Situated in the South Pacific Ocean, Vanuatu or the Republic of Vanuatu is an archipelago that comprises around 80 islands. Populated with beautiful beaches, picturesque towns, tropical forests, and more, this island nation offers an easy-going lifestyle, attractive investment opportunities in an emerging economy, and an affordable real estate market. Vanuatu passport holders through the investment program have the right to travel visa free or with arrival visa to 96 countries. Furthermore, they do not require additional travel documentation if they want to enter the UK or Asian countries like Hong Kong and Singapore.
Visa free countries for Vanuatu
Through Vanuatu’s Citizenship By Investment program, you can become a Vanuatu citizen and access visa free travel across 96 countries. Owing to dynamic geopolitical circumstances, Covid-19 rules and regulations, international ties between countries and other dynamic conditions, the guidelines for entry to Vanuatu visa free countries can change quickly. We highly recommend you to go through the latest requirements as specified by your destination country before traveling. This will help in ensuring a smooth traveling experience for you and your family.
Vanuatu citizenship – validity
Vanuatu citizenship is granted to an applicant for his or her entire life span. However, the Vanuatu passport expires after ten years. You can either choose to update your passport by reaching out to your agent accountable for your Vanuatu citizenship by investment scheme in your local consulate area or can travel to Vanuatu and be physically present to revise your passport documentation.
Important visa free countries for Vanuatu passport holders
Vanuatu citizens have access to visa free travel across attractive tourist destinations and crucial business development areas. The Vanuatu visa free countries list includes the below-mentioned nations.
United Kingdom
France and the United Kingdom jointly ruled the island nation of Vanuatu until the middle half of the 1980s. Following Vanuatu’s independence (June 30, 1980), the country joined the Commonwealth. Since Vanuatu is a member nation of the Commonwealth, Vanuatu passport holders can stay for a 180-day period in the United Kingdom without a visa.
Hong Kong and Singapore area
For Vanuatu passport holders, travel to Hong Kong and Singapore is visa free. As important business economies in the Asia Pacific region, visa free access to these financially stable countries is of great interest to international investors and business people.
If you are a Vanuatu passport holder, you can stay up to 90 days a year without any visa required in Hong Kong. The visa free stay is for 30 days when it comes to Singapore.
Complete list of visa free or on arrival visa countries for Vanuatu citizens
| Albania | eVisa |
| Angola | pre-visa on arrival |
| Antigua and Barbuda | visa-free/180 days |
| Armenia | eVisa/120 days |
| Australia | eVisa |
| Bahamas | visa-free/90 days |
| Bahrain | eVisa |
| Bangladesh | visa-on-arrival/30 days |
| Barbados | visa-free/180 days |
| Belarus | visa-free/30 days |
| Belize | visa free |
| Benin | eVisa |
| Bolivia | visa-on-arrival / eVisa/90 days |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | visa free/90 days |
| Botswana | visa free/90 days |
| Burundi | visa-on-arrival/30 days |
| Cambodia | eVisa/30 days |
| Cape Verde | visa-on-arrival (EASE) |
| Colombia | eVisa |
| Comoros | visa-on-arrival/45 days |
| Congo (Dem. Rep.) | eVisa/90 days |
| Costa Rica | visa-free/90 days |
| Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) | pre-enrollment/90 days |
| Cuba | tourist card/30 days |
| Djibouti | eVisa |
| Dominica | visa-free/180 days |
| Dominican Republic | visa-free |
| Ecuador | visa-free/90 days |
| Egypt | on-arrival-visa / eVisa/30 days |
| El Salvador | visa-free/90 days |
| Eswatini | visa-free/30 days |
| Ethiopia | eVisa |
| Fiji | visa-free/120 days |
| Gabon | eVisa |
| Gambia | visa-free/90 days |
| Georgia | eVisa |
| Grenada | visa-free/90 days |
| Guatemala | visa-free/90 days |
| Guinea | eVisa/90 days |
| Guinea-Bissau | on-arrival-visa / eVisa/90 days |
| Guyana | pre-visa-on-arrival |
| Haiti | visa-free/90 days |
| Honduras | visa-free/90 days |
| Hong Kong | visa-free/90 days |
| India | eVisa/30 days |
| Iran | eVisa/30 days |
| Ireland | visa-free/90 days |
| Israel | visa-free/90 days |
| Jamaica | visa-free |
| Jordan | on-arrival-visa |
| Kazakhstan | eVisa |
| Kenya | visa-free/90 days |
| Kiribati | visa-free/120 days |
| Kosovo | visa-free/90 days |
| Kyrgyzstan | eVisa |
| Laos | visa-on-arrival / eVisa/30 days |
| Lesotho | visa-free/90 days |
| Madagascar | visa-on-arrival / eVisa/90 days |
| Malawi | visa-on-arrival / eVisa/30 days |
| Malaysia | visa-free/30 days |
| Maldives | visa on arrival/30 days |
| Mauritania | visa on arrival |
| Mauritius | visa-free/90 days |
| Micronesia | visa-free/30 days |
| Moldova | visa-free/90 days |
| Montenegro | visa-free/90 days |
| Mozambique | visa on arrival/30 days |
| Nauru | visa on arrival |
| Nepal | visa on arrival/90 days |
| Nicaragua | visa-free/90 days |
| Nigeria | pre-visa on arrival |
| Oman | eVisa |
| Pakistan | eVisa |
| Palau | visa on arrival/30 days |
| Palestinian Territories | visa-free |
| Panama | visa-free/90 days |
| Papua New Guinea | visa on arrival / eVisa/60 days |
