Vanuatu passport renewal: detailed process and requirements

A Vanuatu passport is valid for 10 years from the date of issue, after which it must be renewed. The Vanuatu Ministry of Home Affairs increased passport validity from 5 to 10 years in 2019[1].

All citizens must renew their passports regardless of how they obtained citizenship.

The renewal process must be initiated 2 months before expiry or earlier to avoid any travel disruptions. Many countries require passports to have at least 6 months of remaining validity for entry, even if you hold visa-free access. 

If your Vanuatu passport has less than 6 months validity remaining, you may be denied boarding by airlines or entry by immigration authorities in some destinations. 

Applications for passport renewal can be submitted at any Vanuatu consulate worldwide, so visiting Vanuatu is not required[2].

To renew the Vanuatu passport, the applicant must complete an official application form, provide all necessary supporting documents, submit biometric data, and pay the applicable fee.

Applications for passport renewal can be submitted either by the passport holder in person or by an authorised representative, such as Immigrant Invest under power of attorney. 

1. Gather required documents

To renew a Vanuatu passport, applicants must submit the following:

1. Completed application form for renewal of your passport[3].
2. Original certificate of citizenship.
3. Two recent passport photos less than 6 months old.
4. Expired Vanuatu passport.
5. Original birth certificate.
6. Relevant fee for the service required.

All documents must be originals; photocopies are not accepted.

Photos must be verified by a witness, who writes the applicant’s full name on the back of one photo and signs and dates the back of the photo.

Eligible witnesses include individuals in recognised professional roles, such as doctors, lawyers, or university lecturers, who have known the applicant for at least 2 years and can confirm their identity. The witness must not be a family member or someone living at the same address as the applicant.

2. File a renewal application

Vanuatu citizens can renew their passports at multiple locations both in Vanuatu and abroad. The following locations accept renewal applications.

1. Passport Office in Vanuatu.
2. Vanuatu Consulates and Embassies worldwide. For instance, in Australia, New Zealand, China, France, and Belgium[4].

All consulates accept the same application forms and documents, though payment methods and processing times may vary by location.

3. Submit biometrics

All applicants aged 12 and above must provide biometric data as part of the passport renewal process. This includes digital fingerprints from all ten fingers, a live digital photograph captured at the time of application, and a digital signature. 

Children under 12 are exempt from fingerprint requirements but must still provide a digital photograph.

The biometric enrolment must be completed in person at a passport office or designated consulate, which is why mail-only applications are not permitted for first-time biometric enrolment.

If you have already enrolled in biometric data during a previous passport application, some consulates may allow document submission by mail, but verification is required on a case-by-case basis.

Parents or legal guardians must provide written consent and supporting documents confirming their relationship to the child. Children may also be required to appear in person if biometric enrolment is needed.

Consent requirements

A child’s passport may only be issued when one parent or legal guardian provides written consent. The Passport Office will verify that the consenting parent is named on the child’s birth certificate.

If a legal guardian applies instead of a parent, they must provide:

• letter stating their name, title, and contact details;
• child’s name;
• declaration that they are the child’s guardian;
• guardian’s relationship to the child;
• explanation of why parental consent is not available;
• parent’s last known address[2].

Signature requirements

Depending on the age of a child, different signature requirements apply:

1. Children under 10 may leave the signature box on the application form blank.

Children aged 10—17 must sign the application form themselves in the designated signature box in the top right-hand corner[5].

The cost of renewing a Vanuatu passport for adults depends on the processing time. For children, their age is taken into consideration.

Renewal fees

The cost of renewing a Vanuatu passport as ad follows:

• normal processing: 21 days — VT 10,000, or  ≈ $82;
• express processing: 14 days — VT 20,000, or ≈ $164;
• urgent processing: 3 days — VT 25,000, or ≈ $205.

The cost of renewing a passport for a child is as follows:

• child of 0 to 5 years — VT 5,000, or ≈ $41;
• child of 6 to 17 years — VT 7,000, or ≈ $57[6].

Accepted payment methods

Payment for passport renewal fees can be made in Vanuatu vatu at the Passport Office in Port Vila. 

Cash payments are standard. Some consulates may accept credit or debit cards, bank transfers, or other payment methods, but applicants should verify accepted payment options directly with the specific consulate where they intend to apply. 

