Citizenship · Vanuatu
Where a Vanuatu passport takes you: 46 countries visa-free and 42 more with a visa on arrival
Updated: September 2026·21 min read·Expert reviewed
Terms and costs verified: September 2026
Contents
A Vanuatu citizen enters 46 countries without a visa and 42 more with a visa on arrival, 3 countries with an eTA electronic authorisation and 22 dependent territories visa-free. About 39 more countries issue an eVisa online. The open destinations include Russia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Fiji and most of the Caribbean. The Schengen Area, the UK, the US, Canada and Australia require a visa, and families with a Vanuatu passport who want to live in Europe start with Greek residence. Below are the full country lists with permitted stays, a region-by-region breakdown and how to plan trips.
Vanuatu passport visa-free countries in brief
In brief: a Vanuatu passport opens 46 countries without a visa and 42 more with a visa on arrival, plus 5 countries by eTA, 22 territories and about 39 countries by eVisa. It is strongest in Asia, Oceania, the Caribbean, Latin America and the former Soviet Union. The Schengen Area and the UK require a visa.
- 42Visa-free
- 30Visa on arrival
- 22Territories visa-free
- 3eTA electronic authorisation
- about 39eVisa
An eVisa is obtained online in advance and is a full visa, so it is counted separately from entry without a prior visa.
BRIDGES visa-free destinations database as of 2 September 2026; regimes change and are checked before travel
The number next to each country in the tables below shows the permitted stay in days. Visa regimes are set by the destination states and they change, so before every trip the regime is checked with the consulate or on the official website of the destination country. How the citizenship programme works is described in the overview of Vanuatu citizenship by investment, and what the passport itself is like in the article what document a Vanuatu citizen receives.
We will map your route to Vanuatu citizenship
We review your family, source of funds and timing and tell you which route fits.
How many countries a Vanuatu passport opens: how they are counted
In brief: figures differ between sources because of the method: some count only visa-free entry, others add visas on arrival, electronic authorisations and dependent territories. For a decision, two numbers matter most: 46 countries visa-free and 42 countries with a visa on arrival.
Entry without a prior visa comes in three forms. Visa-free: the passport is stamped at the border and nothing is arranged in advance. Visa on arrival: the visa is issued at the airport or port, usually with a form and a fee. eTA electronic authorisation: the application is filed online before departure and the decision comes quickly. An eVisa is also obtained online, but it is a full visa, so it is counted separately.
The BRIDGES database lists separately 22 dependent territories, such as Hong Kong, the Cook Islands, French Polynesia and the British Virgin Islands, and about 39 countries with an eVisa. Lists that still show Schengen and the UK as open for Vanuatu are out of date: visas have been required there since 2023. How the lists of different programmes have changed over time is covered in how visa-free access of investment passports has changed.
When choosing a passport, it is more useful to count not the total but the destinations a particular family needs: countries for business trips, holiday places, states where it plans to live. A list of 90 destinations where three are needed gives less than a list of 50 where all are needed.
42 visa-free countries
In brief: without a visa, on the passport alone, a Vanuatu citizen enters 46 countries according to the Passport Index 2026. The main ones by region are in the table.
| Region | Countries and permitted stay, days |
|---|---|
| Europe and the CIS | Russia 90, Belarus 30, Moldova 90, Bosnia and Herzegovina 90, Montenegro 90 |
| Asia and the Pacific | Singapore 30, Malaysia 30, Philippines 30, Fiji 120, Kiribati 90, Micronesia 30 |
| The Caribbean | Antigua and Barbuda 180, Bahamas 90, Barbados 180, Dominica 180, Grenada 90, Saint Lucia 42, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 30, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Haiti 90, Dominican Republic 30 |
| Latin America | Panama 90, Costa Rica 30, Belize, Guatemala 90, Honduras 90, Nicaragua 90, El Salvador 90, Ecuador 90, Peru 180 |
| Africa and the Indian Ocean | Mauritius 90, Botswana 90, Lesotho 90, Eswatini 30, Zambia 90, Zimbabwe 90, Tanzania 90, Uganda 90, Rwanda 30, The Gambia 90, Angola 30 |
The longest visa-free stays are allowed in the Caribbean and Peru: up to 180 days in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica and Peru. Fiji allows up to 120 days, a long stay for the Pacific. For those tied to Russia by work or family, visa-free entry to Russia for up to 90 days under an agreement in force since 21 October 2016 matters.
