Vanuatu or Dominica: where a second passport is cheaper and faster

Vanuatu or Dominica in brief

In brief: Vanuatu is chosen for its price, a 2-3 month timeline, the CIIP fund with a refund for families and a route to Europe through residence. Dominica is chosen for visa-free Schengen and 145 destinations in the global passport ranking. For Russian and Belarusian citizens the choice is made in advance: Dominica does not accept their applications.

Both programmes provide a second citizenship without residence, but Dominica’s passport is stronger for travel to Europe, while Vanuatu wins on money, speed and availability to a wider range of applicants. More on each programme in the articles Vanuatu citizenship by investment and Dominica citizenship by investment.

Cost for a single applicant and a family

In brief: for a single applicant Vanuatu is $70,000 cheaper: $135,000 against $210,000. For a family of four the difference is even bigger: $185,000 under the DSP or $165,000 under the CIIP fund against $269,500 for Dominica.

The Vanuatu total includes the contribution and the FIU fee: $5,000 under the DSP and $8,000 under the fund, per application. The Dominica total includes the EDF fund contribution, application and processing fees, due diligence and the interview under the published tariff, while translations, legalisation and support are counted separately. In Dominica a family of up to four pays $250,000, and beyond four $25,000 is added for each dependant under 18 and $40,000 for each dependant aged 18 or over.

Only the Vanuatu CIIP fund has a refundable part: $50,000 is returned after 5 years. The DSP contribution and the contribution to Dominica’s EDF fund are not returned. All Vanuatu budget items are in the article the cost of Vanuatu citizenship, and Dominica’s in the cost of Dominica citizenship.

Timing and procedure

In brief: Vanuatu issues the passport in roughly 2-3 months from filing with the FIU, with no interview among the stages. Dominica holds a mandatory interview with each participant aged 16 and over, and the programme’s published timeline is not a guarantee and depends on the checks and queries.

In both programmes the large contribution is paid after approval, and the check fees paid at filing are non-refundable. For a family that needs the passport by a specific date, Vanuatu is more predictable: the timeline is counted from the next Commission meeting. The stages are covered in the article Vanuatu citizenship timeline.

Passport: Schengen, the UK and Asia

In brief: Dominica’s passport is stronger for travel: 145 destinations in the global passport ranking against 88 for Vanuatu, and visa-free entry to the Schengen Area. The UK has required a visa from citizens of both countries since 19 July 2023.

For the Vanuatu passport, EU visa-free travel has been fully suspended since 4 February 2023, so Vanuatu citizens travel to the Schengen Area with a visa, and those who want to live in Europe go through Greek residence under the Golden Visa programme or Hungary’s programme with a 10-year permit. According to the BRIDGES database, the Vanuatu passport opens 46 countries without a visa and 42 more with a visa on arrival, including Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Russia.

If you need frequent trips to Europe without residence, Dominica’s passport is more convenient. If Europe is needed for living, the Vanuatu plus Greek residence plan gives a right of residence that 90-day visa-free entry does not. Conditions are on the page Greek residence for Vanuatu citizens, and destinations in the article visa-free countries for the Vanuatu passport.

Europe: Dominica’s visa-free access or residence with a Vanuatu passport

In brief: visa-free entry on a Dominica passport gives short-term trips to the Schengen Area but not the right to live in Europe. A Vanuatu passport with Greek or Hungarian residence gives the family a right of residence, although it requires a separate investment and time.

If the family plans to live in Europe, the comparison is not only between passports but between final outcomes: a right of residence and an asset in a European country against visa-free trips. While Greek residence is being considered, a certificate is issued that does not give the right to travel in the Schengen Area, so trips before the card is issued are planned with a visa.

Three choice scenarios

In brief: a single applicant from Asia or the Middle East with a budget of up to $150,000 is more often suited by Vanuatu; a family that often flies to Europe and has no nationality restrictions by Dominica; and a family of Russian citizens by Vanuatu followed by Greek residence.

• An entrepreneur, single applicant. Needs a second passport for travel in Asia within 2-3 months, with a budget of about $150,000: Vanuatu under the DSP for $135,000 turnkey.
• A family of four, frequent trips to Europe. Their nationality is not restricted by Dominica, the budget allows $269,500, and an interview for everyone aged 16 and over is not a concern: Dominica.
• A family of Russian citizens. Dominica does not accept applications: Vanuatu under the CIIP fund for $165,000 with $50,000 returned, biometrics in Moscow, then Greek residence.

In every scenario the total is calculated by family composition and the children’s ages, not by the minimum contribution. For a family with children over 18 the difference in Vanuatu’s favour grows, because in Dominica each adult dependant adds due diligence and interview fees.

Family in the application

In brief: in Vanuatu the application includes the spouse, children under 25 and parents over 50, and the CIIP fund costs the same for a family of up to four. In Dominica a family of up to four pays $250,000, and each additional participant adds $25,000 or $40,000 depending on age.

In Dominica all participants aged 16 and over are interviewed, and due diligence is paid for the main applicant, the spouse and adult dependants. In Vanuatu the FIU fee is paid once per application, and the main applicant passes the FIU check. For a large family with children over 18 the cost difference in Vanuatu’s favour grows. Family conditions for Vanuatu are in the article Vanuatu citizenship for the family.

Due diligence

In brief: both programmes check the background, sanctions lists and source of funds. Vanuatu charges an FIU fee of $5,000 or $8,000 per application, Dominica $7,500 for the main applicant and $4,000 for the spouse and each adult dependant, plus an interview.

