How much does Vanuatu citizenship really cost: full cost estimate 2026

Briefly: what does the price consist of?

Real cost of Vanuatu citizenship 2026 = non-refundable DSP fee + due diligence + state fees for issuing documents + licensed agent fee + translations, notary, apostille and courier. Advertising “130,000” is only the first point.

Vanuatu's Development Support Program (DSP) is citizenship for a direct non-refundable donation to the country's budget. Unlike Caribbean programs with the option of repayable real estate, here the money is not returned to the budget: the contribution is a donation, not an investment. Therefore, it is critical to add all mandatory fees to it in advance, otherwise the final check will be 15-30% higher than the “banner price”.

Below we break down the estimate by item. First, the biggest block is the state contribution and how it grows for each family member. Then there are due diligence fees, which are paid per application, not per person. After that there are state fees for processing the case and issuing a passport, the agent’s fee and “little things”, which add up to several thousand dollars: translations, notarization, apostille, biometrics, courier delivery. At the end there is a summary table with three real scenarios: one person, a family of four and a family with parents. A detailed overview of the entire program is in the material Vanuatu citizenship by investment.

State contribution DSP: main budget item

A non-refundable contribution to the Development Support Program is the core of the budget and the largest item in the budget. The amount of the contribution depends on the composition of the family and in 2026 it looks like this: one applicant - 130,000 USD; married couple - 150,000 USD; family of four (two adults + two children) - 180,000 USD. For each additional dependent beyond a family of four, approximately USD 15,000 is added.

It is important to understand the logic of accrual, because this is where advertising materials like to leave things unsaid. The contribution is not equal to “130,000 times the number of people” - it is calculated according to the tariff schedule, where the spouse and children are cheaper than the main applicant. The increase for a spouse to a single tariff is about 20,000 USD (from 130,000 to 150,000), and two children in a family of four give +30,000 (from 150,000 to 180,000). Children are considered if they are financially dependent on the main applicant and are generally under 25 years of age. We discuss the logic of including relatives in more detail in the article about family rules.

• 1 adult - fee 130,000 USD
• Married couple - 150 000 USD
• Family of 4 (2 adults + 2 children) - 180 000 USD
• Each additional dependent - approximately +15,000 USD
• Applicant's parents - are included as additional dependents at a rate above the base amount

Let us emphasize again: this is a non-refundable donation. The money goes to the Vanuatu budget and is not returned either after a year or after five years. The tariff schedule is the officially approved minimum; It cannot legally cost below it. If they tell you a less amount, this is either outdated data or a “price without fees”, to which the rest will be added later. A detailed analysis of the contribution can be found in the material about the DSP donation, and a general picture of the price is given by a review article about cost of Vanuatu citizenship.

Due diligence: checking reliability

The second most important item is the fee for due diligence, that is, checking the applicant’s reliability by independent services and the Vanuatu Financial Intelligence Unit. In 2026, this fee is approximately 5,500 USD - and here a fundamentally important detail is often skimped on in advertising: it is paid per application (per case), and not for each person. That is, a family of four pays the same 5,500 as a single applicant if everyone is included in one case.

What exactly is being checked? This is not a formality: the source of funds is checked, the absence of criminal records, sanctions lists, negative information in international databases, and reputational risks. The state of Vanuatu, after tightening controls in 2022-2024, takes this seriously - it was reputational claims that became the reason for suspending the visa-free regime with the EU, so the country is interested in clearing the flow of applicants. A clean and transparent source of funds is not an item that should be “optimized”: a refusal based on the results of an audit means a loss of time and part of the fees paid.

• Size - approximately 5,500 USD per application (not per person)
• What's included - international database checks, sanctions lists, criminal records, reputation
• Source of funds - mandatory confirmation of the legal origin of money
• irrevocability - the fee is not refundable even in case of refusal
• Who checks - accredited DD providers + Financial Intelligence Unit Vanuatu

In practice, it is the quality of the preparation of the source of funds dossier that determines whether the application will pass the first time. There is a separate discussion about this in the article about due diligence. You can compare the strictness of the vetting with neighboring programs in the articleVanuatu or Dominica.

State fees for processing and issuing passports

After approval, the case does not turn into a passport by itself - there are separate state fees for processing and issuing documents. Individually, they are small, but in total they add up to several thousand dollars per family, and they are usually not shown at all in the “banner price.”

What is included in this block in 2026:

• Application fee - approximately 40 USD for each applicant; symbolic, but paid for everyone
• Certificate of Naturalization - about 86 USD per person; this is a document confirming the assignment of citizenship
• Document processing - from 2,000 USD per case; the amount depends on the number of documents and the languages ​​in which they are issued
• Issuance of ID card and certificate - from 1,000 USD per person
• Biometrics - about 1,000 USD per person when renting in Vanuatu and up to 3,000 USD when renting in Dubai (if the applicant does not travel to Vanuatu)

Please note the point about biometrics: the delivery location affects the price. Some applicants do not fly to the Pacific Ocean and take biometrics in the Dubai office - this is logistically more convenient, but more expensive. This is a typical example of how a “same grid” program in practice costs differently depending on your route. The speed of registration itself remains one of the main strengths of Vanuatu - a passport is issued in approximately 1-2 months, which makes the program one of the fastest in the world; comparison by timing - in the material fastest second citizenship.

