Dual citizenship of Russia and Vanuatu: notifying the Interior Ministry within 60 days and legal status

Dual citizenship of Russia and Vanuatu in brief

In brief: there is no need to give up Russian citizenship; the Vanuatu passport is added to the Russian one. A Russian citizen notifies the Interior Ministry within 60 days of acquiring citizenship, or, if it was obtained abroad, within 60 days of entering Russia. In Russia a person with two citizenships is treated only as a Russian citizen.

Two questions need to be kept apart here. Can you hold a Vanuatu passport? Yes, it is lawful for both Vanuatu and Russia. Do you need to report it? Yes, on time and in the prescribed form. The legality of the second citizenship does not depend on the notice, and the notice does not limit the right to use the Vanuatu passport abroad.

• Giving up Russian citizenship. Not required.
• Interior Ministry notice. 60 days; for minors, parents or legal guardians file it.
• Late filing. A fine of RUB 500 to 1,000 under Article 19.8.3 of the Russian Administrative Code.
• Failure to file. A fine of up to RUB 200,000 or compulsory work of up to 400 hours under Article 330.2 of the Russian Criminal Code.
• Taxes. Depend on tax residence, not on the passport.

All the programme conditions for Russian citizens, from biometrics in Moscow to paying the contribution, are in the article Vanuatu citizenship for Russians.

No need to give up Russian citizenship

In brief: Vanuatu does not require renouncing previous citizenship, and Russia does not prohibit its citizens from holding a second one. The Vanuatu passport is added to the Russian one, and both documents are valid at the same time.

When citizenship is obtained under the DSP programme or through the CIIP fund, Vanuatu does not ask for proof of renouncing another citizenship. The applicant keeps the Russian passport and, after the Citizenship Commission’s approval and the oath, receives a biometric Vanuatu passport for 10 years. A family filing one application also keeps each participant’s Russian citizenship.

On the Russian side, a second citizenship does not end Russian citizenship. Renouncing Russian citizenship requires a separate application, and obtaining a Vanuatu passport does not lead to it. The Russian international passport remains valid and does not need to be surrendered, and the internal Russian passport continues to be valid as usual.

• Holding two citizenships. Lawful for both countries.
• Status within Russia. The person is treated only as a Russian citizen.
• Obligation. Notify the Interior Ministry of the second citizenship on time.

Russia’s general approach to dual citizenship is covered in the article Russian dual citizenship with other countries. Other states have their own rules, so a separate review has been prepared for citizens of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine.

What a Russian citizen gets with a Vanuatu passport

In brief: Vanuatu citizenship is permanent, the biometric passport with a green cover is valid for 10 years, and children born after citizenship is acquired receive it by descent without a contribution.

A passport is issued to each participant in the application, including children: a child cannot be entered in a parent’s passport. Citizenship is kept after the passport is replaced, and the citizenship certificate confirms the status when the document is replaced and at banks. The passport is issued by the Vanuatu Immigration and Passport Service, and the certificate by the Citizenship Commission.

For a Russian citizen, a Vanuatu passport serves as a second document for travel and accounts abroad, a basis for Greek residence and a back-up document for the family. The rights of a Vanuatu citizen do not apply within Russia, so everything involving Russian authorities is done on the Russian passport.

Interior Ministry notice: the 60-day deadline

In brief: the notice of a second citizenship is filed with the Interior Ministry within 60 days. If citizenship is acquired while the person is in Russia, the period runs from the date of acquisition; if abroad, from the date of entry into Russia.

The obligation is set by Federal Law No. 138-FZ “On Citizenship of the Russian Federation”. A residence permit or other document giving the right of permanent residence in a foreign state is notified under the same rules, so a family that obtains Greek residence after the Vanuatu passport plans for this notice too.

A Vanuatu passport is obtained without a trip to the islands while the applicant lives in Russia or a third country. For someone in Russia, the 60 days start from the date citizenship is acquired. For someone living abroad, the count starts on entry into Russia, so the notice is prepared before the trip in order to file it soon after arrival.

• Who files. Every Russian citizen who has acquired Vanuatu citizenship; for minors, parents or legal guardians file.
• Where. With the local migration division of the Interior Ministry, in person or by post.
• What to attach. Copies of the Russian passport and the data page of the Vanuatu passport.
• What to keep. The acceptance stamp or proof of posting: it confirms the obligation was met on time.

The form and the list of documents are checked on the filing date: the form is approved by the Interior Ministry and is updated. The notice is free, and no fee is charged for it.

How to file the notice step by step

In brief: filing takes five steps: determine the start date of the period, prepare the documents, complete the form, file the notice and keep the confirmation. For a family, a separate notice is filed for each Russian citizen.

