Vanuatu citizenship for Russians in 2026: biometrics are taken in Moscow

Vanuatu citizenship for Russians: in short

In short: Vanuatu accepts applications from Russian citizens, and there is no need to give up Russian citizenship. The decision depends on the applicant’s background and source-of-funds documents, not on the passport. The whole process is remote, and biometrics are taken in Moscow or St Petersburg.

For a Russian citizen a Vanuatu passport serves three purposes. It is a second document in 2-3 months with no residence in the country and no exams. It gives visa-free or visa-on-arrival entry to about 97 countries and territories. And it is the first step towards residence in Europe: with a Vanuatu passport, families from Russia obtain Greek residence under the Golden Visa programme and Hungary’s programmes.

A Russian citizen also takes on obligations: notifying the Ministry of Internal Affairs, following tax and currency residence rules, and preparing a payment from abroad. Each is covered below. How the programme works overall is set out in the review of Vanuatu citizenship by investment.

Is the Vanuatu programme open to Russian citizens

In short: yes. Vanuatu accepts applications from Russian citizens on general terms, with no nationality-based restrictions. All applicants go through the same check: background, sanctions lists and origin of funds.

Since 2022 some citizenship by investment programmes, including the Caribbean ones, have stopped accepting applications from citizens of Russia and Belarus. Vanuatu sets its own migration policy and continues to consider such applications under the general rules. Russia and Vanuatu have had a mutual visa-free travel agreement for stays of up to 90 days since 21 October 2016.

The check is carried out by the Vanuatu Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU). It examines the applicant’s identity and background, the absence of criminal records and wanted notices, presence on sanctions lists and the origin of funds. If the applicant is on a sanctions list or cannot document the source of money, citizenship will be refused. In all other cases the decision is based on documents, and Russian citizenship does not affect it.

The difficulties of 2026 lie not in Vanuatu’s rules but in preparation: apostilling Russian documents and a payment that has to pass through correspondent banks. Both are resolved before filing and are covered in detail below.

Terms and cost of Vanuatu citizenship for Russians

In short: Russian citizens have the same two programmes and the same tariffs. The DSP costs from $130,000 for a single applicant, the CIIP fund $157,000 for a family of up to four with $50,000 returned after 5 years. The all-in total is from $140,000 for a single applicant and $179,000 for a family of four through the fund.

Applicant requirements: age 18 or over, no criminal record or wanted notices, a documented lawful source of funds, and not being on sanctions lists. Language skills, residence in Vanuatu and exams are not required. A spouse, dependent children under 25 and parents over 50 can be included in the application.

The all-in total includes the contribution, the FIU check fee ($5,000 for the DSP, $8,000 for the fund), the passport, ID card and citizen documents for each member, and translation and certification. For a single applicant the DSP costs less; for a family of three or more, the fund does. The DSP contribution is paid after approval in principle, the fund contribution in a single payment before filing.

For a Russian citizen, preparation costs come on top: apostille and translation of Russian documents and bank charges for a transfer from an account in another country. All budget items are covered in how much Vanuatu citizenship costs for a family, and the calculator provides the all-in cost estimate for your family.

DSP or CIIP fund for a family from Russia

The choice of programme does not depend on nationality; what matters is family size and willingness to leave part of the money in the fund. For a single applicant the DSP costs $30,000 less than the fund. For a couple the DSP is $10,000 cheaper at payment, but after the return the fund costs less. For a family of three the fund is cheaper at payment, for a family of four by $20,000, and another $50,000 comes back after 5 years.

For an applicant from Russia there is also a practical difference. Under the DSP the large payment leaves after approval, by which time the payment channel has already been tested with the FIU fee. Under the fund the $157,000 is transferred in a single payment before filing, so the payment account and source-of-funds documents are prepared earlier.

Which Russian citizens Vanuatu suits

In short: Vanuatu suits those who need a second passport in 2-3 months without relocating, families planning residence in Europe, and applicants whose income is documented. Sanctions links, a complex business sale and previous refusals require preparation before filing.