In both programmes check fees are non-refundable in case of refusal, so the background and source of funds are checked before filing. Dominica’s interview adds a stage that needs preparation: the applicant explains the origin of funds and the purpose of obtaining citizenship in person. How the Vanuatu check works is covered in the article due diligence.

Real estate as a route to citizenship

In brief: in Dominica citizenship is given by the purchase of approved property from $200,000 plus a government fee of $75,000 or $100,000. In Vanuatu the REO option is a purchase in one of four approved projects through the master agent, but the amount is not given in the published tariff table.

Real estate makes sense when the property is needed for its own sake. If the goal is only a passport, a fund contribution is simpler: there is no need to choose, maintain and sell a property. The REO option is covered in the article Vanuatu citizenship through real estate.

Preparing the package: stages in Vanuatu and Dominica

In brief: in both programmes the package is put together in the same logic: a pre-check, identity and family documents, police certificates, source of funds, translations and filing through an agent. The differences are the filing format, the interview and who considers the application.

In Dominica no stage has a guaranteed published timeline: it depends on the checks and queries. In Vanuatu the timeline is counted from the next meeting of the Commission, which meets twice a month, so the family knows in advance in which month to expect the passport. In both programmes police certificates are ordered first, and the Latin spelling of names is checked across all documents.

For citizens of Russia and Belarus

In brief: Dominica does not accept applications from citizens of Russia and Belarus: these countries are on its list of nationalities whose applications are not considered. Vanuatu accepts Russian citizens, and biometrics for them are taken in Moscow and Saint Petersburg.

After 2022 the Caribbean citizenship by investment programmes suspended applications from citizens of Russia and Belarus. So for a Russian citizen the comparison of Vanuatu and Dominica comes down to which alternatives are available: Vanuatu in 2-3 months, the Nauru programme, or residence in Europe under a separate programme. After receiving a Vanuatu passport, a Russian citizen notifies the Interior Ministry within 60 days. More in the articles Vanuatu citizenship for Russians and Vanuatu or Nauru.

Taxes

In brief: Vanuatu has no personal income tax, capital gains tax or inheritance tax. But a passport from either country does not change tax residence: taxes are paid where the person lives.

A citizen who continues to live in their own country for more than 183 days a year remains its tax resident regardless of a second passport. Dominica’s tax rules apply to those who live or do business in Dominica. Vanuatu’s tax system is covered in the article taxes in Vanuatu.

For a family planning to relocate, taxes are calculated for the country of future residence. If the family spends more than 183 days a year in Greece on a residence permit, it becomes a Greek tax resident, and this is taken into account before the move. A Vanuatu or Dominica passport does not affect tax residence, so the choice between the programmes is not decided by tax.

Other Caribbean programmes for comparison

In brief: Dominica is not the only Caribbean alternative to Vanuatu. Similar comparisons are made with Grenada, Saint Lucia and St Kitts and Nevis, and in each of them the budget, timing and the destinations needed without a visa decide.

A review of each country is in the articles Vanuatu or Grenada, Vanuatu or Saint Lucia and Vanuatu or St Kitts and Nevis. If timing is key, the review fast second citizenship programmes helps, and the total for all programmes including fees is brought together in the analysis full cost comparison.

Who Vanuatu suits and who Dominica suits

In brief: Vanuatu suits when budget, timing, no interview, a family with the CIIP fund or a nationality that Dominica does not accept matter. Dominica suits when frequent visa-free trips to the Schengen Area are needed and the budget is higher.

• Vanuatu. A budget of up to $200,000 for a family of four, a passport needed within 2-3 months, an interview undesirable, the applicant a Russian or Belarusian citizen, followed by a plan for Greek residence.
• Dominica. Frequent short visa-free trips to Europe, a budget from $210,000 for one person, readiness for an interview for all participants aged 16 and over.
• Neither suits. Visa-free entry to the UK is needed: a visa is required from citizens of both countries.

A comparison of Vanuatu with other Caribbean programmes is in the article Vanuatu or the Caribbean.

Mistakes when choosing between Vanuatu and Dominica

In brief: the most common mistakes are comparing only the minimum contribution, not checking nationality restrictions, expecting visa-free UK access, not accounting for the interview and the cost of adult children, and confusing visa-free trips with the right to live in Europe.

1. Comparing by the minimum contribution. The total for a family of four differs by $70,000-90,000, not by the $70,000 of the contribution.
2. Nationality not checked. Russia and Belarus are on Dominica’s restriction list.
3. Expecting visa-free UK access. A visa is required from citizens of both countries.
4. The interview not accounted for. In Dominica all participants aged 16 and over take it.
5. Visa-free access instead of residence. Short-term visa-free entry does not give the right to live in Europe.

How BRIDGES helps you choose

In brief: we check whether the programme accepts the applicant’s nationality, carry out a pre-check before any payments, calculate both programmes for the family composition and handle the application through to the passport.

• Eligibility. The applicant’s nationality and countries of residence against the programme’s restrictions.
• Two estimates. Vanuatu DSP and CIIP fund, Dominica at the official tariff.
• Timing. A date from the Vanuatu Commission meeting, or Dominica’s procedure with an interview.
• Europe. Greek or Hungarian residence for Vanuatu citizens.

How our support works is described on the page Vanuatu citizenship with BRIDGES, and the amount for your family is shown by the estimate for your family. We will help you relocate quickly, reliably and lawfully.