Foreign currency payments may be accepted at certain overseas locations at the prevailing exchange rate, but vatu is the preferred currency.

A person who commits any passport-related offence is liable upon conviction to imprisonment for up to 5 years or a fine not exceeding VT 5,000,000, or ≈ $41,000, or both. These penalties apply to both citizens and non-citizens who violate passport regulations.

The following actions are considered an offence:

• travelling with an expired Vanuatu passport;
• preparing or buying a fake Vanuatu passport;
• intentionally using a fake Vanuatu passport;
• making unauthorised changes, additions or marks in a Vanuatu passport;
• selling a Vanuatu passport;
• using someone else’s Vanuatu passport.

Additional offences include making false statements in passport applications, failing to surrender a cancelled passport, and possessing a Vanuatu passport to which one is not entitled[7].

In special situations such as lost, stolen, or damaged passports and emergency travel needs, specific procedures and additional documentation apply. Processing times and fees remain similar to standard renewal in most cases.

Lost or stolen passport

If the passport was lost or stolen, its holder must take the following steps:

1. Report the loss to the nearest police station and obtain a police report.
2. Notify the Vanuatu Department of Immigration and Passport Services or the nearest Vanuatu diplomatic mission.
3. Apply for a replacement passport, following the same application requirements as a new passport.

When submitting the application, the holder must provide the police report reference or certificate, identity documents confirming Vanuatu citizenship, and a statutory declaration explaining how the passport was lost or stolen.

Damaged passport

A passport that is torn, water-damaged or altered in any way may be considered invalid. It cannot be used for travel, even if it has not yet expired.

In the case of damage, the holder must apply for a replacement and submit the damaged passport with the application. The immigration officer may ask for an explanation of how the damage occurred.

Travel document for urgent situations

In situations where a traveller urgently needs to leave the country but does not have a valid passport, Vanuatu may issue a Certificate of Identity, CI.

Certificates of Identity have limited validity, and their permitted use is determined case by case by the Principal Immigration Officer.

The official fee for issuance of a Certificate of Identity is VT 7,000, or ≈ $57, which is lower than the urgent passport service fee.

To obtain the Certificate of Identity, applicants must:

• complete the official Certificate of Identity application form[8];
• provide proof of identity or Vanuatu citizenship, if applicable;
• explain the circumstances requiring urgent travel;
• provide any supporting documents requested by the immigration authorities.

If applying from overseas, travellers should contact the nearest Vanuatu diplomatic mission or consulate to confirm whether a CI can be issued abroad.

Passport renewal applications are rejected for the following common reasons:

1. Photos do not adhere to standards. For instance, they are of the wrong size or poor quality, or the person is smiling or wearing glasses.
2. Forms contain errors, such as sections are incomplete or miss information, or dates are incorrect or inconsistent.
3. Documents are expired, damaged, or missing.
4. Fees are not paid, not paid to the fullest, or paid in the wrong currency.

To avoid rejection, carefully review all requirements before submission, use the official application form, ensure all documents are original and in good condition, and verify payment methods with the submitting office in advance.

Investors who have participated in the Vanuatu citizenship by investment program do not have to deal with renewing their passports on their own. Immigrant Invest’s lawyers will prepare the necessary documents and deliver them to the address given by the investor.

Vanuatu passport holders enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to over 90 countries, zero tax on global income, wealth and inheritance, the right to live and work in Vanuatu without restrictions, access to international banking systems, and safe haven status during crises.

1. Visa-free travel to 96 countries

Vanuatu passport holders can travel visa-free or visa-on-arrival to 96 countries, including Hong Kong and Singapore.

Despite the loss of EU Schengen access in 2024, the passport remains valuable for Asia-Pacific mobility, tax optimisation, and geopolitical neutrality.

2. Five-year visa to the US

Vanuatu citizens can apply for a US B‑1/B‑2 Visitor Visa, which may be issued for up to 5 years and allows stays of up to 180 days per year.

With this visa, Vanuatu passport holders can travel within the United States, attend business meetings, and receive medical treatment in the US clinics.

3. Zero tax on global income, wealth and inheritance

Individuals do not pay most taxes in Vanuatu: personal income, real estate ownership, and other assets are not taxed.

Vanuatu has no taxes on wealth, capital gains, inheritance, dividends, interest, global income, or stock gains.

