How much a Vanuatu passport costs?

The single applicant contributes $130,000 to the National Development Fund. The contribution is non-refundable. 

Family investments. The investor’s relatives can obtain Vanuatu citizenship: their spouse, children under 25, and parents over 50. The larger the family, the higher the cost of obtaining a second passport. The contribution sums under the Vanuatu citizenship program are the following:

• $150,000 — for a married couple;

• $165,000 — for a family of 3 people;

• $180,000 — for a family of 4 people.

An additional $15,000 is per child or parent, starting from the fifth family member. 

Proof of financial solvency. To be eligible for the Vanuatu citizenship program, investors need to show $250,000 in their bank account, though their expenses under the program are usually much less. 

Still, the Vanuatu government wants to ensure that the investor has enough funds to support themselves and their family and will not spend all their savings on participating in the CBI program.

In addition to the investment, the applicant pays for professional services, government fees, and commissions. Altogether, they comprise the passport price. 

Fees under the Vanuatu CBI program are the following:

• $5,500 for the family — a Due Diligence fee;

• $1,000 per applicant — biometric data processing fee;

• $86 per applicant — issuance of the naturalisation certificate.

The most significant fee is paid for a Due Diligence check. It is a mandatory stage of any citizenship or residence permit by investment program. The applicant’s documents are checked to ascertain their reputation’s purity and the money’s legal origin.

The bank commission is 7% of the invoice amount, adding to the Due Diligence fee and fund contribution. The costs of professional services depend on the situation.

Another expense item is the oath. The investor can take an oath of allegiance in Vanuatu or invite the commissioner for oaths and migration officer to a place convenient for the applicant. In the second case, the trip’s costs need to be compensated. 

However, the oath was suspended during the pandemic and hasn’t been resumed.

Fees for adding relatives after citizenship approval. Relatives can become Vanuatu citizens after the investor has received a passport. The cost of joining the CBI program is:

• $45,500 for a spouse;

• $20,000 for a child under 18;

• $25,500 for other family members.

When adding adult relatives over 18, the Due Diligence fee is paid. Besides, the bank commission is charged per transaction.

Vanuatu citizenship is popular with cosmopolitans, as 2,336 applications were approved in 2014—2020. Their investments brought the country 106 million dollars in 2020 alone, while the CBI Unit expected 40 million less in revenue that year.

Vanuatu citizenship benefits include but are not limited to:

1. Visa-free travel to 108 countries, including Ireland and Singapore. 

2. 5-year multiple-entry tourist visa to the USA.

3. Tax optimisation for individuals and companies.

4. Non-residency requirements. New citizens are not obligated to live in Vanuatu before, during, or after the citizenship application process.

5. Dual citizenship.

6. Fast application process.

7. Scholarships at British universities.

Learn the benefits, conditions and specifics of the Vanuatu investment program

1. Vanuatu citizenship is obtained by contributing to the specially designated state fund. The contribution is one-time and non-refundable.

2. The investment amount depends on the number of applicants. A single investor contributes $130,000, while a married couple invests $150,000. Adding children and parents costs $15,000 per relative.

3. Additional expenses include state fees for Due Diligence, biometric submission, and naturalisation certificates. Besides, the investor pays for legal assistance and bank commissions.

4. The total expenses for a single investor amount to $146,070. A family of six will spend about $237,100.

5. Obtaining Vanuatu citizenship by investment takes 2—4 months.

6. The Vanuatu passport provides visa-free access to 100+ countries, long-term visitor visas to the USA, and tax optimisation.