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SRV-VU-REP

Vanuatu Passport Replacement

Replacing a passport of Vanuatu

Lost, stolen or damaged: we restore your documents. Passport replacement and restoring the citizenship certificate are handled remotely: we record the incident, confirm your status in the registers and have new documents issued.

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  • We handle urgent cases: loss and theft are recorded without delay
  • We restore both the passport and the citizenship certificate
  • Remotely, without a trip to the islands
An illustrative set of Vanuatu documents: passports and a sample certificate
Passportreplacement after loss, theft or damage to the pages or chip
Certificaterestoring the Certificate of Citizenship: a duplicate from the registers
Certificatesduplicate Vanuatu civil status documents

01 / Reasons to apply

When a new passport is needed

How to apply depends on the reason for the replacement and on which documents the applicant still has.

01

The passport is lost

We clarify the circumstances of the loss and the requirements for the statement or police document.

02

The passport is stolen

We check which document you need from the police in the country where the theft happened.

03

The passport is damaged

We assess the condition of the document and prepare the set for applying for a new passport.

04

The passport is not accessible

If the document stayed with a former representative or a third party, we separately determine the permitted way forward.

02 / First steps

What to do after a loss or theft

The first steps help record the circumstances of the incident and avoid delays in preparing the application.

Record the incident

After a theft or loss, report it to the police where it happened. Keep the original of the document you receive and an electronic copy.

Tell BRIDGES

Give us the date, place and circumstances of the incident. We will check the requirements that apply and suggest how to proceed.

Keep the documents you have

Prepare a copy of the passport, the birth certificate, the citizenship document and the papers from your earlier case, if you still have them.

Do not plan trips on the lost document

Whether you can travel and whether you need a temporary document has to be confirmed with the competent authority or a consulate.

The hall of a government office: marble counters and visitors seen from behind

We help replace a lost passport and restore a Vanuatu citizenship certificate

BRIDGESDocument replacement

03 / Scope of work

How BRIDGES supports a passport replacement

We organise the preparation of the application and work with the specialists involved. The decision to accept the application and issue the passport is made by the competent government authority of Vanuatu.

01

Checking the situation

We clarify the reason for the replacement, where the applicant is and which documents remain.

02

Determining the procedure

We check the authority’s current requirements and whether you can apply from your country of residence.

03

Preparing the set

We help fill in the forms and check the photos, translations and supporting documents.

04

Supporting the application

We coordinate the filing and track the available information on the progress of the review.

05

Collecting the document

We confirm in advance how the passport can be collected. It depends on the authority’s requirements and where you applied.

06

Delivering the passport

The finished passport is brought by our own courier, BRIDGES Courier, in person, wherever you are.

04 / Costs

What the costs are made of

The total depends on the applicant’s age, the reason for the replacement, the processing mode, the documents, translations and how you apply.

Government fees

Paid at the rates in force on the date of the application.

Additional fee

A separate government fee may apply if the passport is lost or damaged.

Preparing documents

Translations, certification, photos, statements and other materials needed.

BRIDGES support

The cost is set after checking the situation and agreeing the scope of work.

Before work begins we provide a calculation of the known costs. Government rates and fees can change, so the final amount is confirmed before filing.

05 / Stages of work

How the support works

The steps after a loss, theft or damage.

STEP 1

Initial check

We clarify the circumstances, where the applicant is and which documents remain.

STEP 2

Determining how to apply

We check the current requirements and the permitted way of filing.

STEP 3

Preparing documents

We draw up a personal list and check the set before it goes to the competent authority.

STEP 4

Filing the application

We arrange the filing in the agreed way. The decision to accept the documents is made by the government authority.

STEP 5

Supporting the review

We track the available information and tell the client about requests and changes in status.

STEP 6

Receiving the passport

We confirm the established way of collection and arrange the next steps within the agreed support.

The timing depends on the processing mode chosen, the completeness of the documents and the work of the government authorities. BRIDGES cannot guarantee a specific issue date.

06 / Documents

Which documents are needed to replace a passport

The standard set looks like this. We will confirm the exact list after checking your situation and help you gather every document.

Application

The form for a new passport, completed in line with the current requirements.

Incident document

A police document or the prescribed immigration declaration of loss or damage.

Previous passport

Provided if available, including when a damaged document is being replaced.

Birth certificate

A copy or another format accepted by the competent authority.

Proof of citizenship

May be needed depending on the circumstances and the existing government records.

Photos

Recent photos that meet the requirements of the passport authority.

Additional documents

Travel documents, medical records, parental consent or other materials, if they apply to the applicant.

Requirements for originals, certification and translation are confirmed before filing. Scanned copies cannot always replace originals or properly certified documents.

07 / Citizenship document

If the citizenship document is lost

Obtaining the citizenship document again is a separate procedure and is not always needed to replace a passport. We first check whether you need it in your situation, then identify the competent authority and what the application should include.

09 / Questions

Document replacement questions

Losing a passport does not in itself end your citizenship. However, before issuing a new document the government authority may check the applicant’s identity and civil status.

Not always. It depends on the documents you have, the government records and the requirements for the specific application. We check whether a separate procedure is needed before putting the set together.

Report it to the police where the theft happened and contact the nearest Vanuatu consulate or the passport authority. We will then help you work out the next steps.

Sometimes you can apply through a consulate or in another agreed way. This is not a universal rule. Whether remote support is possible and whether you must attend in person is checked case by case.

No, you should not use a document reported as lost or stolen. A temporary travel document has to be arranged with the competent authority or a consulate.

Grounds for applying can include damage to the pages, cover or machine-readable zone, loss of the document’s integrity, damage to the chip or other defects that prevent identification and use of the passport. The final assessment is made by the passport authority.

The official timelines depend on the processing mode chosen. They run from when the full set of documents is accepted and may change if additional checks are needed.

The cost includes government fees, a possible additional fee for a lost or damaged passport, document preparation and BRIDGES support. An exact calculation is provided after checking the situation.

Tell us which documents were handed over and which copies you still have. We will check whether the set can be restored and whether a separate application to the government authority is needed.

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