship, to keep documents safe and to renew the passport on time.

• Your own country. Notify the authorities of your first country if its law requires it, and declare the second citizenship on forms that ask for it.
• Documents. Keep the citizenship certificate, passport and source of funds package, and renew the passport before it expires.
• Accuracy. Information filed during the application must remain true: citizenship obtained by fraud or concealment is revoked under the law.
• Vanuatu law. While in the country, obey its laws, as in any other country.

Vanuatu has no regular army or conscription and no annual citizenship fees. So for most citizens under the programme, obligations come down to keeping documents in order. The full list of rights and obligations is covered in the article rights and obligations of a Vanuatu citizen.

A Vanuatu citizen’s rights against other programmes

In brief: citizenship by investment programmes give a similar set of rights: a second passport, citizenship passed to children and keeping the first citizenship. Vanuatu stands out with a 2-3 month timeline, no requirement to visit the country and a fund that returns part of the contribution, while Caribbean passports are stronger for visa-free Europe.

The choice between programmes depends on the main task. If speed, travel across Asia and Oceania and budget matter, Vanuatu fits, and Europe is covered by Greek residence. If you need visa-free Schengen entry on the passport itself, look at Caribbean programmes with their own timelines and cost. If the budget is minimal, Vanuatu is compared with Nauru, which has its own terms and destination list.

A citizen’s rights should be compared together with the conditions for keeping the status: some programmes require visits to the country or holding property for a set period, while in Vanuatu the status does not depend on residence or property. Programme comparisons are covered in the articles Vanuatu or the Caribbean and Vanuatu or Nauru.

Tasks the passport solves alone and together with residence

In brief: the passport alone covers a second citizenship, travel across Asia, Oceania, the Caribbean and Latin America, passing status to children and a backup document. It covers life and travel in Europe together with residence, and tax optimisation together with relocation.

• The passport alone. A second document, 46 countries without a visa and 42 with a visa on arrival, citizenship for children, a backup for the family.
• Passport plus residence. Life in Greece or Hungary, visa-free travel across Schengen, schools for children in Europe.
• Passport plus visa. Trips to the UK, the US, Canada and Australia are made with a visa, as for citizens of many countries.
• Passport plus relocation. Taxes change together with the country of tax residence.

This view helps choose the programme precisely: if the passport covers the whole task, Vanuatu citizenship is enough; if Europe is needed, the second step is planned straight away. What to weigh up before the contribution is covered in the article what to weigh up before the contribution, who the passport suits best in who the Vanuatu passport suits, and the risks and how to remove them in passport risks and how to remove them.

For an entrepreneur and a family the Vanuatu passport often becomes a plan B: a document prepared in advance that does not depend on one country’s decisions. This scenario is covered in the article the Vanuatu passport as a plan B.

How to obtain these rights: DSP or the CIIP fund

In brief: Vanuatu citizenship by investment is obtained under DSP or through the CIIP fund. DSP is better value for a single applicant at $135,000 all-in, and the CIIP fund for a family of three or more at $165,000 with $50,000 returned after 5 years.

Under DSP the contribution is $130,000 for one person, $150,000 for a couple, $165,000 for a family of three and $180,000 for a family of four, plus an FIU fee of $5,000 per application. The contribution is paid only after Commission approval. Under the CIIP fund the contribution is $157,000 for a family of up to four and the FIU fee is $8,000, with the contribution likewise paid after approval.

Processing takes 2-3 months: pre-screening, the FIU check, the full package, the Commission’s decision, biometrics and the oath. Since 1 July 2025 every participant gives biometrics in person. After 5 years the state buys back the CIIP fund share and returns $50,000, so for a family of four citizenship through the fund costs $115,000 net of the refund. The step-by-step procedure is in the article how to get Vanuatu citizenship, and the all-in cost in the cost calculator.

How BRIDGES handles Vanuatu citizenship

In brief: BRIDGES runs a pre-screening in 1-2 business days, names the designated agent before the contract, prepares documents for the FIU and the Commission and handles the application through to the certificate and passport. If the goal is Europe, we plan Greek residence from the start.

• Checks before payments. Background and source of funds of all participants before the FIU fee is paid.
• Choosing the programme. DSP or the CIIP fund by family composition and timeline.
• Documents. A package for the FIU, the Commission and the passport that later works for banks.
• After the passport. Registering children, renewing and replacing passports, the second step to residence in Europe.

The terms of support are described on the page support under the Vanuatu programme, and the total for your family is shown by the all-in cost calculator.

BRIDGES research on this topic: Vanuatu after the EU visa waiver suspension, 2026 in numbers.

BRIDGES services on this topic: Greek residence for Vanuatu citizens.