HomeVanuatu Citizenship by Investment
Vanuatu Citizenship by Investment

Two legal routes. One honest conversation.

Vanuatu is the fastest citizenship-by-investment program in the world — 45 to 60 days, no residency, no interview. But the right route (DSP or CIIP) depends on your budget, your family size, and whether you want $50,000 back after four years. We’ll walk through both on a $100 strategy call — no sales pressure, just facts.

Fact-checked against Vanuatu Citizenship Office data and EU Council decisions as of April 2026.

Not sure Vanuatu is right for you?

Talk to Sofia — our 24/7 AI Global Mobility Advisor. She’ll ask about your passport, budget, and goal, and recommend the best-fit program in 5 minutes.

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$130K
Starting contribution (DSP, single)
45–60
Days to receive passport
0
Days of residency required
~86
Visa-free / VoA destinations (2026)
Choose your route

DSP or CIIP — which one fits you?

Both are government-authorized Vanuatu citizenship-by-investment programs. The differences are refundability, fees, and processing partner. Most single applicants and couples pick DSP. Some families who want a partial return of capital pick CIIP. We’ll model both on the call.

Option B

Capital Investment Immigration Program (CIIP)

$165,000
single applicant
↩ $50,000 returned after 4 years
  • Higher upfront, lower net cost long-term
  • +$8,000 due-diligence fee per adult
  • Same ~45–60 day timeline
  • Handled by an authorized agent consortium
  • Dependent fees vary by family structure
  • Best when capital return matters to you
Discuss CIIP →
FactorDSPCIIP
Single applicant$130,000$165,000 ($50K refunded yr 4)
Couple$150,000$180,000 ($50K refunded yr 4)
Family of 4$180,000$200,000 ($50K refunded yr 4)
Due-diligence fee$5,500 per adult$8,000 per adult
Processing time45–60 days45–60 days
Residency requiredNoneNone
Physical presenceOne biometrics appointmentOne biometrics appointment
Capital returnedNo — donation$50,000 after 4 years
The honest part

What Vanuatu’s passport does — and doesn’t do — in 2026.

In December 2024, the European Council fully and permanently suspended the EU visa-waiver agreement with Vanuatu, citing due-diligence concerns over its CBI programs. The UK requires a full visa from Vanuatu citizens — there is no ETA option. We will not sell you around this. If Schengen or the UK is what you need, Vanuatu is the wrong answer and we’ll say so on the call.

What you actually get in 2026

Visa-free / visa-on-arrival access to around 86 countries, including Russia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and most of Asia-Pacific and South America. Not the Schengen area (suspended 12 December 2024), not the UK, not the US, Canada, Australia or New Zealand. If you need to visit any of those, you’ll still need your primary passport.

How it works

Five steps. Everything starts with the $100 call.

No commitment beyond the strategy call. If Vanuatu isn’t the right fit for you, we’ll tell you that on the call and point you to a better option.

1
Day 0

$100 strategy call

45 minutes on Zoom. We review your passport, family, goals, and confirm Vanuatu is actually right for you. Honest yes or no.

2
Week 1–2

Document pack

Police clearances, certified passport copies, bank references, proof of funds, medicals, marriage & birth certificates. We provide the exact checklist.

3
Week 2–3

Submission & due diligence

Application goes to the Vanuatu Citizenship Office via a licensed agent. Government runs tier-one due diligence (Interpol, OFAC, PEP, financial checks).

4
Week 5–7

Approval in principle

Citizenship Commission issues an in-principle approval. Contribution is paid. Oath of allegiance is scheduled and taken at a Vanuatu consulate or by authorized commissioner.

5
Week 7–9

Citizenship & passport

Certificate of Citizenship and Vanuatu biometric passport delivered via secure courier. Total elapsed time: 45–60 days from submission.

What you actually get

The quiet advantages of a second passport.

Fastest CBI on earth

45–60 days typical — no Caribbean program, no EU program, comes close.

🏠

Zero residency

You are never required to visit or live in Vanuatu to qualify or to keep your citizenship.