Agent's fee, translations, notary, apostille

You cannot apply for Vanuatu citizenship directly “from the street” - the law requires application through a licensed agent accredited by the program. His fee is a separate and very noticeable item in the budget: in 2026, professional and legal services cost approximately at 17,000-30,000 USD depending on the complexity of the case, the number of applicants and the reputation of the agent.

What is this money for? A licensed agent collects and checks the dossier, communicates with the Citizenship Office, prepares and certifies the source of funds, monitors the status and insures against formal refusals. This is the worst area to skimp on: a cheap or unlicensed broker is a common cause of rejected cases and lost fees. An agent's license, a transparent contract and a clear breakdown of the fee are more important than a “5,000 discount”.

A separate block of “small” but mandatory expenses for accompanying documents:

• Translations - sworn/certified translation of passports, certificates, certificates; approximately from 500 to 1,500 USD per family, depending on volume
• Notarization - copies and signatures; several hundred dollars
• Apostille - for documents confirming no criminal record, marriage and birth certificates; approximately 20-50 USD per document plus intermediary fees
• Courier delivery - originals and completed passports by the international service; 100-300 USD per shipment
• Medical certificate / health insurance - upon request; usually a small amount, but you need to budget for it

Separately, these are pennies, but for a family of four with parents, it runs up to 2,000-4,000 USD just for the paper strapping. It is these articles that are most often “forgotten” in the advertising price - and they are required.

Summary estimate: real totals 2026

Let's summarize all the articles into three real scenarios. The figures are given on a turnkey basis - that is, the fee plus all mandatory fees and services; The range for the agent is taken as 17,000-30,000 USD, other expenses (translations, apostille, biometrics, courier) are averaged. This is a picture of what is actually leaving your account, not a “banner price”.

What does this table show? For one applicant, “advertising from 130,000” turns into real 157,000-170,000 - that is, 20-30% higher. The larger the family, the more noticeable the contribution of fees and services in absolute numbers, although in percentage terms the premium premium decreases slightly (the fee grows faster than overhead costs). The main conclusion is simple: when planning your budget, add +15-30% to the advertising fee, and then there will be no surprises.

Do you want an accurate personal estimate for your family composition and delivery route (Vanuatu or Dubai)? Request a quote from BRIDGES GLOBAL experts - we will break down the cost by item and show where you can save legally and where you cannot save. It is also useful to check the overview article about Vanuatu citizenship price.

What you can't save on

When it comes to six figures, the desire to cut costs is understandable. But in citizenship by investment, savings can be smart and dangerous. Let's look at where you can cut your check, and where an attempt to save money is almost guaranteed to result in losses.

Where you can't save money:

• Licensed agent. Filing through an unlicensed or dubious intermediary is the first reason for refusals and missing money. The due diligence fee and part of the fees are not refunded upon refusal, so a “cheap agent” could end up costing you the entire fee. Check your license and reputation.
• Source of funds. An attempt to “simplify” or embellish the origin of funds is a direct path to failure of the Financial Intelligence Unit audit. Clean, documented origin of money is a prerequisite, not an option.
• Quality of translation and legalization of documents. An error in a sworn translation or a missing apostille will return the case for revision and extend the deadline. Cheap translation is a false economy.

Where you can save money legally:

• To take biometrics in Vanuatu instead of Dubai, if logistics allow, the difference is up to 2,000 USD per person.
• Submit all family members in one go - due diligence is paid per application, not per person.
• Collect and legalize documents in advance to avoid paying for urgency.
• Choose an agent with a transparent fixed rate, rather than a percentage “depending on the situation.”

And most importantly: do not be fooled by the “banner price”. If the program is presented as “citizenship for 130,000 without reservations,” this is marketing, not an estimate. A realistic budget always includes fees, and a consultant will tell you this right away. Material helps to compare the economy of Vanuatu with neighboring programs Vanuatu or Nauru.

Common mistakes in budget calculations

Over the years of practice, we see the same mistakes, due to which applicants underestimate the real cost of Vanuatu citizenship. We collected them in a checklist - check it before fixing your budget.

• Only the contribution is counted. The most common mistake: a person sees “130,000” and pledges exactly this amount. In fact, 15-30% of fees and services are added to it. Always consider turnkey.
• They confuse contribution and investment. The DSP contribution is a non-refundable donation and not a repayable investment in real estate. The money will not be returned. This fundamentally distinguishes Vanuatu from a number of Caribbean options.
• The place where biometrics is taken is not taken into account. Dubai is up to 2,000 USD per person more expensive than Vanuatu - this is noticeable for a family.
• They think that due diligence is paid for everyone. No: 5,500 USD is per application. For a family of four, this saves several thousand against the erroneous “per person” calculation.
• They forget about translations, apostille and courier. “Paper binding” for a large family is 2,000-4,000 USD, which is often not included in the estimate.
• Exchange rate and commission losses are ignored. Payments are made in USD; Bank commissions and conversion add their percentage.
• Passports are overvalued for visa-free travel. This is not the price, but it affects the value of the purchase: visa-free entry to Schengen and the UK from Vanuatu No - The EU has completely suspended the agreement. Real map - approximately 100+ destinations (Singapore, Hong Kong, Russia, etc.), without Europe. Details are in the article about visa-free passport options.

The main point of this block: the budget for Vanuatu citizenship is not one figure from an advertisement, but an estimate of six to seven articles. Those who think do not receive any unpleasant surprises at the payment stage. The tax part is pleasing - in Vanuatu there is no tax on income, capital gains and inheritance, and dual citizenship is allowed.