The programme suits you straight away if

• you need a second passport in 2-3 months and cannot leave Russia to apply;
• your family plans Greek or Hungarian residence and wants to apply as Vanuatu citizens;
• your income is documented with contracts, statements, asset sale documents or dividends;
• you travel to Asia and Oceania, where entry is easier with a Vanuatu passport;
• you apply for a spouse, children and parents at once.

Preparation is needed if

• you or companies linked to you may come under sanctions screening;
• the money comes from the sale of a business with a complex ownership structure;
• you have had refusals for visas or other programmes;
• part of your income was received in cash or through intermediaries without documents;
• you have no account with a foreign bank through which the payment can go.

The second group does not mean refusal. In such cases BRIDGES first gathers evidence and tests the payment channel, and only then names the timeline. What a Vanuatu passport adds to a Russian passport for travel, banking and business is covered in what a Vanuatu passport adds to a Russian passport.

Biometrics in Moscow and St Petersburg: no trip to the islands

In short: since 1 July 2025 every member of the application, including children, gives biometrics for the Vanuatu passport in person. With BRIDGES they are taken in Moscow and St Petersburg, as well as in Dubai, Hong Kong and Port Vila. By arrangement, a Vanuatu Immigration Service officer travels to the city where the family lives.

For most families from Russia this solves the main logistics question: citizenship can be obtained without leaving the country. Documents are filed through a licensed agent, the oath is taken remotely and passports are delivered by courier. How a remote oath works for an executive with a tight schedule is shown in the case of a remote oath.

If the family lives in the UAE or Asia, biometrics are more convenient in Dubai or Hong Kong. Russian citizens do not need a visa for stays of up to 90 days within 180 days in the UAE, and can stay in Hong Kong without a visa for up to 14 days. Entry conditions are checked for the travel date before the trip.

A trip to Vanuatu is not needed to apply, but many families fly there after receiving the passport: to open an account, view property or get to know the islands. How to get there, which connections are available and how long the flight takes is covered in how Russians can travel to Vanuatu.

Processing time for an applicant from Russia

In short: 2-3 months is the time from filing a complete application to the passport. For an applicant from Russia, document and payment preparation comes before filing, usually 3-6 weeks, and it is this stage that most often stretches the overall timeline.

Processing in Vanuatu follows set stages: the FIU check, the commission decision, the contribution, the oath and passport issue. For an applicant from Russia the longest part is Russian documents: the police certificate, apostille and translations. The payment account is tested in parallel. The week-by-week schedule is in Vanuatu citizenship processing time.

In practice families meet these timelines even with large applications. A three-generation family received seven passports in 59 days, and an applicant who needed a passport for a deal received it on time because the documents were gathered in a week: details in the case of a passport for a deal deadline.

What moves the timeline

Delays come from three things. First, the apostille. A police certificate is not issued and legalised instantly, and if it is ordered last, the whole family has to wait. Second, an incomplete source of funds. Each additional request from the reviewer adds the time needed to prepare a response. Third, the payment channel. If an account abroad is opened only for this purpose, the timeline depends on the bank’s checks.

How the work with BRIDGES goes

The work starts not with payment but with a check of background and documents. At this stage it becomes clear whether there are sanctions overlaps, whether there are enough source-of-funds documents and whether the task fits the required timeline. BRIDGES then prepares a document list for the family, handles certificates, apostilles and translations, tests the payment channel and files the application through a licensed agent. After approval we arrange payment of the contribution against the official invoice, biometrics, the oath and delivery of passports. The stages and scope of services are shown on Vanuatu citizenship with BRIDGES.

Checks on applicants from Russia: sanctions and source of funds

In short: applicants from Russia are refused not because of their passport but because of a failed check. The FIU screens sanctions lists for the applicant and related persons and requires documentary proof of the origin of funds.

Sanctions lists

The check concerns the individual, not the nationality. The applicant is screened against international sanctions lists, wanted lists and databases of politically exposed persons. Related persons are checked separately: the spouse, business partners and companies where the applicant is a beneficial owner or director. The applicant’s own presence on a sanctions list is a ground for refusal. A link to a company under restrictions does not mean automatic refusal, but requires explanations and documents.

