For Vanuatu citizens

Vanuatu citizenship for new family members

A spouse, a newborn, children. A family does not end on the passport issue date: children are born, marriages are concluded. We join new family members to your status - remotely, through a licensed agent, under the rules of each scenario.

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  • Each scenario has its own route: a newborn, a spouse, children
  • Remote - no trip to the islands
  • We handle families even if citizenship was arranged by another firm
A mother holds a laughing baby
01How it worksVanuatu

Why new family members are processed separately

The decision on your application fixed the family composition as of the filing date. Everyone who joined the family later goes through their own process - and each category has its own.

  • A newborn - right of blood

    A child of a Vanuatu citizen acquires the right to citizenship by birth. The process comes down to registration: a register record, a certificate, the first passport - with payment of government duties.

  • A new spouse - an additional applicant

    A marriage concluded after the status was granted does not join the spouse automatically. An additional applicant application is filed with a 10,000 USD contribution and a government due diligence check.

  • Children from a new marriage - under program rules

    The new spouse’s children are treated as additional applicants: the route and fees depend on age and the set of documents.

  • One matter per family

    Several family members are processed as one matter with a single coordinator - so documents and deadlines do not conflict.

02Three scenariosVanuatu

Three addition scenarios

Pick yours - each route is covered on this page.

  • A newborn

    The child was born after you obtained citizenship. Birth registration, status confirmation, a certificate and the first passport - government duties only, no investment contribution.

  • A new spouse

    The marriage was concluded after the decision on your application. The spouse proceeds as an additional applicant: a 10,000 USD contribution, a 5,000 USD government due diligence check, then citizen documents.

  • Children from a new marriage

    The spouse’s children join the matter together with them or separately. The route depends on the child’s age and the kinship and custody documents.

03RoutesVanuatu

How each scenario works

Stages and payments for the three routes - in one table.

NewbornNew spouseChildren from a new marriage
BasisRight of blood - a citizen parentMarriage to a citizen after the decisionKinship with the additional applicant
ContributionGovernment duties only10,000 USD per additional applicantCase-by-case - set out in the quote
CheckVerification of birth documentsGovernment due diligence - 5,000 USDBy age: adults go through the check
ResultA certificate and the first passportCertificate, registration and a passportCertificate, registration and a passport

Registration of a new citizen - 100,000 VT under the published tariff; an ordinary passport - 5,000 VT per person. The exact payment composition is confirmed by the competent authority’s invoice before filing.

04What is includedVanuatu

What the support includes

We run the family matter end to end - from eligibility review to the new citizens’ passports.

  • Eligibility and route review

    We determine which scenario applies to each family member and which documents their route requires.

  • The family document chain

    Birth and marriage certificates, consents, legalisation and translations - the file is built without data contradictions.

  • Filing and the check

    Applications go through a licensed agent; we support the government check and answer requests.

  • Registration and passports

    After the decision - registration of the new citizens, certificates and first passports delivered to you.

05CostVanuatu

Cost of family addition

The quote depends on the scenario and the number of family members being added.

  • Program contributions

    An additional applicant - 10,000 USD. Citizens’ newborns are registered without an investment contribution.

  • Government checks

    The due diligence check for an adult applicant - 5,000 USD, where the process requires it.

  • Duties and tariffs

    Registration of a new citizen - 100,000 VT; an ordinary passport - 5,000 VT per person.

  • Documents and support

    Legalisation, translations, delivery and BRIDGES case handling - based on the actual composition.

The final quote follows the review of the family documents. We never treat unpublished fees as zero - the authority’s current invoice is confirmed before filing.

06The processVanuatu

How the addition works

The general order is the same for all scenarios - the files and payments differ.

  1. Eligibility review

    We review the family documents and determine each route: registration by right of blood or an additional applicant application.

  2. The document file

    Certificates, consents, legalisation and translations. Name spelling is checked across all family documents.

  3. Filing the application

    The file goes to the competent authority through a licensed agent; contributions and duties are paid against the official invoice.

  4. The government check

    Adult applicants go through the due diligence check. We answer the authority’s requests and support the review.

  5. Registration and documents

    After the decision, new family members are registered as citizens; certificates and first passports are issued.

Timelines depend on the competent authorities of Vanuatu and are not guaranteed: we give an estimate after reviewing the documents.

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07DocumentsVanuatu

What we need from you

The basic set - per scenario. The exact list is confirmed after the case review.

  • Your citizen documents

    The main applicant’s Vanuatu passport and certificate of citizenship.

  • The child’s birth certificate

    With an apostille or legalisation and a translation - for newborns and children.

  • The marriage certificate

    For adding a spouse - legalised and translated.

  • Passports of those being added

    Valid first-citizenship documents of the spouse and children.

  • Parental consents

    For children - notarised consents where the authority requires them.

  • Check documents

    For adult applicants - clearances and details for the government due diligence check.

11QuestionsThe essentials

Family addition questions

01My child was born after I obtained citizenship. Are they a citizen automatically?

The right to citizenship arises at birth, but the status must be formalised: the birth registered, a certificate obtained and the first passport issued. No investment contribution is paid for a newborn - government duties only.

02How much does adding a new spouse cost?

The additional applicant contribution is 10,000 USD; the government due diligence check is 5,000 USD. Then come citizen registration at 100,000 VT and a passport at 5,000 VT under the published tariffs. The full quote follows the document review.

03Does a spouse join automatically after the wedding?

No. A marriage concluded after the decision on your application does not extend it retroactively: the spouse files their own additional applicant application and goes through the government check.

04Can my new spouse’s children be added?

Yes, children are treated as additional applicants. The route and payments depend on the child’s age and the kinship and custody documents - we review them at the start.

05Does the family need to travel to Vanuatu?

As a rule, no: matters run remotely through a licensed agent. If a specific matter requires a personal step, we tell you in advance.

06The birth certificate was issued in Russia. Will it be accepted?

Yes, after preparation: the document is legalised or apostilled and translated to the authority’s requirements. Name spelling discrepancies between documents are resolved before filing.

07Do children go through the government check?

The due diligence check is designed for adult applicants. For children, the birth, kinship and custody documents are verified - under the authority’s rules for their age.

08My citizenship was arranged by another firm. Will you add my family?

Yes. Your status is confirmed against the Vanuatu government registers, after which the family matter proceeds as usual - regardless of who handled the initial application.

INITIAL ASSESSMENT

Tell us what outcome your family needs

We will design a solution for your case, choose the country and the right status, and take the whole process through to the result.

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Anna Kovalevskaya, lead lawyer at BRIDGES GLOBAL
Anna KovalevskayaLead lawyer, citizenship and residency, 12 years of practice