Vanuatu Citizenship Programs - DSP and Others: What's the Difference in 2026

Briefly: how many programs does Vanuatu have and which ones are alive in 2026

Vanuatu citizenship by investment is not a single program, but an umbrella of several routes managed by the government Citizenship Commission. Three names actually work for 2026: DSP (Development Support Program), VCP (Vanuatu Contribution Program) and CIIP (Capital Investment Immigration Plan). Legally, everyone has the same result - a full-fledged Vanuatu passport and citizenship passed on to children. They differ in the amount, payment structure, target market of applicants and suspension history.

To avoid confusion, keep a simple map in your head. DSP - the main and most popular route, open to most nationalities; This is a non-refundable donation to the state development fund. VCP - essentially a twin of DSP in price and logic, but in practice it is assigned to the Chinese market, so DSP is offered to applicants from Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and other CIS countries. CIIP - a newer and more expensive route with a partially return component, which was suspended in the spring of 2025 for regulatory reconfiguration and then returned to service.

An important point that we repeat in all materials of the cluster: A Vanuatu passport does not have visa-free entry to Schengen. The EU Council has completely withdrawn the visa exemption, and none of the three programs changes this. Therefore, you should choose Vanuatu for the sake of speed, zero taxes and a second document, and not for the sake of Europe. We analyze the selection logic in more detail in Vanuatu citizenship by investment review.

DSP - Development Support Program: main route

The Development Support Program is the flagship and clearest path to a Vanuatu passport. The mechanics are extremely straightforward: the applicant does non-refundable donation into the state budget, undergoes due diligence and receives citizenship. No real estate, business or physical presence in the country is required - it is a pure donor model, as in a number of Caribbean programs.

The current contribution amounts for 2026 are arranged according to family composition:

• One applicant - from 130,000 USD donation.
• Married couple - from 150,000 USD.
• Family of four (applicant, spouse and two children) - from 180,000 USD; children must be financially dependent and usually under 25 years of age.
• Each additional dependent - additional payment above the base rate, the amount is specified individually for the composition.

On top of the donation are mandatory expenses: a non-refundable due diligence fee of approximately USD 5,000-5,500 per adult applicant, state and passport fees, as well as a licensed agent's fee. In practice, the final turnkey budget is higher than the “naked” contribution amount - we lay out a detailed estimate for family composition in the material how much does Vanuatu citizenship cost?.

DSP's strengths are speed and predictability. Most applicants receive a certificate of citizenship and passport at the window 30-60 days with a clean record. The program is open to a wide range of nationalities (minus sanctions and closed lists), allows for remote registration and does not require the renunciation of a previous passport. It is the DSP that we issue for applicants from Russia and the CIS - this is the workhorse of Pacific citizenship.

VCP - Vanuatu Contribution Program: DSP twin for a different market

The Vanuatu Contribution Program is the source of much of the confusion. In terms of economics and legal results, VCP is almost no different from DSP: the same non-refundable donation of a comparable size, the same verification through the Citizenship Commission, the same passport at the exit and the same terms of about a month or two. The difference is not in the amount, but in target market and operational channels.

In practice, VCP is assigned primarily to the Chinese market and is served through a separate pool of agents and operators focused on applicants from the PRC. For citizens of Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Belarus and other CIS countries, this means a simple thing: you will be offered DSP, not VCP, even if both names appear in the advertisement. VCP should be perceived as a parallel branch of the same donor model, and not as a separate “more profitable” product.

Why is it important to understand this:

• The price is not lower. If an agent promises “a special VCP program that is cheaper than DSP,” this is a marketing ploy. Base rates are comparable.
• Verification channels are different. Due to geographic specifics, applicant flows and document requirements may differ in detail, but the due diligence standard is common.
• For non-Chinese applicants, VCP is usually not directly available - an attempt to “enter” through someone else’s market will only complicate and delay the matter.

The conclusion regarding VCP is simple: it is useful to know about it so as not to buy into scams about the “exclusive program”, but for an applicant from the CIS the DSP remains the only logical one. If you already have an offer specifically on VCP, it’s worth double-checking who is offering it and on what basis.

CIIP - Capital Investment Immigration Plan: more expensive, but with a partial return

Capital Investment Immigration Plan is the youngest and at the same time the most regulatory-sensitive route. Its difference from DSP and VCP is fundamental: part of the payment is structured not as a pure donation, but as partial return investment.

A typical CIIP design for 2026 looks like this: total contribution of approx. 165 000 USD for the main applicant, of which approximately USD 50,000 is allocated to the state fund (Cocoa / Sustainable Fund) and is subject to return upon expiration of the retention period - approximately four years. The rest is non-refundable, just like on DSP. Because of this returnable component, CIIP is formally more expensive for the entry check, but over the course of several years, part of the money is returned to the applicant.

Now the story about the suspension that you need to know about. On March 17, 2025, the Citizenship Commission suspended the CIIP approximately 100 days for regulatory reconfiguration and tightening of due diligence - against the backdrop of scandals with the revocation of passports issued to wanted persons. Already in May 2025 the program was returned to work with updated rules and under new commission leadership. At the same time, the suspension affected only CIIP - DSP and VCP continued to work without interruption during that period.

What does this mean for the applicant in 2026:

• CIIP - active, but historically a more “turbulent” route; Before starting, you should always check the status on the submission date.
• Suitable for those who value partial return of capital and who are ready for a higher input budget.
• Due to enhanced verification, the requirements for the source of funds and documents are usually stricter here.

We recommend CIIP consciously and only after checking the current status of the program - that is why we devote a separate section below to what and how to check before applying.