Detailed regional reviews are in the articles Latin America without a visa and Oceania and Africa without a visa.
42 countries with a visa on arrival
In brief: in 42 countries a Vanuatu citizen receives the visa at the airport or port. They include Thailand, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Armenia, Egypt and Jordan.
| Region | Countries and permitted stay, days |
|---|---|
| Asia and the Middle East | Thailand 30, Sri Lanka 30, Maldives 30, Cambodia 30, Laos 30, Nepal 90, Timor-Leste 30, Jordan 90, Egypt 30, Iran 30 |
| The Caucasus | Armenia 120 |
| The Pacific and Latin America | Samoa 60, Tonga 31, Tuvalu 30, Palau 30, Nauru 90, Marshall Islands 90, Solomon Islands 45, Papua New Guinea 60, Bolivia 90 |
| Africa and the Indian Ocean | Seychelles 90, Cabo Verde 30, Comoros 45, Guinea-Bissau 90, Senegal 30, Burundi 30, Madagascar 90, Malawi 30, Mozambique 30, Sierra Leone 30 |
A visa on arrival is convenient for trips without preparation, but at the border travellers usually fill in a form, pay a fee and show a return ticket or booking. The fee and document requirements are checked before departure: they differ from country to country.
eTA and dependent territories
In brief: a Vanuatu citizen enters Saint Kitts and Nevis, Israel and Kenya with an eTA electronic authorisation for up to 90 days. A further 22 territories are open visa-free, including Hong Kong for 90 days.
| Type of entry | Countries and territories, permitted stay in days |
|---|---|
| eTA online before travel | Saint Kitts and Nevis 90, Israel 90, Kenya 90 |
| Territories with a stay in the database | Hong Kong 90, Kosovo 90, Wallis and Futuna 90, Anguilla 90, Cook Islands 31, Niue 30, Pitcairn 14 |
| Territories, stay to be confirmed | Northern Cyprus, Palestine, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Montserrat, Gibraltar, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Réunion, French Guiana, Mayotte, Saint Pierre and Miquelon |
An electronic authorisation is obtained online before the trip: it is not a visa, but without approval the traveller will not be allowed to board. Entry to French and British overseas territories depends on the rules of the territory itself, not the mother country, so it is checked separately even when holding a visa for the mother country.
eVisa: the UAE, Georgia, India, Vietnam and 35 more countries
In brief: about 39 countries issue Vanuatu citizens an eVisa online, without an embassy visit. They include the UAE for 30 days, Georgia for 90, India for 60, Vietnam for 90, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
| Region | Countries and permitted stay, days |
|---|---|
| Asia, the Middle East and the CIS | UAE 30, Qatar 30, Bahrain 14, Georgia 90, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan 30, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia 30, India 60, Vietnam 90, Bhutan 90, Pakistan, Iraq 30, Syria, Albania, Ukraine 30 |
| Latin America and Africa | Colombia 90, Cuba 90, Suriname, Nigeria 90, Côte d’Ivoire 90, Guinea 90, Liberia 30, Togo 15, Benin 30, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Gabon 90, Chad 90, DR Congo 7, Equatorial Guinea, São Tomé and Príncipe, Ethiopia 90, Djibouti 31, Somalia 30, South Sudan, Namibia 90, Libya 30, Mauritania 30 |
An eVisa is obtained in advance on the country’s official website, usually a few days before the trip. The UAE is a frequent question: a Vanuatu citizen enters Dubai not with a border stamp but with an eVisa. Trips to the UAE and Singapore are covered in detail in the article entry to three Asian hubs.
Permitted stays: where you can stay the longest
In brief: up to 180 days visa-free in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica and Peru, up to 120 days in Fiji and in Armenia with a visa on arrival. Hong Kong, Russia, Moldova and most countries of Central America and Africa give up to 90 days, Singapore and Malaysia 30 days.
The stay is counted under the rules of the country of entry: some count the days of a single trip, others add up the days over six months or a year. So for a long winter stay or remote work, the counting rule is checked in advance, and departures and re-entries are planned so as not to exceed the permitted stay. For Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and Belize the stay is not given in the database and is confirmed on the official website before travel.
Long stays suit families who spend the winter in warm countries and specialists working remotely. For such trips the tax side is also checked in advance: a long stay in one country can make a person its tax resident, usually after 183 days a year.
