Updated
GL-V-01
Glossary · Vanuatu citizenship
Vanuatu Citizenship Act (Cap. 112)
Vanuatu's main citizenship law: who is a citizen by birth, how citizenship is acquired and lost, and whether dual citizenship is allowed. The contribution and fund programmes rest on it.
01 / In 30 seconds
The short answer
- What it is
- Vanuatu's main citizenship law
- What it governs
- Citizenship by birth, acquisition, renunciation and deprivation
- Dual citizenship
- Allowed - the programmes rest on this
- Programmes
- DSP and CIIP operate under the Act and its regulations
02 / In plain words
What Vanuatu Citizenship Act (Cap. 112) means
The Citizenship Act (Cap. 112) is Vanuatu's main citizenship law. It defines who is a citizen by birth, how citizenship is acquired, how it is renounced and when it is withdrawn.
The Act allows dual citizenship, so a new Vanuatu citizen does not have to give up their own. The contribution and fund programmes operate under the Act and the regulations the state adopts under it.
Programme rules change more often than the Act itself: in 2026 the state reviewed the programmes. So we check current amounts against the official schedule and invoice.
A simple example
A family obtains Vanuatu citizenship and keeps their own. A son born a year later is a Vanuatu citizen by birth under the Act.
Where you will meet it
- The dual citizenship question
- Citizenship of children by birth
- Renouncing citizenship
- Checking the rules before filing
03 / What it covers
What to know
Who is a citizen
- By birth
- By registration
- Through a programme
What it governs
- Acquisition
- Renunciation
- Deprivation
Dual citizenship
- Allowed
- You keep your own
- Notice - under your country's law
Programmes
- DSP
- CIIP
- Amounts per official schedule
04 / How it works
How the Act works for an applicant
Basis
Contribution or fund programme.
Checks
Due diligence and the Commission.
Oath
Required for a new citizen.
Certificate
Citizenship starts with it.
05 / Key facts
Key facts
01Dual citizenship
Allowed - you keep your current citizenship
Vanuatu law does not require a new citizen to give up their home passport. Any restriction can only come from your home country's own law.
02When citizenship starts
On the date of the citizenship certificate
You become a Vanuatu citizen on the date shown in the certificate. Children born to you after that date are citizens by birth.
03DSP and CIIP programmes
Run under the Act and the rules made under it
Amounts, fees and family make-up are set by programme rules, not by the Act itself. The government reviewed them in 2026, so we always check amounts against the official schedule and invoice.
04Renunciation and deprivation
The Act covers both
The Act sets out how a citizen can renounce citizenship and when it can be taken away. With an honest application and lawful capital, deprivation is not a risk.
Common mistakes
Thinking you must give up your current citizenship
Vanuatu allows dual citizenship, so you keep your home passport. Only your home country's law could restrict this, so check it separately.
Relying on amounts from old reviews
Programme rules changed in 2026. Current amounts come only from the official Citizenship Office schedule and the invoice issued through a licensed agent.
Confusing the Act with programme rules
The Act decides who is a citizen and how citizenship is gained and lost. DSP and CIIP amounts and fees are set by separate rules that change more often.
06 / Expert advice
How to prepare
Before filing, check amounts and rules against the official schedule: the Act is stable, but the state updates programme rules.
What we do for you. We check programme rules on the filing date and explain how Vanuatu law fits with your country's law.
Anna KovalevskayaLead lawyer for EU citizenship and residency, 12 years of practice
07 / Questions
Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Citizenship Act allows dual citizenship. You keep your home country's citizenship when you get a Vanuatu passport.
On the date shown in your citizenship certificate. From that day, any children born to you later are Vanuatu citizens by birth.
It is the number of the Citizenship Act in Vanuatu's consolidated laws. Cap. stands for chapter.
The Act lists the cases in which citizenship can be withdrawn. With an honest application and lawful capital, this is not a risk.
Yes. A child with at least one Vanuatu citizen parent on the date of birth is a citizen by birth, and no investment is needed for them.
No, programme rules set them. The DSP contribution for one person is currently $130,000 and the CIIP fund programme is $157,000 for a family of up to four, with a due diligence fee added to both.
Vanuatu citizenship glossary
- Vanuatu programme →
- DSP
- CIIP
- Vanuatu passport
- Vanuatu passport renewal
- Replacing a lost Vanuatu passport
- Schengen and Vanuatu
- Greek residence permit for Vanuatu citizens
- Vanuatu company
- Asset Statement
- Witness field (Vanuatu forms)
- Remarks block (CIIP form)
- Medical certificate (Vanuatu)
- Bank letter (Vanuatu)
- Professional reference (Vanuatu)
- Vanuatu police clearance
- Nomination Form (CIIP form)
- Principal candidate
- Spouse (Vanuatu form)
- Dependent child (Vanuatu form)
- Dependent resident
- Form B (Vanuatu passport form)
- Birth Registration Questionnaire (9610)
- Vanuatu FIU due diligence
- FIU letter
- BRIDGES pre-check
- Vanuatu due diligence fee
- 3-month deadline for payment and oath
- Vanuatu citizenship certificate
- Vanuatu birth registration certificate
- Vanuatu National ID
- Vanuatu fund share
- Fund option without share return
- Additional family member (Vanuatu)
- Dependant aged 18-25 (Vanuatu)
- Parents and older dependants (Vanuatu)
- Vanuatu citizenship by birth
- Vatu (VT)
- Port Vila
- Bislama
- Vanuatu Citizenship Office
- Vanuatu authorised agent
- Official DSP contribution schedule
- All terms →
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