Updated
GL-S-02
Glossary · Vanuatu citizenship
Schengen and Vanuatu: visa waiver suspended
Visa-free Schengen access on a Vanuatu passport is suspended: partly by a decision of 03.03.2022, fully from 04.02.2023, and since 03.02.2025 Vanuatu is on the EU visa list. For Europe - a Schengen visa or a Greek residence permit.
01 / In 30 seconds
The short answer
- Current status
- No visa-free Schengen access on a Vanuatu passport
- How it happened
- Partial suspension 03.03.2022, full from 04.02.2023
- Status
- Vanuatu on the EU visa list since 03.02.2025
- What to do
- A Schengen visa for trips or a Greek residence permit for living
02 / In plain words
What Schengen and Vanuatu means
Visa-free Schengen access on a Vanuatu passport is currently suspended. The partial suspension was an EU decision of 03.03.2022, the full one applied from 04.02.2023, and since 03.02.2025 Vanuatu is on the EU visa list.
There are no official statements on negotiations to restore it. So a Vanuatu citizen needs a Schengen visa to travel to Europe.
If you need to live in Europe, it is easier to get a Greek residence permit straight away: it can be applied for on a Vanuatu passport, even where applications on the first citizenship are not accepted.
A simple example
A client took a Vanuatu passport for Europe. We arranged a Greek residence permit through a home purchase straight away, and he travels freely in Schengen on the residence card.
Where you will meet it
- Planning trips to Europe
- Choosing a second passport
- Greek residence permit
- Answering a client about visa-free travel
03 / What it covers
What to know
Status
- Waiver suspended
- EU visa list
- No negotiations
Dates
- 03.03.2022 partial
- 04.02.2023 full
- 03.02.2025 list
Solutions
- Schengen visa
- Greek residence
- Hungarian residence
What the passport gives
- Visa-free elsewhere
- Banking and business
- Basis for residence
04 / How it works
How a Vanuatu citizen gets to Europe
Goal
Trips or living.
Visa
Schengen for trips.
Greek residence
For living.
Residence card
Free Schengen travel.
05 / Key facts
Key facts
01Visa-free access now
A Vanuatu passport needs a Schengen visa
The waiver is suspended, and since 03.02.2025 Vanuatu has been on the EU visa list. A Vanuatu citizen needs a Schengen visa to travel to Europe.
02How it happened
Partly from 03.03.2022, fully from 04.02.2023
The EU first suspended the waiver partly, then in full. There are no official statements about talks to restore it.
03Living in Europe
A Greek residence permit on a Vanuatu passport
You can apply for Greek residence on a Vanuatu passport even when applications on your first citizenship are not accepted. The residence card lets you travel in Schengen.
Common mistakes
Getting a Vanuatu passport for visa-free Europe
Plan for a Schengen visa or go straight for a Greek residence permit. The waiver is suspended with no date for its return.
Relying on old reviews that mention visa-free access
Check the publication date. The waiver has been fully suspended since 04.02.2023, so earlier reviews are out of date.
Expecting the waiver to come back soon
There are no official statements about talks. Base your plans on a Schengen visa or Greek residence.
06 / Expert advice
How to prepare
If Europe is the main goal, plan a Greek residence permit together with the Vanuatu passport.
What we do for you. We are honest about visa-free travel and offer a working route to Europe straight away.
Anna KovalevskayaLead lawyer for EU citizenship and residency, 12 years of practice
07 / Questions
Frequently asked questions
Not now. Since 03.02.2025 Vanuatu has been on the EU visa list, so you need a Schengen visa to travel.
Partly since 03.03.2022, fully since 04.02.2023.
There are no official statements about talks to restore it. We do not promise it will come back and plan around a visa or residence permit.
Yes, with a Schengen visa obtained before the trip, as for other countries on the EU visa list.
Through a Greek residence permit: you can apply on a Vanuatu passport even when applications on your first citizenship are not accepted, for example by buying property.
Yes, the Greek residence card lets you travel within the Schengen area without a separate visa.
Vanuatu citizenship glossary
- Vanuatu programme →
- DSP
- CIIP
- Vanuatu passport renewal
- Replacing a lost Vanuatu passport
- 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
- Vanuatu Citizenship Act (Cap. 112)
- Vanuatu Citizenship Commission
- Vanuatu Citizenship Office
- Vanuatu authorised agent
- Official DSP contribution schedule
- All terms →
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