1. Start date of the period. In Russia the count runs from the date Vanuatu citizenship is acquired, abroad from the date of entry into Russia. The date goes into the family calendar right after the passports are received.
2. Documents. The Russian passport, a copy of the Vanuatu passport data page, for a child the birth certificate and the legal guardian’s document, and if filed through a representative a notarised power of attorney.
3. Form. The Vanuatu passport details are copied letter for letter: the name in Latin script, number, date of issue, expiry date and issuing authority.
4. Filing. In person at the Interior Ministry migration division or by post; the procedure and the form are checked on the filing date.
5. Confirmation. The acceptance stamp or proof of posting is kept together with the Vanuatu citizenship certificate.

The notice is filed with time to spare, not on the last day: booking an appointment, clarifications on the form and public holidays eat into the 60 days. The Vanuatu passport is issued 1-3 weeks after the oath, so the family knows the date of receipt in advance and can prepare the forms before it is issued.

The filing confirmation is kept indefinitely. It is useful for employment, checks and children’s documents, when you need to show the obligation was met.

Notice for children and a spouse

In brief: if the whole family has acquired Vanuatu citizenship, a notice is filed for each Russian citizen. Adults file themselves, and for minors, parents or legal guardians file within the same 60 days.

One application for Vanuatu citizenship includes the spouse, children under 25 and parents over 50, and after the oath the whole family receives passports. Each participant has their own Russian citizenship and their own obligation to notify the Interior Ministry. A common mistake: the main applicant files a notice for themselves and forgets about adult children, who file themselves, or younger ones, for whom the parents file.

• Spouse. Files the notice personally.
• Children under 18. Parents or legal guardians file the notice.
• Children aged 18-25. File themselves as adult Russian citizens.
• Parents over 50. File themselves.
• A child born after citizenship is acquired. Receives Vanuatu citizenship by descent without a contribution, and the parents file the notice for the child.

It is most convenient for the whole family to file on the same day if all participants are in Russia. How to add a newborn or a new spouse to citizenship is covered in the article adding family members to Vanuatu citizenship.

A Russian citizen’s calendar after receiving the passport

In brief: after the Vanuatu passport is issued, four dates appear in the family calendar: the start of the Interior Ministry notice period, the last day of that period, the passports’ validity and the date of the residence notice if the family obtains residence in Europe.

The Vanuatu passport is issued 1-3 weeks after the oath. If the family is in Russia at that moment, the 60-day count starts the same day. If the family is abroad, the first date appears on entry into Russia, and it can be seen from the border control stamp in the Russian international passport.

• Day the Vanuatu passport is issued. Start of the period if the family is in Russia.
• Day of entry into Russia. Start of the period if the passport was received abroad.
• Day 60. The last day to file the notice.
• Receiving Greek residence. A new 60 days to notify of the residence permit.
• Vanuatu passport validity. 10 years; replacement is planned in advance.

It is convenient to keep the calendar for the whole family in one table: the participant’s name, the date citizenship was acquired, the date of entry into Russia, the date the notice was filed and where the confirmation is kept.

Liability for late filing and failure to file

In brief: for breaching the procedure, for example late filing or incomplete information, Article 19.8.3 of the Russian Administrative Code provides for a fine of RUB 500 to 1,000. For failure to file the notice, Article 330.2 of the Russian Criminal Code provides for a fine of up to RUB 200,000 or equal to income for a period of up to one year, or compulsory work of up to 400 hours.

The difference between the two articles is whether the obligation was met. If the notice is filed late or with errors in the information, this is an administrative offence. If the notice is not filed at all, criminal liability arises, and a conviction under this article is taken into account in checks and employment.

The difference between the articles is whether the obligation was met: late filing and errors in the information remain an administrative offence, while failure to file moves the matter into criminal law.

The notice is filed as soon as the period starts, because it is free and takes one visit or one postal item. Anyone who has missed the deadline files the notice as soon as possible: an administrative fine is not comparable with the consequences of not filing.

• Late filing or incomplete information. Article 19.8.3 of the Administrative Code, a fine of RUB 500-1,000.
• Failure to file. Article 330.2 of the Criminal Code, a fine of up to RUB 200,000 or compulsory work of up to 400 hours.
• Citizenship obtained abroad, no entry into Russia yet. The period has not yet started.

Where the Vanuatu passport applies and where only the Russian one does

In brief: in Russia a citizen with two citizenships is treated only as a Russian citizen: they cross the border on the Russian passport and deal with the authorities as a Russian citizen. The Vanuatu passport works outside Russia: for travel, accounts and residence in Europe.

Russian authorities do not take the second citizenship into account when dealing with matters inside the country. The Vanuatu passport cannot be used to obtain foreigner status or Vanuatu consular protection in Russia. The obligations of a Russian citizen remain in full.