Asia: Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Thailand
In brief: in Asia a Vanuatu passport opens Singapore and Malaysia visa-free for 30 days, the Philippines for 30 days and Hong Kong for 90 days, and Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Nepal and the Maldives with a visa on arrival.
Singapore and Hong Kong give visa-free entry to the region’s two financial centres, which matters for negotiations, banking and business trips. Malaysia and the Philippines add short trips without preparation, while Thailand, Cambodia and Laos are open with a 30-day visa on arrival. Vietnam and India require an eVisa. How a second passport simplifies regular business travel in the region is shown in the case of a year of trade with Asia without visa forms.
Families who live or do business in South-East Asia use a Vanuatu passport to avoid applying for a visa for every trip. How this works for a family in Thailand is shown in the case of life without visa runs, and for a financier travelling to Hong Kong and Singapore in the case of access to Asian banks. A country-by-country review of the region is in the article Asia with a Vanuatu passport.
Download the country list for a Vanuatu passport
Leave your contacts and we will send the list: 46 countries visa-free, 42 with a visa on arrival and the eVisa countries.
Oceania and the Pacific
In brief: neighbouring Pacific states are widely open to Vanuatu citizens: Fiji visa-free for 120 days, Kiribati for 90, Micronesia for 30, Samoa, Tonga, Palau, Nauru and the Solomon Islands with a visa on arrival, the Cook Islands and Niue visa-free.
For residents of the region this is the basis of everyday mobility: connecting flights via Fiji, New Caledonia and Australia link Port Vila with the rest of the world. Fiji, with stays of up to 120 days, suits long holidays or remote work. French Polynesia and New Caledonia are open as dependent territories, and the transit rules of third countries are checked before buying a ticket.
A review of destinations in Oceania and Africa is in the article Africa and Oceania with a Vanuatu passport.
The Caribbean and Latin America
In brief: in the Caribbean and Latin America 20 countries are open visa-free, including Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados and Dominica for 180 days, the Bahamas, Grenada, Panama and Ecuador for 90 days, and Peru for 180 days. Bolivia gives a visa on arrival, Colombia and Cuba an eVisa.
Long permitted stays make the region convenient for wintering and unhurried travel. Panama is of interest as a financial and logistics centre, Peru and Ecuador as destinations for long journeys. Saint Kitts and Nevis is entered with an eTA electronic authorisation, while the regime for Mexico, Brazil and Argentina is checked separately: they are not in the visa-free destinations database.
The Middle East and Africa
In brief: in the Middle East, Jordan issues a visa on arrival for 90 days, Egypt and Iran for 30 days, Israel is entered by eTA for 90 days, and the UAE, Qatar and Bahrain by eVisa. In Africa 11 countries are open visa-free, 9 more with a visa on arrival, plus the Seychelles.
For business trips to the region the UAE matters most: a 30-day eVisa is obtained online before departure. Jordan and Egypt are convenient for tourist trips without preparation. In Africa, Mauritius, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Uganda are open visa-free for 90 days, and Kenya admits travellers by eTA for 90 days.
Russia, Belarus and the CIS countries
In brief: a Vanuatu citizen enters Russia visa-free for up to 90 days, Belarus for 30 days and Moldova for 90. Armenia issues a visa on arrival for 120 days, while Georgia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan require an eVisa.
The visa-free regime with Russia is set by an intergovernmental agreement signed on 20 September 2016 and in force since 21 October 2016. A dual national generally enters and leaves their home country on that country’s passport and uses the Vanuatu passport for travel to third countries; for example, a Russian citizen crosses the Russian border on the Russian passport.
The home-country side of holding a second passport, from where biometrics can be taken to notifying the authorities where the law requires it, is covered in the article Vanuatu citizenship and home-country rules.
Schengen, the UK and the US: where a visa is required
In brief: a Vanuatu citizen needs a visa to enter the Schengen Area, the UK, the US, Canada and Australia. Families with a Vanuatu passport who want to live in Europe start with Greek residence.
The EU revised visa-free travel in three steps. From 3 March 2022 it was partially suspended for passports issued from 25 May 2015, on 4 February 2023 it was suspended in full, and EU Regulation 2025/11 of 19 December 2024 moved Vanuatu to the list of visa-required countries, with effect from 3 February 2025. The UK has required a visa since 19 July 2023, including a transit visa.