Comparison of programs and fees: what to choose in 2026

Let's put the three routes into one table so that the difference can be read at a glance. The amounts are approximate for 2026, excluding fees for due diligence, government fees and agent services - they are added on top.

Which one is chosen more often and why. For applicants from Russia and the CIS it dominates DSP - for three reasons: it is open to our passports, gives the most predictable deadline and the lowest entry fee among the three options. VCP is de facto not chosen because it is tied to the Chinese market. CIIP is taken less frequently and deliberately - when partial return of capital is important and the applicant is ready for a higher budget and more stringent verification.

In short: don’t chase a “special” program. Nine times out of ten, DSP will be the working answer. We select a route for a specific family composition, citizenship and source of funds. To get an accurate estimate and check which program is available to you in the current month - submit a request to BRIDGES GLOBAL, and we will calculate the turnkey budget.

How does a donation work and what does the budget consist of?

Since DSP and VCP are donor programs, and CIIP is partly donor-based, the key expense in all three remains the government contribution. But the “fee” is not the entire amount that the applicant actually pays. Let's break down the budget into parts so that there are no surprises.

• Government donation/contribution. The basic amount from the table above depends on the composition of the family. On DSP and VCP it is completely irreversible. At CIIP, part (about 50,000 USD) is returned after a few years.
• Due diligence fee. Non-refundable, approximately 5,000-5,500 USD per adult applicant. It is paid at the beginning of the process and is not refunded even if refused - this is a payment for the check itself, and not for the result.
• State and passport fees. Fixed fees for case processing, citizenship certificate and passport issuance.
• Licensed agent services. Support, collection and legalization of documents, submission through an authorized channel. The fork is usually 5,000-10,000 USD depending on the complexity of the dossier.
• Related costs. Translation and apostille of documents, notarization, medical and police certificates, sometimes courier delivery of passports.

The logic is simple: the larger the family and the more complex the source of funds, the higher the result. Therefore, the real turnkey budget is always calculated individually, and is not taken from the heading “from 130,000”. We analyze the full line-item estimate for each program and each family composition in a separate material about cost of Vanuatu citizenship, and the mechanics of the donor payment itself are in the guide to donation under DSP.

Separately, we emphasize a nuance: non-refundability is not a “hidden commission”, but the nature of the program. You pay the government for expedited citizenship, rather than purchasing an asset. It is more logical for those who want to return capital to CIIP with its partial return or even to other jurisdictions with investment options.

What does a Vanuatu passport provide - and what does it not provide?

Since all three programs lead to one document, let’s analyze its strengths and weaknesses. This is more important than the choice between DSP and CIIP: the meaning of the design is determined not by the name of the route, but by what the passport can actually do.

Strengths:

• Speed. 30-60 days before your passport is one of the fastest legal ways to obtain a second citizenship in the world. In terms of timing, Vanuatu is consistently among the leaders, which we examine in the review fastest second citizenship programs.
• Zero taxes. Vanuatu has no tax on income, capital gains, dividends, wealth, inheritance and world income - the rate is 0%. This makes the passport interesting for structuring personal finances.
• Dual citizenship. Vanuatu allows it - there is no need to give up your previous passport.
• Distance. There is no need to come to the country for registration; the program does not require physical presence.
• Transfer to children. Citizenship is inherited, children are included in the application.

Weaknesses - let's be :

• There is no visa-free travel to Schengen and the EU. The EU Council has completely withdrawn the visa exemption. This is the main disadvantage on which competitors often lie.
• Non-refundable contribution for DSP and VCP - no refund.
• Reputational background. Due to past scandals, the program is under scrutiny, and verification requirements are becoming stricter.

How many destinations are actually open for travel and why the numbers in advertising dance from 88 to 110+ - we analyze in a separate material about comparison of Vanuatu with Dominica and in the guide to visa-free countries of the cluster. If mobility across Europe is important, it is more to look at Caribbean or other passports.

Check before start: what must be checked in 2026

Pacific programs change faster than Caribbean ones: suspensions, changes in commission leadership, adjustments in amounts and closure of individual nationalities happen literally within a year. Therefore, before submitting, we always check the checklist - and we advise you to demand the same from any agent. This is exactly what we are checking.

• Program status as of the date of submission. CIIP was suspended in March 2025 and returned in May 2025 - which means that the status must be confirmed for the current month, and not believe last year’s publications. DSP and VCP for 2026 are open, but this is also verified through official channels.
• Current contribution amount. Base rates are adjusted periodically. We take the figure from an official source or confirmation of a licensed agent, and not from old advertising.
• Availability of your nationality. Vanuatu maintains lists of prohibited and restricted nationalities. After scandals with passport cancellations, the list became stricter - we check whether the program is open for your passport right now.
• Agent license and channel. Operation is only possible through an authorized operator. Be especially careful with "VCP for non-Chinese" suggestions - this is a red flag.
• Source of funds. Due diligence has become stricter; We prepare transparent confirmation of the origin of the money in advance so as not to receive a refusal with the loss of a non-refundable fee.
• Real passport visa card. We check the current list of visa-free destinations and remember: Schengen is not there. We don’t buy inflated numbers in marketing.

Typical mistakes that we see most often from applicants: paying a non-refundable fee before checking the dossier, choosing a “special” program with the promise of a discount, relying on outdated amounts from year-old articles and underestimating the requirements for the source of funds. Any of them costs money and time. The official status and news of programs is published by Citizenship Office Vanuatu, and the decision to completely cancel visa exemption is recorded in the release EU Council. We describe the step-by-step procedure for registration in the guide. how to obtain Vanuatu citizenship.

BRIDGES analysis on this topic: what the state earns per passport.

BRIDGES service: Vanuatu citizenship by investment with BRIDGES support.