The rate of VAT for international companies is 12.5%. International Business Companies, IBC, established in the country are exempt from tax for 20 years. Instead of taxes, they make an annual payment of $300 to the Government of Vanuatu.

4. Safe haven and crisis insurance

Having second passport means you can change your residence without applying for any additional permission. For example, with a second Vanuatu passport, you can move to Vanuatu immediately whenever you want or are required to unexpectedly leave your country of origin for health, safety, political or economic reasons.

Moreover, as a Vanuatu passport holder, you can travel to Vanuatu at any time, even during a pandemic, when tourists with valid visas are not allowed to enter, and those present have to leave.

5. International banking system access

Vanuatu’s citizens have access to the international payment system: international transfers are available at every bank.

All banks offer similar services: branch banking, cash withdrawals from ATMs in Vanuatu and free Internet banking. Some banks have also developed mobile applications for their customers.

Monthly bank account maintenance fees range from $2 to 8.

Relatives of Vanuatu citizens can obtain citizenship if they meet specific eligibility criteria, depending on the type of kinship with the Vanuatu national. The required documents and process vary depending on the relationship.

Citizenship eligibility for relatives of Vanuatu citizens

If a parent or grandparent of the applicant was a native inhabitant of Vanuatu or a Vanuatu citizen by birth or naturalisation when the applicant was born, they provide the original birth certificate of the applicant and the original birth certificate or certificate of Vanuatu citizenship of the parent or grandparent.

If the applicant is the spouse of a Vanuatu citizen and had lived in Vanuatu for at least 2 years when they applied for citizenship, they provide a marriage certificate and proof of residence in Vanuatu for at least 2 years.

If the applicant is the spouse, child, or parent of a Vanuatu citizen who obtained citizenship by investment, they provide the investor's naturalisation certificate and proof of kinship, such as a birth certificate.

Cost of adding family members to CBI application

Adding a family member under the citizenship by investment program is the easiest option. Investors can add their close relatives to the application when they apply for citizenship, or investors can add the relatives to the application after receiving Vanuatu passports.

An investor can add the following family members to their Vanuatu citizenship application:

• spouse;
• children of the investor or spouse under 25;
• parents over 50.

Parents and adult children must be financially dependent on the main applicant. Children must also be full-time students.

The official minimum investment for a single applicant for Vanuatu citizenship by investment is $130,000 under the non-refundable contribution option.

The European Union suspended visa-free access for Vanuatu passport holders in May 2022 and made the suspension permanent in December 2024[9]. Vanuatu citizens now require Schengen visas to enter the 29 EU member states and associated Schengen Area countries. 

The EU cited concerns over the integrity of Vanuatu’s citizenship by investment program, specifically relating to due diligence processes and security risks.

As of 2026, the suspension remains in effect with no confirmed timeline for reinstatement. Vanuatu passport holders must apply for Schengen visas through normal consular channels if they wish to visit EU countries. Visa-free access to other destinations outside the EU remains unaffected.

The Vanuatu government has expressed readiness to improve Due Diligence and transparency in its citizenship by investment program, but no roadmap for meeting EU security and passport-integrity requirements has been released. Investors should not expect Schengen access to return in the near or medium term.

1. A Vanuatu passport must be renewed every 10 years, regardless of whether it was obtained by descent, naturalisation, or under the investment program.
2. The renewal process can be completed both in Vanuatu and abroad, with applications accepted at Vanuatu consulates worldwide and no requirement to visit the country.
3. Standard processing takes 21 days, faster services available.
4. In the event of loss or theft, the passport holder must first report the incident to the police and then submit an application for a new document.
5. Despite the suspension of EU Schengen access, Vanuatu citizenship continues to offer visa-free travel to over 90 countries, a zero-tax environment, family inclusion options, and geopolitical neutrality.
6. Immigrant Invest helps to renew Vanuatu passports upon their expiration or replace the documents if lost, stolen, or damaged.

1. Source: According to the Vanuatu Daily Post
2. Source: Passport Policies on the Vanuatu government website
3. Source: Application form for the new Vanuatu passport
4. Source: Full list of Vanuatu overseas representations
5. Source: FAQ about Vanuatu passport on the government website
6. Source: According to the Vanuatu Department of Immigration & Passport Services
7. Source: Passport Act Offences on the Vanuatu government website
8. Source: Application form for the Certificate of Identity
9. Source: Confirmed by the Council of the EU