For trips to Europe a Vanuatu citizen obtains a Schengen visa at a consulate, and the history of the changes is covered in the article the Vanuatu passport and Schengen. A Vanuatu citizen enters the US, Canada and Australia with a visa: how it is obtained is covered in the articles how to obtain a B1/B2 visa and entering the UK with a Vanuatu passport.
Greek residence: how Vanuatu citizens live in Europe
In brief: the Vanuatu passport is the first step, and life in Europe comes with Greek residence under the Golden Visa programme: a property threshold from €250,000 to €800,000, the application covers the spouse, children and parents, and holders travel in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180.
The order is as follows: the family obtains Vanuatu citizenship in 2-3 months without relocating, selects a property in Greece in parallel and applies for residence as Vanuatu citizens. The whole turnkey package takes up to 9 months, and certificates, apostilles and translations are prepared with both applications in mind, so the package is not collected twice.
A residence card solves what a one-off visa does not: the family can live in Greece and travel in the Schengen Area without a visa for each trip. Living in Greece permanently is not required to keep the card as long as the property remains owned. Conditions and the procedure are on the page Greek residence for Vanuatu citizens.
Vanuatu and other programmes: what to compare for travel
In brief: passports from different programmes open different sets of countries, so the comparison is not by total but by the countries the family travels to. A Vanuatu passport is strongest in Asia, Oceania, the Caribbean and Latin America, and Greek residence adds Europe to it.
To choose a programme, a short list is drawn up: where the family works, where it goes on holiday, where relatives live and where it plans to live in a few years. If the list includes Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Russia, the Caribbean or Central America, a Vanuatu passport covers them without a visa. If the list includes the Schengen Area, Greek residence is added to the Vanuatu passport, and the whole package takes up to 9 months.
A Vanuatu passport is obtained in 2-3 months without relocating. For a single applicant or a couple the DSP with a contribution from $130,000 is better value, while for a family of three or more it is usually the CIIP fund: $165,000 including the FIU fee for a family of up to four, of which $50,000 is returned after 5 years. Direct comparisons of money, timing and travel are in the articles Vanuatu or Dominica, Vanuatu or the Caribbean and Vanuatu or Nauru.
Calculate a Vanuatu passport for your family
The calculator shows the total under the DSP and the CIIP fund, including the FIU fee, for your family.
What is checked at the border on visa-free entry
In brief: visa-free entry does not remove border control. The passport must be valid long enough, many countries require at least 6 months on the date of entry, and the officer may ask for a return ticket, an accommodation booking and the purpose of the trip.
- Passport validity. A Vanuatu passport is issued for 10 years, but it is replaced a year before expiry so as not to run into the 6-month rule.
- Return or onward ticket. It is shown at check-in and at the border.
- Accommodation. A hotel booking or the address where the traveller will stay.
- Funds for the trip. A bank card or statement, if asked.
- Purpose of the trip. Visa-free entry is for tourism and business meetings; work requires a permit under the country’s rules.
Requirements depend on the country, so they are checked on the official website before departure. The airline checks documents at boarding: if the entry regime is not confirmed, the traveller will not be allowed on the flight, even when the country is open visa-free.
Who gains most from the Vanuatu visa-free list
In brief: entrepreneurs who travel around Asia, families who live in South-East Asia or winter in the Caribbean, people tied by work and family to Russia and the CIS, and those planning to live in Europe through Greek residence.
- An entrepreneur with partners in Asia. Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong visa-free, Thailand with a visa on arrival, the UAE by eVisa.
- A family in South-East Asia. Travel to neighbouring countries without a visa for each trip.
- Wintering in the Caribbean and Latin America. Up to 180 days in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica and Peru.
- Ties to Russia and the CIS. Russia and Moldova up to 90 days visa-free, Belarus 30 days, Armenia on arrival, Georgia by eVisa.
- Life in Europe. A Vanuatu passport and Greek residence in one package within 9 months.
If the family travels mainly to the Schengen Area, the UK and the US, a Vanuatu passport works as part of a combination: Greek residence for life in Europe, and for other trips visas obtained under the rules for Vanuatu citizens.
How to get a Vanuatu passport and how long it takes
In brief: Vanuatu citizenship by investment takes roughly 2-3 months without relocating. The DSP contribution starts at $130,000 for a single applicant, the CIIP fund is $157,000 for a family of up to four, and before the Commission’s decision only the FIU fee is paid.