Outside Russia a Vanuatu passport gives entry to 46 countries without a visa and 42 more with a visa on arrival: Hong Kong for 90 days, Singapore and Malaysia for 30 days, Armenia for 120 days on arrival. Vanuatu citizens can enter Russia visa-free for up to 90 days, but a Russian citizen enters Russia only on the Russian passport. What the passport adds to the Russian one is covered in the article a Vanuatu passport for a Russian citizen.

• Entering and leaving Russia. On the Russian international passport.
• Travel to third countries. On the Vanuatu passport if it gives visa-free entry or a visa on arrival.
• Visa application forms. Both citizenships are stated where the form asks for them.
• Banks abroad. The Vanuatu passport serves as a second document, and the bank asks about tax residence.

Two passports when travelling

In brief: you enter and leave each country on one passport, and the ticket is bought on the same document. At the Russian border the Russian passport is shown, and on entry to a third country the Vanuatu passport, if the trip is made on it.

An airline will not board a passenger whose ticket details do not match the passport at the desk, so the trip is planned around the document. The return journey is built the same way: entry to and exit from a third country on the Vanuatu passport, entry into Russia on the Russian passport. A visa for a third country is placed in the passport used for the application.

Children with two citizenships travel under the same rules: a child who is a Russian citizen leaves and enters Russia on the Russian international passport and shows the Vanuatu passport abroad. The Vanuatu passport does not change the rules on the other parent’s consent to a child’s departure.

The validity of both passports is kept in one family table. Many countries require a passport to be valid for at least 6 months on the date of entry, so the Vanuatu passport is replaced before the end of its 10-year term, and the Russian international passport is renewed under Russian rules. Travel tips are collected in the article how to travel with a Vanuatu passport.

Common scenarios: living in Russia, relocating, family

In brief: obligations depend on where the person lives. Those who stay in Russia notify the Interior Ministry within 60 days of acquiring citizenship and remain Russian tax residents; those living abroad notify within 60 days of entering Russia.

Passport received, the family lives in Russia. The notice is filed within 60 days of the date citizenship is acquired. Taxes are paid under Russian rules, and the Vanuatu passport is used for travel and as a back-up document. This is a common and entirely lawful option.

Passport received, the person lives abroad. The notice period starts on entry into Russia. If the person spends less than 183 days in Russia within 12 months, they cease to be a Russian tax resident, and taxes are calculated under the rules of the country of residence. Actual residence decides, not the passport.

Citizenship for the whole family. A notice is filed for each participant, and parents file for children. If the family obtains Greek residence after the Vanuatu passport, the Interior Ministry is also notified of the residence permit within 60 days.

A Vanuatu passport and relocation to Greece. The family receives Vanuatu passports, then Greek residence, and relocates. The Interior Ministry is notified twice: of Vanuatu citizenship and of the residence permit. If the family spends less than 183 days in Russia within 12 months, it ceases to be a Russian tax resident, and taxes are calculated under Greek rules while living there.

Public service, military service and state secrets clearance

In brief: for state and municipal employees, military personnel and people with state secrets clearance, a second citizenship may be incompatible with their position. These restrictions are checked before applying for Vanuatu citizenship.

The laws on state and military service set their own requirements regarding foreign citizenship, and they apply separately from the obligation to notify the Interior Ministry. For some positions foreign citizenship is grounds for ending service, for others the employer must be informed. So a person in these categories first checks the rules of their service and only then decides on a second passport.

The BRIDGES pre-check takes 1-2 working days and takes place before any payments. It includes a question about the work and clearances of each participant, so the family knows the restrictions in advance, not after receiving the passports.

Confidentiality and exchange of account information

In brief: the notice of a second citizenship is filed by the Russian citizen personally; nobody fulfils this obligation for them. Bank account information is passed on for a different reason: by the account holder’s tax residence, not by passport.

Automatic exchange of financial information concerns accounts. If a client has declared Russian tax residence to a bank, information about the account may go to the Russian tax service whether or not the client has a Vanuatu passport. In Vanuatu, automatic exchange of account information is provided for by the International Tax Cooperation Act No. 7 of 2016.

So counting on a second citizenship going unnoticed does not work, either for the Interior Ministry notice or for taxes. The right approach: file the notice on time and separately set up reporting on foreign accounts. A bank abroad asks for the place of residence, tax number and origin of funds when opening an account. A Vanuatu passport confirms identity but does not replace this information, so the income documents collected for the FIU check will also be useful for the bank. Who receives what information about a second passport is covered in the article confidentiality of Vanuatu citizenship and CRS.

Taxes: citizenship and tax residence

In brief: Vanuatu has no personal income tax, capital gains tax or inheritance tax, but a passport does not make you a Vanuatu tax resident. A Russian citizen who spends at least 183 days in Russia within 12 months remains a Russian tax resident and pays taxes under Russian rules.