If the applicant held a stake in a company that later came under restrictions, this is disclosed voluntarily and with documents. A fact disclosed in advance is assessed more calmly by the reviewer than one found during the check.

Source of funds

The reviewer needs a chain: where the money came from, what confirms it and whether the amount matches the applicant’s income. The set of documents depends on the source.

• Sale of a business or stake: sale and purchase agreement, confirmation of receipt of funds, documents showing ownership before the deal.
• Dividends: the distribution resolution, a statement showing receipt, company accounts for the period.
• Salary and bonuses: employment contract, income certificates for several years, bank statements.
• Sale of property: the contract, a registry extract on prior ownership, confirmation of settlement.
• Inheritance or gift: the certificate of entitlement and documents on the source of funds of the deceased or donor.
• Digital assets: trading and wallet history, statements of withdrawals to a bank, tax returns.

Applications where the source of funds is documented for the last three years pass the check faster. How capital earned from digital assets was evidenced is shown in the case of legalising crypto capital, and how the check works in due diligence for Vanuatu citizenship.

How to pay the contribution and prepare documents from Russia

In short: a direct transfer from a Russian bank to Vanuatu usually does not go through, so the payment is planned from an account with a bank in another country before filing. Russian documents are apostilled and translated into English.

The contribution, FIU fee and government fees are paid in US dollars to accounts of the Government of Vanuatu or the approved fund. Correspondent banks often reject dollar transfers from Russian banks: the payment is returned or held for weeks. That is why the payment channel is agreed before the contract is signed. Payment is usually made from an account in the applicant’s name with a bank in another country, with source-of-funds documents prepared in advance for bank compliance.

A Russian tax resident notifies the Federal Tax Service when opening an account with a foreign bank and reports the movement of funds every year. These requirements do not apply to those who spent more than 183 days outside Russia in a calendar year. Which banks open accounts for Vanuatu citizens is covered in banks in Vanuatu.

What the sending bank will ask for

A bank checks a large transfer to Vanuatu separately from the FIU. It usually asks for the official invoice from the Government of Vanuatu or the fund, the advisory contract, documents on the origin of funds in the account and an explanation of the purpose of payment. If the money arrived recently, for example from the sale of property or a business, the contract and confirmation of settlement are attached. The bank pack is assembled together with the FIU pack so that the data match.

Documents from Russia

The application requires a police certificate, marriage and birth certificates, source-of-funds documents and passport copies. The police certificate is ordered so that it is still valid on the filing date, and the apostille is scheduled in advance: it often takes the most time. The full list with requirements for each document is in documents for Vanuatu citizenship.

Dual citizenship of Russia and Vanuatu and the Ministry notice

In short: both Vanuatu and Russia allow dual citizenship. A Russian citizen notifies the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Vanuatu citizenship within 60 days of acquiring it, or within 60 days of entering Russia if the passport was received abroad.

Vanuatu does not require renunciation of a previous citizenship. Russia also does not require giving up the Russian passport, but under Article 11 of Federal Law No. 138-FZ “On Citizenship of the Russian Federation” a citizen must report a second citizenship. The notice is filed with the migration department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs at the place of residence or stay, not with the tax authority. Abroad it can be filed at a Russian consulate.

There are two kinds of liability. For breaching the procedure, for example filing late or with incomplete information, Article 19.8.3 of the Russian Code of Administrative Offences sets a fine of RUB 500 to 1,000. For failing to file at all, Article 330.2 of the Russian Criminal Code provides for a fine of up to RUB 200,000 or up to one year’s income, or compulsory work of up to 400 hours. The notice is free, and filing it is simpler than dealing with the consequences.

Which passport to use

In Russia a citizen with two nationalities is treated only as a Russian citizen and uses Russian documents. The Vanuatu passport is used for travel to third countries and for applications where nationality matters, such as residence in Europe. Entry to and exit from Russia are made on the Russian passport.

How to file the notice, a sample and common mistakes are covered in dual citizenship of Russia and Vanuatu.

