Updated
VU-CIP
Vanuatu citizenship by investment
A government program that grants citizenship without a prior residence permit and without a residency requirement. From $130,000 for a single applicant. Indicative processing time — 2‑3 months.
01 / About the program
Vanuatu lets foreign investors obtain citizenship directly — without several years of residence, without a prior residence permit and without permanent residency. The main applicant passes a government check, meets the financial conditions of the program and receives citizenship once approved. Family members can be included in the same application if they meet the program requirements.
There is no need to obtain a residence permit first or to wait several years for naturalisation. The application is filed directly for Vanuatu citizenship.
The minimum cost under the Development Support Program for a single applicant starts at $130,000. For a family, the amount depends on the number of participants.
A spouse, children and other family members who meet the program conditions can be included in the application.
The decision to grant citizenship is taken by the state of Vanuatu after checking the applicant and confirming that the program conditions are met.
02 / What citizenship gives
This is full second citizenship, not a temporary migration status. Once approved, the applicant holds Vanuatu citizenship and can obtain a national passport.
Once the process is complete, the applicant holds citizenship and obtains a Vanuatu passport.
You do not have to live in Vanuatu before citizenship is granted. The program suits those who want to keep their current place of residence.
The Vanuatu passport gives visa-free or simplified entry to a number of states. The rules of each specific country should be checked separately before travel.
One application can cover the main applicant and the family members who meet the program requirements.
Vanuatu allows dual citizenship. Whether you can keep your current passport also depends on the law of your present country of citizenship.
Citizenship does not have to be renewed every year the way a residence permit does. The passport itself has a validity period and is then reissued in the usual way.
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
03 / Who it suits
Vanuatu is usually chosen when a second passport is needed without relocation and without years of waiting. The program is in demand among entrepreneurs, investors and families whose life or business spans several countries.
The Vanuatu program covers the path to citizenship considerably faster than classic naturalisation through several years of residence.
You can obtain citizenship without moving to Vanuatu and without giving up your usual way of life.
A second citizenship can become an additional option for the family should personal, business or international circumstances change.
For entrepreneurs and investors a second passport can be part of a wider international structure — alongside residence permits, companies, bank accounts and tax planning.
Where the program conditions are met, a spouse, children and certain other family members can go through the process together with the main applicant.
There is no need to evidence years of residence in the country. The key questions are meeting the program requirements, passing the applicant check and preparing the documents correctly.
04 / Who is on the application
Before any filing starts we check the family composition and establish who can be included in a single application. Age, family relationship and financial dependency all matter. Open a row to see the conditions for that category.
05 / Cost for a family
The cost depends on the family composition. The Development Support Program sets minimum amounts from which each specific application is calculated.
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.
Preliminary calculation based on the official fee schedule. It is not a decision of a state authority: the outcome depends on citizenship, source of funds and document checks.
06 / Comparison
Vanuatu is not the only route to a second citizenship. To choose correctly it matters to compare not only the price but also the timelines, the family requirements, the nature of the investment, the travel terms and the task the second passport has to solve.
| Vanuatu | St Kitts & Nevis | Grenada | Dominica | Antigua & Barbuda | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | from $130,000 | 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 |
Program conditions and visa regimes change. The data was verified against the current rules of each country as of the page update date. Amounts are minimum thresholds for a single applicant, excluding government fees.
Full program comparison →09 / How it works
We check the applicant and the family before any filing starts: citizenship, background, documents, source of funds and anything that could trigger additional questions.
We give you a personal document list, check the contents and help prepare translations, certifications and financial evidence.
We assemble the complete file and arrange official filing under the Vanuatu program. After filing we run the case and respond to any further requests.
Once the decision is positive we arrange the necessary formalities, including taking the oath in the prescribed manner.
We oversee the registration of the new citizen and the issue of the documents that confirm the grant of citizenship.
Once registration is complete we arrange the issue of the passport and the handover of the finished documents to the client.
10 / Travel
The Vanuatu passport gives visa-free or simplified entry to a number of states. Visa rules do change, so the requirements of the specific country should be checked before travel.
Citizens of Vanuatu may enter some countries for a set period without arranging a visa in advance.
For part of the destinations it is enough to obtain an electronic authorisation or an eVisa in advance.
In certain countries the permit can be issued directly on entry.
Travel to some countries requires a visa obtained in advance. In particular, the Vanuatu passport does not give visa-free entry to the Schengen area or the United Kingdom.
Basis: Regulation (EU) 2025/11 of 19 December 2024 — Vanuatu moved 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.
Second citizenship without years of residence and without a prior residence permit
Calculate the cost11 / Our role
We handle Vanuatu citizenship end to end — from the first check to the passport in hand. The client knows the cost, the sequence of steps, the documents and the possible risks in advance.
First we assess the situation of the applicant and the family. If we see a problem, we say so before filing — not after payment and a refusal.
We check the documents, put together the financial part and help evidence the origin of funds clearly.
We organise the whole process: document preparation, official filing, support through the check, the oath and the grant of citizenship.
Where needed we help with what comes next: passport renewal, international banks, companies, residence permits and tax planning.
12 / Team
Every application is handled by a BRIDGES team. The client works not with a single manager but with several specialists, each responsible for their part of the process.
Anna KovalevskayaHead of LegalCase strategy and control of key decisions
Martina VeberHead of Case ProcessingChecking requirements, documents and the application
Daniel KovachSenior International Law AttorneyArranging the filing and liaison on the program
Robert HaasCorporate LawyerFamily documents, timelines and day-to-day contact15 / Materials
We have prepared materials that let you understand the program before the consultation: cost, requirements, family composition, documents and how the process runs.
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.
Get a calculation for your exact family composition.
All materials are regularly updated by our team and used in supporting BRIDGES clients.
16 / News
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 go through the main program requirements in a few minutes.
Inside the document
We will send it after a short form - no call or obligation.
17 / Questions
No. Obtaining citizenship under the investment program does not require years of residence in the country.
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.
For a single applicant under the Development Support Program the cost starts at $130,000. For a family the amount increases depending on the composition of the application.
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.
The Vanuatu passport is normally issued for up to 5 years. It can be 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.
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.