Tax residence is determined by actual residence. While a person lives in Russia, their income is subject to Russian tax, and obligations regarding controlled foreign companies and foreign accounts remain. A tax effect appears only after relocating and changing residence under the rules of the new country of residence.

• Russian tax resident. Russian taxes, notices of CFCs and foreign accounts.
• Relocation. Taxes under the rules of the country of residence, for example Greece when living there on a residence permit.
• Within Vanuatu. VAT of 15% and rental tax of 12.5% apply.

A detailed review is in the articles why the passport does not exempt you from taxes at home and the obligations of a Russian tax resident.

The route to Europe: Greek residence for Vanuatu citizens

In brief: to live in Europe, a Russian citizen with a Vanuatu passport obtains Greek residence as a Vanuatu citizen. The Vanuatu passport takes 2-3 months, and the whole turnkey package with Greek residence takes up to 9 months.

The Greek Golden Visa cannot be obtained on a Russian passport, while a Vanuatu citizen’s application is considered on general terms. The property threshold ranges from €250,000 to €800,000 depending on the region and the property, and the application covers the spouse, children and parents. Residence gives the right to live in Greece and travel in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180, and living in the country permanently is not required to keep the card.

For short trips to the Schengen Area and the UK, Vanuatu citizens obtain a visa: the EU fully suspended visa-free travel on 4 February 2023, and the UK has required a visa since 19 July 2023. Certificates, apostilles and translations are prepared with both applications in mind, so the family does not collect the package twice. After receiving Greek residence, the Russian citizen notifies the Interior Ministry of the residence permit. How we work is on the page Greek residence for Vanuatu citizens.

How a Russian citizen obtains Vanuatu citizenship

In brief: Vanuatu accepts applications from Russian citizens on general terms. The passport takes roughly 2-3 months without relocating, biometrics are given in Moscow or Saint Petersburg, and the contribution is paid after the Commission’s approval from an account at a bank in another country.

Under the DSP programme the contribution is $130,000 for a single applicant, $150,000 for a couple, $165,000 for a family of three and $180,000 for a family of four; on top of the contribution only the FIU fee of $5,000 is paid to the state. Through the CIIP fund a family of up to four pays $157,000 and an FIU fee of $8,000, and gets $50,000 back after 5 years. For a single applicant or a couple the DSP is better value, for a family of three or more the fund.

The application is filed in two stages: a short package for the FIU check, which takes up to 7 working days without queries, then the full package for the Citizenship Commission, which meets twice a month. After approval there are 3 months for the contribution and the oath, and the passport is issued in 1-3 weeks. The contribution is paid in US dollars from an account opened in advance, with documents on the origin of funds. The exact total is shown by the estimate for your family.

Documents are prepared for each participant: the main applicant collects 11 documents, an adult participant 7, a child 3. The police certificate is obtained no earlier than 3 months before filing, and since 1 July 2025 every participant in the application gives biometrics in person.

Common mistakes with dual citizenship

In brief: the most common mistakes concern the notice deadline, the Vanuatu passport details in the form, notices for children and expecting a tax effect without relocating.

1. Putting off the notice. 60 days pass faster than it seems, especially after arriving in Russia.
2. Getting the details wrong. The number, date of issue and Latin-script name are copied from the Vanuatu passport without changes.
3. Forgetting the family. A notice is filed for every Russian citizen, and parents file for children.
4. Forgetting residence. The Interior Ministry is also notified of a Greek residence permit.
5. Expecting a tax benefit. The passport does not change residence; only relocation changes taxes.
6. Concealing the second citizenship. Failure to file the notice leads to liability under Article 330.2 of the Criminal Code.
7. Not checking your service. Civil servants and people with state secrets clearance check the restrictions before applying.

Each point is dealt with before receiving the passport: a calendar with dates for each participant, the current notice form and a check of the participants’ status at the pre-check.

How BRIDGES supports a Russian citizen

In brief: the work starts with a pre-check within 1-2 working days, then an estimate by family composition, filing and support through to the passports, and after issue a calendar of Interior Ministry notices for each participant.

At the pre-check a lawyer reviews the background, source of funds, work and clearances of each participant and names the restrictions before the first payment. Our team completes the forms, the family gives biometrics in Moscow or Saint Petersburg, and the contribution goes from an account at a bank in another country with documents on the origin of funds.

After the passports are issued, we give the family the start dates of the notice period for each participant and the list of documents to file with the Interior Ministry. Terms of work are on the page support with the Vanuatu programme, and a general review of the programme in the article Vanuatu citizenship by investment.

If the family has already received Vanuatu passports without BRIDGES, we help draw up a notice calendar based on the dates citizenship was acquired and of entry into Russia, and check the passport details for the form.