Taxes: what a Vanuatu passport changes for a Russian tax resident

In short: a Vanuatu passport does not change tax residence. Anyone who spends 183 days or more in Russia within 12 consecutive months remains a tax resident and pays tax on worldwide income under Russian rules, including obligations on controlled foreign companies and foreign accounts.

Vanuatu has no personal income tax, capital gains tax or inheritance tax. These terms apply to Vanuatu tax residents, and tax residence is determined by where a person lives and how many days they spend there, not by citizenship. Zero rates start to apply only after an actual move and exit from Russian tax residence. Details are in why the passport does not remove taxes in Russia.

Controlled foreign companies and currency control

A Russian tax resident holding more than 25% of a foreign company, or more than 10% if Russian residents together hold over 50%, notifies the Federal Tax Service of the controlled foreign company and accounts for its profit under Russian rules. A second citizenship does not remove this obligation.

Currency residence does not depend on the passport either. A Russian citizen remains a currency resident, but if they spent more than 183 days outside Russia in a calendar year, the requirements to notify foreign accounts and report fund movements do not apply to them. The obligations of a Russian tax resident are covered in obligations of a Russian tax resident.

If the family moves out of Russia

A person becomes a non-resident for Russian tax purposes after spending fewer than 183 days in the country within 12 consecutive months. A non-resident pays Russian tax only on Russian-source income, but at different rates: 30% on most such income and 15% on dividends from Russian companies. That is why a move is planned in advance: which income will stay in Russia and where the family will become tax resident.

Tax consequences depend on where a person lives, where their income comes from and which companies they own. That is why a calculation for a specific situation is made with a tax adviser before moving or changing a business structure.

Family in the application: spouse, children, parents

In short: one application can include a spouse, dependent children under 25 and parents over 50. Applying as a family at once costs less than adding relatives after the passport is issued, and for a family of four the CIIP fund costs $20,000 less than the DSP.

The DSP contribution grows with family size: $150,000 for a couple, $165,000 with a child, $180,000 with two children. In the CIIP fund the $157,000 is the same for a family of up to four, and after 5 years the government returns $50,000. For each member a birth or marriage certificate with apostille and translation and a copy of the international passport are prepared, and for children over 18, documents on studies and financial support.

Parents and adult children are included where dependency on the main applicant is documented: statements of regular transfers, study certificates, documents on living together. How a three-generation family filed one application for seven people is shown in the case of a family of seven. A child born after citizenship is granted acquires Vanuatu citizenship by descent with no new programme contribution: an example is in the case of a newborn. All conditions for including relatives are in Vanuatu citizenship for families.

Residence in Europe after receiving a Vanuatu passport

In short: for families from Russia a Vanuatu passport is the first step towards residence in Europe. Greece has suspended new Golden Visa applications from Russian citizens, and with a Vanuatu passport the application is made as a Vanuatu citizen. Families use the same approach for Hungary’s programmes.

The plan has two steps. First, Vanuatu citizenship in 2-3 months, remotely. Then an application for Greek residence under the Golden Visa programme or for Hungary’s programmes. Each step has its own budget, document pack and source-of-funds check, so documents are prepared to work for both checks.

The Greek Golden Visa property threshold is €800,000 in Attica, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini and larger islands, €400,000 in other regions, and €250,000 for converting a commercial property to residential use or restoring a listed building. Residence covers a spouse, children under 21 and the parents of both spouses. How a three-generation family obtained Greek residence through a Vanuatu passport is shown in the case of Greek residence for three generations through a Vanuatu passport, and the process on Greek residence for Vanuatu citizens.

Hungary’s programmes

In Hungary families consider the guest investor programme: buying units in an approved real estate fund from €250,000 or a donation from €1,000,000. The permit is issued for 10 years with renewal, and permanent residence in the country is not required. Eligibility and the filing process are checked as of the application date, and the source of funds is prepared from the same documents as for Vanuatu.

Travel on a Vanuatu passport

The Vanuatu passport does not give visa-free entry to the Schengen Area. The EU partially suspended visa-free travel on 3 March 2022 for passports issued since 25 May 2015, fully from 4 February 2023, and EU Regulation 2025/11 of 19 December 2024 moved Vanuatu to the list of countries whose nationals need a visa. The United Kingdom introduced visas for Vanuatu citizens from 19 July 2023.

