Updated
VU-CIP
Vanuatu citizenship by investment
A government program that grants citizenship without a prior residence permit and without a residency requirement. Family members can be included in the application. The cost starts at $115,000: $165,000 goes into the fund for a family of up to four, and $50,000 comes back after 5 years.
01 / About the program
The program lets a foreign investor apply for citizenship directly. There is no need to obtain a residence permit first, live in the country permanently or wait several years. The applicant passes a government check, meets the financial conditions of the program and receives Vanuatu citizenship once approved.
The application is filed directly for citizenship, without a prior residence permit or a period of permanent residence.
Through the investment fund, $165,000 is paid for a family of up to four. After 5 years the state buys back the share and returns $50,000. The net cost is $115,000. The non-refundable Development Support Program contribution for a single applicant starts at $130,000.
Family members can obtain citizenship together with the main applicant if they meet the current program requirements.
Citizenship is granted only after the applicant is checked, the program conditions are met and the competent authorities of Vanuatu give official approval.
Fast citizenship in Oceania: a decision in 2-3 months, no relocation, for the whole family and with the right to keep your passport.
Travel
Visa-free and visa on arrival
0
countries and territories in the Passport Index 2026 ranking. The rules for each country are in the directory below.
See the countries
Family
Development fund, contribution by family size
Each additional member+$26,500
No relocation
Two programs to choose from
Dual citizenship is allowed
03 / Who it suits
The program is usually considered when a second passport is needed without relocation and years of waiting. The decision should be weighed together with the applicant’s citizenship, family composition, source of funds, banking needs, travel plans and long-term strategy.
The procedure takes considerably less time than classic naturalisation after several years of residence.
Citizenship can be obtained without a residency requirement in Vanuatu and without changing your usual place of life.
A second citizenship can become part of a long-term family strategy if the program fits the applicant’s goals and circumstances.
For an entrepreneur or investor, a second passport can be considered together with residence permits, companies, banking relationships and tax residency.
Spouses, children and certain other relatives can be included in a joint application if the program requirements are met.
We set out the stages, documents, cost and risk areas in advance, so the client understands the whole process before it begins.
Preliminary assessment
Tell us your family composition. We will calculate the indicative cost, check who can be included in the application and explain which documents are needed.
Who will be obtaining citizenship?
about 1 minuteconfidentialno obligations
04 / Who is on the application
Before the process begins we check the family composition and establish who can be included in one application. Age, family relationship, financial dependency and the current program rules are taken into account.
05 / Cost for a family
The cost depends on the family composition, the ages of the participants and related expenses. Before the process begins we prepare a full calculation and show the government contribution, mandatory fees and the cost of support separately.
Development Support Program · non-refundable
from$130,000
Contribution · 1 person in the application
All-in with fees from $140,000
A single applicant - from $130,000, a couple - from $150,000, a couple and one child - from $165,000, a couple and two children - from $180,000. Each additional person in the application - plus $26,500. The contribution is non-refundable.
Coconut Oil Fund · partially refundable
from$157,000
Contribution · 1 person in the application
All-in with fees from $170,000
$50,000 refunded after 5 years - effectively from $120,000
The basis is the current investment plan approved by the government of Vanuatu. One price for any family of up to four, each additional person - plus $26,500. The contribution is made as a single payment before filing, and the funds are held in the fund for the set period. The amount, the holding period and the terms on which part of the investment is returned are set out in the investment plan documents. We confirm the current wording of those terms before the agreement is signed.
The amount shown is preliminary. The final calculation is fixed after the family composition and the current program conditions are checked. The government contribution is not a refundable investment.
06 / Comparison
Vanuatu stands out for a short processing time and no residency requirement. Still, the choice should be compared not only on price and speed but also on travel options, banking needs, family composition, the applicant check and long-term plans.
| Vanuatu | St Kitts & Nevis | Grenada | Dominica | Antigua & Barbuda | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | from $115,000 | from $250,000 | from $235,000 | from $200,000 | from $230,000 |
| Processing time | 2-3 months | from 4 months | from 8 months | from 6 months | from 6 months |
| Residence required before citizenship | No | No | No | No | No |
| Family application | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Schengen visa-free | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
The comparison is general. Program conditions and entry rules may change. Before choosing a country we check the current requirements and assess the client’s situation.
From the first consultation to the passport in your hands. At every stage you can see what we do and what you do.
Before filing
We run a preliminary due diligence check and review your situation: citizenship, family, source of funds, travel history.
Tell us about your situation
If the program suits you, we sign a contract and fix the cost estimate for your family.
Sign the contract
We collect documents for each family member, have them certified and translated.
Hand over the documents
Filing and review
We complete the forms, and you sign them yourself. We file the application through a licensed agent of the program.