🌐

Remote application

Whole process runs digitally except for one biometrics appointment (Vanuatu / Dubai / HK / New Caledonia).

👨‍👩‍👧

Whole family covered

Spouse plus dependent children in a single application under clear government rules.

🔐

Dual citizenship allowed

Vanuatu law permits dual nationality. Your home country’s rule is a separate check — we cover it on the call.

💰

No personal tax in Vanuatu

Vanuatu imposes no personal income tax, no capital gains tax, no inheritance tax on its citizens.

🛡️

Inheritable

Citizenship passes to your children born after you naturalize. A long-term asset, not a short-term pass.

🕊️

Commonwealth member

Vanuatu is a full Commonwealth nation — useful context for certain regional and intergovernmental benefits.

Frequently asked

Real questions we get every week.

Short, straight answers. If yours isn’t here, bring it to the $100 call — that’s the right forum for your specific situation.

How quickly can I really have the passport?
With a clean file, 45–60 days from submission to passport delivery is realistic. We’ve seen it as short as 5 weeks when documents are complete on day one.
Do I have to set foot in Vanuatu?
Never to qualify, never to maintain. You do need one in-person biometrics appointment — conducted in Vanuatu, Dubai, Hong Kong or New Caledonia, whichever is closest.
Is my contribution refundable?
Under DSP: no — it’s a donation. Under CIIP: $50,000 of your contribution is returned after 4 years. Due-diligence fees are never refundable under either route.
Which route is cheaper overall?
DSP is cheaper upfront. CIIP is cheaper on paper after 4 years if you net the $50K refund. Due-diligence fees are higher under CIIP. We model both on the call.
What passport power does it actually have?
Visa-free or visa-on-arrival to around 86 destinations per Passport Index 2026. Includes Russia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, most of Asia-Pacific and South America. Excludes Schengen, UK, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand.
Why did the EU suspend visa-free access?
The European Commission raised concerns about Vanuatu’s CBI due-diligence — high approval rates, no residency requirement, no in-person interviews historically. The EU partially suspended the agreement in 2022 and fully suspended it on 12 December 2024.
Can I keep my current citizenship?
Vanuatu permits dual citizenship. Whether your home country allows it is a separate legal check. India, for example, requires renunciation. We walk through your specific case on the call.
Does Vanuatu citizenship give me a tax benefit?
Vanuatu has no personal income tax, capital gains tax, or inheritance tax. But citizenship alone does not make you a Vanuatu tax resident or shield you from your home country’s tax rules. Tax residency is determined by where you actually live.
Can I add my spouse and kids later?
You can add a new spouse or newborn children after initial grant under a dependent-addition process. Government fees and a fresh due-diligence run apply per person added.
What happens if my application is rejected?
The contribution is not paid until after in-principle approval, so a rejection means you only lose the due-diligence fee ($5,500 or $8,000) and processing costs. The call is where we honestly assess whether your profile will pass.

Start with a $100 strategy call.

45 minutes with me, Ankit Agarwal. We’ll model both DSP and CIIP against your specific family structure, timeline, and budget — and tell you straight if Vanuatu isn’t the right program for your goals.

Book the $100 call →
No upsells on the call. If Vanuatu isn’t your fit, we’ll say so and point you elsewhere.
Find With Ankit

Cross-border citizenship and residency advisory. Fact-checked research, no sales pressure, no false promises.

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Disclaimer

This page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, immigration or financial advice. Program costs, processing times, due-diligence fees, and visa-free destinations are sourced from Vanuatu Citizenship Office materials, European Council decisions and Passport Index 2026, and are subject to change without notice. Vanuatu CBI programs are operated by licensed agents under Vanuatu law; Find With Ankit is an independent advisory and does not act as an authorized citizenship agent. Acceptance into the program is at the sole discretion of the Government of Vanuatu following due diligence.

© 2026 findwithankit.com · All CBI participation is subject to approval by the Vanuatu Citizenship Commission. · Contact us
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