Yes. The programme operates under Vanuatu's Citizenship Act (Cap. 112, as amended) and the implementing regulations governing the Development Support Program (DSP) and the Capital Investment Immigration Plan (CIIP). Citizenship is granted by the Citizenship Commission on the recommendation of the Citizenship Office.

In July 2022 the UK Home Office imposed a visa requirement on Vanuatu nationals, citing concerns over Vanuatu's CBI programme — specifically, high issuance volumes, low rejection rates, and inadequate due-diligence screening. No reinstatement has been announced as of 2026; applicants should assume a UK visa is required.

On 12 December 2024 the European Council formally revoked Vanuatu's Schengen visa-exemption under the EU's visa suspension mechanism. The European Commission's reasoning documented more than 10,000 Vanuatu passports issued between 2015-2021 predominantly to applicants from visa-required countries, with low rejection rates, no residency requirement, and no in-person interviews or biometric capture. Vanuatu had been under Schengen suspension since 2022 ahead of the formal revocation. Vanuatu has since responded with reforms, most notably the mandatory in-person biometric-capture requirement introduced in July 2025 and the move to ICAO-compliant biometric passports in November 2025. Whether these reforms will restore EU or UK visa-free access is unclear; no reinstatement timeline has been announced. Vanuatu nationals currently require Schengen visas for all EU travel.

DSP route: US$130,000 donation (single) or US$180,000 (family of four) + ~US$15-25k in DD, legal, and processing. All-in single: ~US$150-160k. CIIP route: US$165,000 contribution (US$50,000 returned after 4 years) + ~US$15-25k in DD and legal. Non-recoverable CIIP cost: ~US$130-140k.

Target 30-60 days from a complete, submission-ready file through to oath of allegiance and passport issuance. This is the fastest standard timeline of any CBI programme globally. Well-prepared files with no DD complications routinely close in 30-45 days.

Not necessarily Vanuatu itself — but since July 2025, in-person biometric capture is mandatory for every applicant (including children). This can be completed in Port Vila, or at approved overseas representations in the UAE (Dubai), New Caledonia (Néouméa), or Hong Kong. The Vanuatu consul can also travel to a third country on request for biometric collection, subject to additional fees. A compact single-day appointment is typically all that is required. The oath of allegiance is administered remotely through an approved officer, and the passport is delivered via secure courier. Vanuatu began issuing biometric passports in November 2025.

Approximately 107 destinations as of April 2026, including Singapore, Hong Kong (SAR), Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, UAE, Russia, most Commonwealth states (excluding UK), and the Pacific Islands Forum region. The United Kingdom, the Schengen Area, the United States, Canada, and Australia all require visas.

Yes. Vanuatu permits dual and multiple nationality without restriction. Whether your home country permits dual citizenship is a separate question we walk through on the strategy call.

No personal income tax, no capital gains tax, no inheritance tax, and no worldwide-income tax apply in Vanuatu. Vanuatu is one of a handful of truly zero-income-tax jurisdictions globally. For clients with genuine tax-residency intentions, this is a meaningful secondary benefit.

Yes. The US$180,000 DSP family tier covers the main applicant, spouse, and up to two children under 18. Additional adult dependents (18+) add US$25,000 each. Parents / grandparents over 50 and unmarried siblings can be added on a case-by-case basis.

Vanuatu is significantly faster (30-60 days vs 4-6 months), and comparable or cheaper on price. But the 2022 UK suspension and 12 December 2024 EU Schengen revocation have reshaped the trade-off sharply: where Caribbean Tier-1 CBIs like St Kitts and Grenada retain UK (ETA) and Schengen (ETIAS) visa-free access, Vanuatu has lost both. For clients whose primary need is speed or Asia-Pacific mobility, Vanuatu wins. For clients who need UK or European travel, Caribbean Tier-1 is the right choice.

Possible but not imminent. The US has required Vanuatu visas throughout, so there is no current visa-free status at risk there. Canada and Australia have always required visas. Commonwealth and Asia-Pacific destinations remain stable. The Vanuatu government has indicated programme reforms aimed at restoring EU trust, but no concrete reinstatement timeline has been announced.