Sign the forms
We handle all contact with the Citizenship Commission during every check: we pass on documents, answer requests and resolve any comments.
State involved: Citizenship Commission · FIU
Nothing: we handle this stage entirely
We arrange the payment through the bank within the deadline set by the chosen program.
Transfer the funds
After the decision
We arrange the oath and obtain the citizenship certificate and a passport for each family member.
Take the oath
Full roadmap and contract
All stages with timelines and payments in one PDF. Your manager will send the contract and the cost estimate for your family.
Programme terms in plain words - the Vanuatu citizenship glossary
10 / Travel
The Vanuatu passport gives visa-free or simplified entry to a number of states. Visa rules change, so the requirements of a specific country must be checked before every trip.
All countries and territories
93 countries
and territories visa-free, with a visa on arrival or an eTA in the Passport Index 2026 ranking
All countries by entry regime
All countries on a Vanuatu passport
93 destinations with nothing to arrange in advance: visa-free or with a visa on arrival
Where you are admitted without a visa, where the permit is arranged online, where the visa is issued at the border and where a consular visa is needed, with the length of stay given for each country.
Basis: Regulation (EU) 2025/11 of 19 December 2024 moved Vanuatu to the list of countries whose citizens require a visa to enter the EU (published 14 January 2025). The United Kingdom introduced a visa requirement on 19 July 2023 (GOV.UK). Entry rules are set by the receiving states and may change at any time.
Vanuatu passport
No prior residence permit and no residence in the country. Hong Kong, Singapore and Russia are open visa-free, and citizenship passes to children.
Free of charge
Fill in a questionnaire about yourself, your activity and your sources of funds. BRIDGES compliance officers will run a preliminary check and identify which circumstances may raise questions when the application is reviewed or the funds are transferred. You do not need to attach documents at this stage.
Start the checkThe questionnaire has eight sections. The key ones are your activity, the source of funds and legal circumstances.
We check information about you and your business against sanctions lists and open sources, including media and online publications. We explain which circumstances may affect the review of the application.
We look at how your capital was built and where the funds for the program will come from. We tell you which documents will be needed to confirm their lawful origin.
We assess from which account, through which banks and to whom the funds will be transferred. We identify possible restrictions in advance and tell you what to prepare to reduce the risk of a delay, return or block of the payment.
After you send the questionnaire we will contact you by phone or messenger. The assessment is preliminary: the decision on the application is made by the competent authorities of Vanuatu, and on the payment by the banks involved.
11 / Our role
We support the whole process, from the first check to receiving the passport. Before work begins the client receives a clear plan, a cost estimate, a list of documents and an assessment of possible risks.
Before any contract, while we are still talking, we run a free preliminary due diligence: we check you against the databases and confirm that the application has a high chance of approval. We take on a case only when we are confident in the result.
Start the check →We take document preparation off your hands completely: we assemble the set, translate and certify it and bring every document into line with the programme requirements. You do not spend a minute on it and do not risk a mistake: we answer for accuracy, and if an error does slip through, we correct it at our own cost.
We take care of payment entirely: we find a convenient and lawful way to pay for your situation and agree the payment structure in advance so that the transfer passes all checks smoothly. We keep transfer fees and costs to a minimum and plan the whole payment route for you, so there is nothing to worry about.
We take all your documents through the Vanuatu authorities ourselves. For the few certificates that are issued only to you in person, such as a police certificate or a bank reference, we give you ready templates and exact instructions on where to get them: all that is left is to sign. A personal manager is always in touch and tells you what to do next at every step.
We arrange the oath online, a well-established format. For biometrics we bring an authorised Vanuatu commissioner to a city convenient for you: sessions take place in Dubai, Singapore, Moscow and St Petersburg. You and your family do not need to fly anywhere: the commissioner comes to you, takes the biometrics, and your part of the process is done.
Our work does not end with the passport. We obtain citizenship for a newborn, a new spouse and parents, apostille documents, obtain a driving licence and certificates, register and run a company, and when you decide, arrange Greek residence or residence in any other country. Everything a Vanuatu citizen needs, we do in one place: we stay your friends for good.
After the passport is issued the client stays with us. We help obtain citizenship for children, newborns and new spouses, get an apostille, renew or replace the passport, obtain the necessary documents and handle other matters of a Vanuatu citizen. You can come to us a month or several years later: we know your history and keep helping.
Services after the passport →12 / Team
A BRIDGES team works on the application. Each stage has a dedicated specialist, and the client has one clear coordinator and regular updates on the case.
Daniel KovachSenior International Law AttorneyArranging the filing and liaison on the program
Anna KovalevskayaHead of LegalCase strategy and control of key decisions
Martina VeberHead of Case ProcessingChecking requirements, documents and the application
Robert HaasCorporate LawyerFamily documents, timelines and day-to-day contactEvery family, set of documents and goal is different. We show the real situation, how the work went and the confirmed result.
