Are you looking to upgrade your lifestyle? Acquiring a second passport is an excellent way to increase your freedom and global mobility. Launched in 2017 by the Vanuatu government, the Citizenship by Investment Program is a unique scheme in the South Pacific granting investors and their families a passport in exchange for economic investment. In just a month, obtain a second passport giving you access to 112 countries along with a second home with great tax benefits.
Vanuatu Passport Benefits
Vanuatu Passport Ranking
According to the Global Passport Index, the Vanuatu passport ranks 102nd. A catalyst for global mobility, the passport allows visa-free travel to 112 countries, including the UK, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Russia. Stay for up to six months per year in the UK without a visa and benefit from fast-track processing when traveling to the Commonwealth countries such as Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.
Passport Application
In order to acquire a passport from Vanuatu, candidates need to apply to the Vanuatu Citizenship by Investment Program. The program is considered straightforward and time-efficient, giving you citizenship in exchange for a minimum investment of $130,000, provided that you have at least $250,000 in your bank account.
Your investment must be made to Vanuatu’s Local Development Fund — a government body whose mission is to boost socio-economic growth. The minimum investment requirement for one person is $130,000 or $180,000 for a family of four. Additional dependents (children or parents) can be added for an extra fee.
Citizenship Eligibility Requirements
In order to apply for citizenship, the main applicant must:
- Be over 18 years old when applying, and under 65 years old at the time of lodging the application with the Vanuatu Citizenship Commission
- Make a minimum non-refundable investment starting from $130,000
- Hold a clean criminal record
- Have equivalent to or exceeding $250,000 in the bank account
- The program is not open to nationals from Iran, Iraq, Syria, North Korea, or Yemen, unless the individual has a permanent residence outside such countries and has lived outside of the country for more than five consecutive years.
How to Get a Vanuatu Passport
1. Consult with a specialist about the program requirements
2. Complete all the required documentation & submit the application
3. Undergo a due diligence check
4. Receive a pre-approval confirmation
5. Make the required investment and provide proof
6. Take the Oath Swearing Ceremony and become a citizen
- Consult with a specialist about the program requirements
- Complete all the required documentation and submit the application
- Undergo a due diligence check
- Receive a pre-approval confirmation
- Make the required investment and provide proof
- Take the oath swearing ceremony and become a citizen
(Once you receive the citizenship certificate, you can request Vanuatu passports for you and your family – simply fill out the Vanuatu passport application form and send it.)
Do I need to stay in Vanuatu?
Whether you want to visit or reside in Vanuatu is entirely up to you. There is no physical residence, visit or interview required to acquire or maintain Vanuatu citizenship.
Is it worth getting the Vanuatu passport by investment?
If you are on the lookout for a ‘plan B’ in life, this is an excellent option. For an affordable investment, you and your entire family can acquire a second passport giving you visa-free access to 96 countries and six months of visa-free access to the United Kingdom. On top of that, enjoy great tax benefits as Vanuatu citizens are exempted from personal taxation; wealth tax, inheritance, gift, capital gains or income tax.
What documents are needed to obtain Vanuatu citizenship?
If you and your family are interested in becoming Vanuatu citizens, you will have to provide the Citizenship Commission the documents below. The commission will assess your application and decide if it meets the relevant criteria provided under the Citizenship Act. In this case, you and your family will receive Vanuatu citizenship and be able to travel the world as Vanuatu passport holders, having visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 96 countries.
This is the list of documents necessary to apply for Vanuatu economic citizenship:
- A completed citizenship application form
- Certified copy of your passport (must be valid)
- Certified copy of your national identity card
- Police clearance
- Pass the Vanuatu due diligence check
- If married, a marriage certificate
- Medical certificate proving you’re in good health
- A comprehensive personal profile outlining your employment history (curriculum vitae)
- Color passport photograph
- Proof of having sufficient funds, a minimum of $250,000
FAQs:
How to get the Vanuatu passport?
You can apply for a Vanuatuan passport by investment. Launched in 2017, this unique immigration scheme allows investors and their families to gain Vanuatu citizenship in exchange for a donation to the local development fund.
What is the Vanuatu passport ranking?
According to the Global Passport Index, it ranks 102nd. Vanuatu passport holders have visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 112 countries.
Can my family also apply for the Vanuatu Immigration by Investment Program?
Yes, your family can definitely apply for the Vanuatu citizenship program, as long as additional fees are met. To acquire Vanuatu passports for a family of four, you will need to pay $180,000 plus fees. The whole family can become Vanuatu citizens in a very short time.
How do I become a citizen of Vanuatu?
The simplest way for you and your family to become Vanuatu citizens is by applying for Citizenship by Investment. You can receive citizenship in exchange for an investment in the country, starting at $130,000.
Check out our article: Vanuatu Real Estate Market – A Complete Guide.
Can you buy citizenship in Vanuatu?
The country has an economic citizenship program, which means you can acquire Vanuatu citizenship in exchange for an investment in the country. Your whole family can visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 112 countries, including the UK, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
How much is a Vanuatu passport?
The investment necessary to acquire Vanuatu citizenship (and passport) is $130,000 for a single person, $150,000 for a couple, and from then on, $15,000 for each additional family member.
Does an Indian passport holder need a visa for Vanuatu?
No. An Indian passport holder can enter Vanuatu visa-free, and is allowed to stay up to 30 days.
How much is citizenship in Vanuatu?
The Vanuatu passport price or, more specifically, the investment necessary to become a Vanuatu citizen is $130,000 for a single person, $150,000 for a couple, and from then on, $15,000 for each additional family member. It gives access to 112 visa-free countries.
Which countries need a visa for Vanuatu?
Citizens of several countries need a visa to enter Vanuatu, such as Bolivia, Paraguay, Iceland, Indonesia, and Togo. We recommend checking the requirements for your country before traveling to Vanuatu.
How many countries are visa-free for Vanuatu?
Vanuatu passport holders can enter 112 visa-free countries (this figure includes visa-on-arrival destinations). Check the list on this page. Vanuatu has a visa waiver agreement with Russia, which means that Vanuatu citizens can enter the country and stay for up to 90 days without a visa.
How do I get a golden passport in Vanuatu?
You can acquire a Vanuatu Golden visa by applying for the country’s citizenship by investment, and making an investment in the country, starting at $130,000.
Does Vanuatu allow dual citizenship?
Yes, dual citizenship is allowed, meaning you can keep your existing citizenship after obtaining Vanuatu citizenship.
What are the Vanuatu visa requirements for US citizens?
To enter Vanuatu, US citizens must present a valid passport, return ticket, or onward ticket, and proof of enough funds for their stay. Tourist visas are not required for stays of up to 30 days.
How strong is the Vanuatu passport?
According to the Global Passport Index, it is the 102nd strongest. It gives citizens of Vanuatu visa-free and visa-on-arrival access to 112 countries, including the UK, Russia, Singapore, and Hong Kong.
Here is the list of Vanuatu visa-free destinations in 2023 (includes visa-on-arrival countries): Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Comoros, Congo (Dem. Rep.), Costa Rica, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kosovo, Laos, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Micronesia, Moldova, Montenegro, Mozambique, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Palau, Palestinian Territories, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Sudan, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
