Vanuatu
Vanuatu Citizenship Programs — Development Support Program (DSP) and Capital Investment Immigration Plan (CIIP)
Established 2017. Regulated by Vanuatu Citizenship Office, Citizenship Commission.
- Min investment
- $130K
- Processing time
- 1-3 months
- Physical presence
- No
- Interview
- No
- Language test
- No
- Dual citizenship
- Yes
- Visa-free destinations
- ~90
- Henley rank (2025)
- #54
Investment options
Donation
$130KDevelopment Support Program (DSP) — non-refundable donation to the National Development Fund. Single applicant USD 130,000; couple USD 150,000; family of 3 USD 165,000; family of 4 USD 180,000. Each additional dependent: USD 10,000.
Business
$150KCapital Investment Immigration Plan (CIIP) — all-in capital contribution USD 150,000 covering single applicants up to family of 4. Invested into approved sectors (CIIP-Cocoa Fund, Vanuatu Coffee Impact Fund, Melekule Cocoa Farming, CIIP-CNO Future Fund). USD 50,000 of the principal returned after 5 years. Temporarily suspended March 2025; now reinstated.
Additional fees
- Due diligence (adult): $6K
Due diligence fee USD 5,500 per APPLICATION (not per applicant) — does not vary with family size. Payable at submission, non-refundable.
Family inclusion
- Spouse: Yes
- Children under 18: Yes
- Adult children up to age: 25
- Parents (min age): 50+
- Siblings: No
Spouse, financially dependent children under 25, parents/parents-in-law aged 50+ if financially dependent. Most flexible age threshold among current CBI programs (children up to 25 vs. peer 18/30).
Tax implications
- Worldwide income taxed: No
- Tax residency required: No
Vanuatu has NO personal income tax, NO capital gains tax, NO inheritance tax, NO wealth tax — one of the world's last true zero-tax jurisdictions for individuals.
Eligibility requirements
- Minimum age 18
- Clean criminal record
- Documented legal source of funds (USD 250,000+ net worth typically expected)
- Health declaration
- No interview required (100% remote application possible)
Disqualifiers
- Nationals of Iraq, Iran, North Korea, Yemen, Syria, Afghanistan (with conditional pathways for long-term residents abroad — typically 5+ years outside home country plus permanent residency elsewhere)
- Criminal record
- Prior CBI denial
- Sanctions list designation
- Russia and Sudan were briefly added in March 2026 but the memo was retracted as a clerical error — currently NOT restricted, but enhanced DD applies
Recent changes
- 2024-12
EU Council PERMANENTLY revoked the Schengen visa waiver for Vanuatu passport holders due to ongoing concerns about Vanuatu's CBI screening. Vanuatu citizens now require Schengen visa / ETIAS authorization.
- 2023-03
UK suspended visa-free travel for Vanuatu nationals citing CBI integrity concerns.
- 2025-03
CIIP program temporarily suspended for review; reinstated within weeks.
- 2026-02
Nauru-style discount: Vanuatu retained competitive pricing structure with USD 130k single-applicant DSP minimum.
- 2026-03
Memo briefly restricting Russian and Sudanese applicants retracted by Citizenship Commission as 'clerical error' — no formal addition to restricted list.
Notes
FASTEST CBI in the world (often 30-60 days). 100% remote, no visit, no interview. BUT: lost Schengen visa-free in Dec 2024 (permanent) and UK visa-free in 2023 — passport mobility significantly diminished. Still attractive for tax neutrality (zero tax), speed, and family inclusion (children to 25). Best suited for clients prioritizing tax/asset planning and access to Asia/Pacific/Russia rather than EU/UK travel.
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