01Vanuatu citizenship in 52 days: a second passport in time for a Singapore deal
02Vanuatu citizenship for a family of four: moving to Asia on a single contribution
03Vanuatu citizenship for a family of seven: three generations, one application, a transparent budget
04Vanuatu citizenship for trading with Asia: a year without a single visa form
05How a Russian Couple Urgently Obtained Greek Residence Permit Through Fast Vanuatu Passport14 / Reviews
Live reviews from our reviews page - with photos and links to the case breakdowns.
OlegOwner of a transport companyI needed the fastest legal route to a second passport. Vanuatu was arranged in two months, all remotely. Speed there is no need to apologise for.
All reviews
IgorOwner of a brokerageSix weeks passed between signing the contract and taking the oath. I did not believe a passport could be obtained faster than a visa to some countries. It turns out it can.
All reviews
OlenaOwner of a chain of aesthetic clinicsI applied for myself and my son. All the documents were accepted online, the oath was taken by video and a courier brought the passports. Not one flight in the whole process.
All reviews15 / Materials
We have gathered materials that help you understand the cost, requirements, family composition, documents and process before the consultation.
Main materialGuide
A full overview of the program for an investor and family.
Inside:
PDF · free · current as of August 2026
A short pre-check on the applicant and the family.
A list of the main documents, with notes on what is required from each family member.
A preliminary calculation for your family composition.
The BRIDGES team checks and updates the materials regularly.
According to the Vanuatu Ministry of Finance, the citizenship program brought in about $97 million in the first half of 2026 - roughly 39% of state budget revenue. This does not affect applicants: the program remains in force and the filing conditions have not changed.
The Prime Minister of Vanuatu presented more than 200 naturalisation certificates at an official ceremony. For applicants this confirms that documents are being issued normally.
Regulation (EU) 2025/11 published: Vanuatu moved to the list of countries whose citizens require a visa to enter the EU. Vanuatu passport holders need a visa to travel to the Schengen area.
Worth having
Download the short checklist and check the main requirements for the applicant and the family composition.
Inside the document
We will send it after a short form - no call or obligation.
Sergey Evdokimov
Managing Partner of BRIDGES. I analyse decisions of the Vanuatu government using official data and our clients' cases.
17 / Questions
No. Obtaining citizenship under the investment program does not require years of residence in the country.
No. The oath is taken online, and biometrics are taken by an authorised Vanuatu commissioner at an off-site session, for example in Moscow, St Petersburg, Dubai or Singapore. The applicant and family do not need to fly to Vanuatu.
No. The application is filed directly for citizenship.
For a standard case the indicative timeline is 2-3 months once the documents are ready. The actual time depends on the applicant check and the work of the government authorities.
Through the fund - from $115,000: $165,000 is paid for a family of up to four, and $50,000 is returned after 5 years. The non-refundable contribution for a single applicant starts at $130,000. The full cost depends on the family composition and mandatory related expenses. We provide a detailed calculation before the application starts.
Yes. A spouse, children and certain other family members can be included in a family application where the program requirements are met.
Vanuatu allows dual citizenship. At the same time you need to take into account the rules of the country whose citizenship you already hold.
No. A Vanuatu passport holder needs the relevant visa to travel to the Schengen area.
Yes. A citizen of Vanuatu must obtain a visa in advance to travel to the United Kingdom.
A biometric Vanuatu passport is issued for 10 years to adults and for 5 years to children. A standard non-biometric passport for 5 years is also available at the same price. It is reissued once that period ends.
No. The Development Support Program contribution is non-refundable. Where another investment option is offered on this page, its refund terms have to be considered separately.
That depends on the stage of the case and on which costs have already been paid. Before the work starts we explain the payment structure and which amounts may be non-refundable.
Yes. A spouse, children and parents can be added after citizenship is granted - through a separate application within the established rules. There is no deadline for adding relatives.
Yes, children born after citizenship is granted receive it by descent. We take care of preparing the child’s certificate and passport.
In certain cases sponsor payment is possible - with confirmation of the source of funds and of the link between the applicant and the payer. We agree the payment structure before filing so the transfer clears compliance.
The government fund accepts bank transfers. If your capital is held in cryptocurrency, at the consultation we will map out a legal structure for conversion and proof of source of funds - we have handled such cases before.
ALL VANUATU SERVICES
The passport is only the beginning. Passport renewal and replacement, documents, family, business and Greek residence: we handle every matter of a Vanuatu citizen in one place.
INITIAL ASSESSMENT
We will design a solution for your case, choose the country and the right status, and take the whole process through to the result.