| Peru | visa-free/180 days |
| Philippines | visa-free/30 days |
| Qatar | eVisa |
| Russian Federation | visa-free/90 days |
| Rwanda | visa on arrival / eVisa/30 days |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | visa-free/90 days |
| Saint Lucia | visa-free/42 days |
| Samoa | visa on arrival/60 days |
| Sao Tome and Principe | eVisa |
| Senegal | visa-free/90 days |
| Seychelles | tourist registration/90 days |
| Sierra Leone | visa on arrival/30 days |
| Singapore | visa-free/30 days |
| Solomon Islands | visa on arrival/90 days |
| Somalia | visa on arrival/30 days |
| South Sudan | eVisa |
| Sri Lanka | eTA/30 days |
| St. Vincent and the Grenadines | visa-free/30 days |
| Suriname | eVisa |
| Tajikistan | eVisa |
| Tanzania | visa-free/90 days |
| Thailand | visa on arrival / eVisa/15 days |
| Timor-Leste | visa on arrival/30 days |
| Togo | visa on arrival/7 days |
| Tonga | visa on arrival/31 days |
| Trinidad and Tobago | visa-free |
| Tuvalu | visa on arrival/30 days |
| Uganda | visa-free/90 days |
| Ukraine | eVisa |
| United Arab Emirates | eVisa |
| United Kingdom | visa-free/180 days |
| Uzbekistan | eVisa/30 days |
| Viet Nam | eVisa/30 days |
| Zambia | visa free/90 days |
| Zimbabwe | visa free/90 days |
Vanuatu Passport via Citizenship By Investment
An applicant can obtain a Vanuatu passport through Vanuatu’s Citizenship By Investment program fairly quickly. It takes around one-two months for a Vanuatu passport to get issued to a prospective Vanuatu citizen.
Visa Requirements
-You need to be at least 18 years old to apply for Vanuatu citizenship
-You need to prove that you have $250,000 in your bank account
-You should not have any criminal record
-Invest a minimum $130,000 (non-refundable) in Vanuatu’s economy
-You need to pass a stringent security check
-Foreign citizens from countries like Iran, Iraq, Syria, North Korea, or Yemen cannot apply for this program. However, they can drop their application if they have a permanent residence permit issued in a foreign country and have resided there for five years consecutively.
Investment Criteria
Local Development Fund – Applicants should contribute to boost the country’s economy and infrastructure, through the Vanuatu Development Support Program. The minimum donation depends on how many family members are included in the application:
- Single applicant: $130,000
- Main applicant + Spouse: $150,000
- Main applicant + Spouse + 1 child (or other dependent): $165,000
- Main applicant + Spouse + 2 children (or other dependents): $180,000
- Families of 5 persons or more: + $15,000 for each additional person
Advantages of being a Vanuatu citizen
- You can receive your passport within a month
- You can include your family members in your visa application
- You don’t need to visit Vanuatu or pass an interview/language test for a citizenship application. Applicants can opt for an online application.
- With a minimum investment of $130,000, you can obtain citizenship and get access to Vanuatu passport visa free countries.
- No personal taxes, wealth taxes, inheritance, gift or income taxes will be levied
- Your travel documentation will be prioritized when you are visiting Commonwealth countries
To know more about the country’s Citizenship By Investment program, check out our article: Citizenship by Investment in Vanuatu.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many countries can Vanuatu passport holders enter without a visa?
Vanuatu citizens have visa free access to 96 countries . Popular investment and tourist destinations include the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Singapore and Russia.
Is a Canada visa for Vanuatu citizens required?
Canada and Vanuatu don’t have a mutual visa waiver agreement. For this reason, Vanuatu citizens require a Canada tourist valid visa to enter Canada. Visa holders can use the visa for 180 days.
Is Australia visa free for Vanuatu passport holders?
Vanuatu citizens need an online visa to travel to Australia.
Which countries can I visit with a Vanuatu passport?
Vanuatu passport holders can travel visa free to 96 countries. For more information, check the complete Vanuatu visa free countries list above on this article.
Do Vanuatu passport holders need a visa for the Schengen area countries?
Vanuatu citizens with passports issued after 25 May 2015 have to apply for a short stay visa to enter the European countries of the Schengen area. On the application they have to present a return flight ticket, a passport valid for at least 3 months after the return date ticket, proof of accommodation, proof of financial resources to cover stay and pay a fee of 80 euros.
Vanuatu Visa for Indian Citizens?
Indian citizens visiting Vanuatu need a visa on arrival. The on arrival visa is free and valid for a period of 30 days from the date of arrival in Vanuatu.
Do Vanuatu passport holders need a visa to India?
Vanuatu citizens need an online visa to travel do India. The Indian e-tourist visa is valid for 30 days.
Can Vanuatu citizens enter South Korea without a visa?
No, Vanuatu citizens need to apply for a South Korea visa to enter the country.
Want to relocate to Vanuatu and obtain citizenship? You might want to explore the following articles:
- The Vanuatu passport
- Relocating to Vanuatu
- Everything you need to know about retiring in Vanuatu
- Banks in Vanuatu – Your Expert Guide