The application is filed through an appointed agent in two stages: a short package for the Financial Intelligence Unit check, which takes up to 7 working days without queries, and then the full package for the Citizenship Commission, which meets twice a month. After approval the contribution is paid and the oath is taken, and the passport is issued within 1-3 weeks. The applicant travels in person only for biometrics: to Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Dubai, Hong Kong or Port Vila.
The passport is biometric and valid for 10 years; the application includes the spouse, children under 25 and parents over 50, and the whole family receives the visa-free list. How we work is described on the page support with the Vanuatu programme.
How to use the visa-free list
In brief: before a trip the entry regime is checked on the official website of the destination country, the ticket is bought on the passport used to cross the border, and for eTA and eVisa countries the permit is obtained in advance.
- Check the regime before every trip. States change their visa policy, and the list reflects the position as of September 2026.
- Buy the ticket on the entry passport. The passport details in the booking must match the document shown at the border.
- Obtain eTAs and eVisas in advance. Without approval the traveller will not be allowed to board.
- Check passport validity. Many countries require the passport to remain valid for 6 months after entry.
- Consider transit. A connection in a country with a visa regime may require a transit visa, for example in the UK.
Practical tips for travelling with two passports are in the article travelling with a Vanuatu passport.
Frequently asked
Questions people ask before deciding
01How many countries can a Vanuatu passport holder visit without a visa?
46 countries without a visa and 42 more with a visa on arrival. In addition, 3 countries admit travellers by eTA, 22 territories are open visa-free, and about 39 countries issue an eVisa online.
02Why do different sources give different numbers of countries?
Because of the method: some count only visa-free entry, others add visas on arrival, eTAs and dependent territories. eVisas are usually counted separately.
03Can I enter the Schengen Area without a visa on a Vanuatu passport?
No. The EU fully suspended visa-free travel on 4 February 2023, and since 3 February 2025 Vanuatu has been on the visa-required list. To live in Europe, families obtain Greek residence.
04Do I need a visa for the UK?
Yes. The UK has required visas from Vanuatu citizens since 19 July 2023, including transit visas.
05Does a Vanuatu citizen need a visa for Russia?
No. Under an agreement in force since 21 October 2016, a Vanuatu citizen may stay in Russia without a visa for up to 90 days.
06Are Singapore and Hong Kong open?
Yes. Singapore is visa-free for 30 days, Hong Kong for 90 days.
07Can I enter the UAE without a visa?
No, for the UAE a 30-day eVisa is obtained online in advance.
08Do I need a visa for Thailand?
Thailand issues Vanuatu citizens a 30-day visa on arrival.
09Which European countries are open without a visa?
Outside the Schengen Area: Russia, Belarus, Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro. Armenia is open with a visa on arrival, Georgia and Albania by eVisa.
10Do I need a visa for Georgia and Armenia?
For Georgia a 90-day eVisa is obtained, while Armenia issues a 120-day visa on arrival.
11Which Latin American countries are open without a visa?
Panama, Costa Rica, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Ecuador and Peru. Bolivia gives a visa on arrival, and Colombia and Cuba require an eVisa.
12Do I need a visa for the US, Canada and Australia?
Yes, a Vanuatu citizen needs a visa for all three countries.
13Where can I stay the longest?
Up to 180 days visa-free in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica and Peru, up to 120 days in Fiji and in Armenia with a visa on arrival.
14How can I live in Europe with a Vanuatu passport?
Through Greek residence: the property threshold starts at €250,000, the application covers the spouse, children and parents, and holders travel in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180. The turnkey package with citizenship takes up to 9 months.
15How long does it take to get a Vanuatu passport?
Roughly 2-3 months without relocating. The applicant travels in person only for biometrics.
Transparency
How this material was prepared
- Author
- Darya Melnik, senior Investment Programs Advisor, BRIDGES
- Terms and costs last verified
- September 2026
- Sources
- official government authorities of the relevant country and state publications
- Methodology
- government minimum requirements are stated separately from due diligence charges, state fees, legal and banking costs
Sources and methodology
Figures, terms and timelines are checked against official sources as of September 2026. Link availability verified in August 2026. Third-party blogs and agent websites are not used as a source of programme terms.
- [1]Vanuatu Citizenship OfficeOfficial conditions of the citizenship programmevancitizenship.gov.vu
- [2]Vanuatu Department of ImmigrationEntry, visas and statusesimmigration.gov.vu
Methodology: tables and charts state government minimum investment requirements; due diligence charges, state fees, legal, banking and other costs are calculated separately and are not included in the minimum thresholds.
About the author
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