The path to Europe therefore runs through residence, while the Vanuatu passport gives visa-free or visa-on-arrival entry to about 97 countries and territories, including in Asia and Oceania. The list of destinations is in visa-free countries for the Vanuatu passport, and the Schengen history in the Vanuatu passport and Schengen.

Why applicants from Russia are refused and what to do

In short: a refusal is based on a specific ground, and it almost always concerns documents rather than nationality. The DSP contribution is paid after approval, so on refusal the main amount stays with the applicant.

A common question at consultations: “I have a business in Russia, is that a problem?” Not in itself. Difficulties begin when the source of money cannot be traced through documents: cash, loans from relatives without agreements, a stake sold without confirmation of settlement. The authority is not obliged to explain the reason for refusal in detail, but practice gives a clear list of grounds.

1. Source of funds not confirmed. The money exists but documents do not, or the amount does not match income.
2. Undisclosed circumstances. The applicant did not mention a previous visa refusal, a conviction or a link to a company under restrictions, and the check found it.
3. Sanctions status. The applicant or their company is on an international list.
4. Document errors. Different spellings of the name, an expired certificate, a missing apostille.
5. Reputational issues. Publications, litigation or criminal investigations not reported in advance.

If the ground can be addressed, for example documents were missing, the application is prepared again with full evidence. If the ground relates to sanctions status, reapplying makes no sense until circumstances change, and BRIDGES says so before any payment. Which options remain after a refusal is shown in the case of applying to Nauru after a Vanuatu refusal.

Costs on refusal are limited: the FIU fee is not refunded, and translations and document preparation remain paid. The DSP contribution is not paid on refusal. Refund terms for the CIIP fund contribution are set out in the fund contract and checked before payment.

After receiving the passport: what matters for a Russian citizen

In short: within the first 60 days a Russian citizen notifies the Ministry of Internal Affairs, then checks documents, determines tax status and plans the next step: an account, residence in Europe or documents for children.

Validity and renewal of the passport

The biometric Vanuatu passport is issued for 10 years. When it expires the booklet is replaced, while citizenship remains: it is permanent and passes to children. The passport is renewed without travelling to Vanuatu; the process is described on Vanuatu passport renewal and replacement.

A bank account with the new passport

A second passport widens the choice of banks but does not remove compliance: the bank looks at the source of funds, tax residence and the client’s links. The account is opened with a full set of income documents, and if the applicant remains a Russian tax resident, the Federal Tax Service is notified of the account within the set deadline.

Travelling with two passports

Russia is left and entered on the Russian passport. At the border of a third country, present the passport that gives easier entry to that country, and use it to buy the ticket and arrange insurance. Exit and entry stamps then appear in different passports, and airlines may ask to see both at boarding.

Children and new family members

A child born to a Vanuatu citizen is registered as a citizen by descent. A spouse or parents not included in the first application are processed with a separate application, its own contribution and check, so family composition is thought through before filing.

What Russian citizens compare Vanuatu with

In short: Russian citizens compare Vanuatu with programmes that accept their applications, on timing, cost and usefulness for travel and Europe. Vanuatu is chosen for its 2-3 month timeline, biometrics in Moscow and the path to Greek residence.

Caribbean programmes give visa-free entry to Schengen but have not accepted applications from citizens of Russia and Belarus since 2022. The Nauru programme has a lower contribution, and how it compares on timing and destinations is covered in Vanuatu or Nauru; the comparison with Dominica is in Vanuatu or Dominica.

Which citizenship and residence programmes are currently open to Russian citizens is collected in the review which programmes are open to Russians. For citizens of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and other CIS countries, terms and documents are described in Vanuatu citizenship for CIS citizens.

The decision is made after assessing the specific situation: family size, source of funds, tax residence, payment method and goals in Europe. If the passport is needed quickly and remotely, and the family plans Greek or Hungarian residence, Vanuatu covers both tasks in one sequence of steps.

BRIDGES analysis on this topic: who obtains a Vanuatu passport.