CIIP
Citizenship by Investment Programme (Vanuatu)
Citizenship by Investment Programme — the citizenship by investment program of Vanuatu with a short timeline and a contribution to a government fund.
- What it is
- Citizenship by Investment Programme — Vanuatu’s citizenship by investment programme
- Form
- A non-refundable contribution to a state fund
- Advantage
- One of the fastest timelines in the world
- Keep in mind
- Visa-free access weaker than the Caribbean programmes
- Can you prepare
- Yes: take a sober view of whether it suits your goal
In plain words
The CIIP (Citizenship by Investment Programme) is Vanuatu’s citizenship by investment programme, under which a passport is issued in exchange for a non-refundable contribution to a state fund. Its main feature is speed: it is one of the fastest programmes in the world, and the passport can be obtained within a matter of months.
Speed and relative simplicity have made Vanuatu a popular option for those who need a second passport urgently. The contribution goes to a state fund, and the process is compact. However, the programme has a notable nuance: the Vanuatu passport’s visa-free access is weaker than that of the Caribbean programmes, and in recent years it has been reviewed by a number of countries.
That is why Vanuatu is chosen deliberately: when the speed of obtaining the passport is what matters, not the maximum set of visa-free destinations. For long-term goals and wide mobility, the Caribbean programmes or the EU are more often suitable. We assess frankly whether the CIIP suits your purpose, rather than selling speed where freedom of movement matters more.
Where the CIIP applies
What matters about the CIIP
- State fund contribution
- Non-refundable
- A compact process
- A very fast timeline
- Simplicity
- A second passport urgently
- Weaker visa-free access
- Access has been reviewed
- Not for wide mobility
- Due Diligence
- For each adult
- State-run
How the CIIP works
- 01Assessing the purpose and suitability
- 02Preparing the file
- 03Contribution and due diligence
- 04Approval
- 05Vanuatu passport
What you need to know
- The CIIP is Vanuatu’s citizenship programme for a fund contribution
- One of the fastest programmes in the world
- The contribution is non-refundable, the process compact
- Visa-free access weaker than the Caribbean programmes
- Chosen when speed, not mobility, is critical
Common mistakes
- Choosing Vanuatu for wide visa-free access — it is weaker
- Expecting the contribution back — it is non-refundable
- Ignoring the review of access by a number of countries
- Taking a programme without assessing your real goal
- Hiding a contentious episode — the check will find it
What this means for a BRIDGES client
We assess frankly whether Vanuatu suits your purpose: the programme is strong on speed but weaker on visa-free access. If urgency is what matters, we will get it done quickly; if mobility matters more, we will suggest the Caribbean or the EU, rather than selling speed where freedom is needed.
Frequently asked questions
01 /What is the CIIP?
The Citizenship by Investment Programme — Vanuatu’s citizenship by investment programme: a passport in exchange for a non-refundable contribution to a state fund.
02 /What makes Vanuatu’s programme good?
Speed: it is one of the fastest programmes in the world, and the passport can be obtained within months through a compact process.
03 /What is the main drawback?
Visa-free access is weaker than the Caribbean programmes and has been reviewed by a number of countries in recent years. It is less suited to wide mobility.
04 /Who is Vanuatu suited to?
Those who need a second passport urgently as a back-up document, when speed matters more than the maximum set of visa-free destinations.
05 /Is the contribution refunded?
No, a contribution to a state fund is non-refundable — it is a contribution to the country’s development, not an investment that can be recovered.
06 /What to choose instead of Vanuatu?
For wide mobility and long-term goals, the Caribbean programmes or a route to the EU are more often suitable. We choose for your particular purpose.
See also
Read next


This material has undergone editorial review by BRIDGES.
Need a second passport urgently?
We will assess frankly whether Vanuatu suits your goal and choose the optimal programme — for speed or for mobility.