Vanuatu passport renewal is a citizen’s obligation

Vanuatu Ministry of Home Affairs has increased the validity of a Vanuatu passport from 5 to 10 years from 2019. By extending the validity of the passport, Vanuatu citizens will be able to apply for a 10-year visa to the US and Canada at once. Previously, a five-year visa could be opened on a five-year passport, and now this period will be doubled.

The validity period of the passport. A Vanuatu passport needs to be renewed every 10 years. If a Vanuatu passport has expired, the passport holder applies for a new Vanuatu passport through the normal procedure. The requirements are the same as for a new Vanuatu passport.

You do not have to visit Vanuatu for this, as an application for the renewal of your passport can be submitted at any Vanuatu consulate.

Passport application. A passport may be applied for either by the passport holder himself or by an authorised person under the power of attorney. The applicant must submit an application form and enclose the necessary documents.

Documents required to renew a passport:

1. Completed application form for renewal of your passport.

2. Original certificate of citizenship.

3. Two recent 5,1×5.1 cm passport photographs (less than 6 months).

4. Your latest Vanuatu passport.

5. Original birth certificate

6. Relevant fee for the service required.

A witness must verify two photos of the applicant for a new passport. The witness must write the applicant’s full name on the back of one photo and sign and date the back of the photo.

The applicant signs an application form and submits biometrics.

The processing time for passport renewal. A Vanuatu passport can normally be obtained in 21 days. There is an urgent passport service in 3 days or an express service in 14 days.

The cost of renewing a Vanuatu passport for an adult depends on the processing period.

The cost of renewing a passport for a child depends on the age of the child:

• child (0 — 5 years): 5,000VT (≈ $44);

• child (6 — 17 years): 7,000VT (≈ $62).

Individual cost calculation for Vanuatu citizenship

Get the cost calculation

The consequences for violating the Vanuatu citizenship law are enshrined in the Passport Act. Misuse of a Vanuatu passport is punishable by up to 5 years in prison or a fine of $45,000.

To avoid problems with Vanuatu’s laws, Vanuatu passport holders need to renew their passports within the period stipulated in the Passport Act. Immigrant Invest’s lawyers recommend starting the passport renewal procedure two months before its expiration date.

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.

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

Travelling worldwide without a visa. Vanuatu passport holders can travel visa-free to 95 countries, including the UK, Hong Kong and Singapore.

The maximum length of stay without a visa with a Vanuatu passport:

• up to 90 days per annum in Hong Kong;

• up to 30 days per annum in Singapore.

Visa-free countries with a Vanuatu Passport

Vanuatu citizens can also easily apply for a 5-year US tourist visa. For comparison, this type of visa is issued, if at all, for just 3 years to citizens of many other countries.

With a Vanuatu passport, you can also apply for a 1-year Australian electronic visa, which is processed within a fortnight.

Safe haven. Having a 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.

Favourable taxation system. 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 $1000 to the Government of Vanuatu.

A Vanuatu citizen must become a tax resident in Vanuatu to legally reduce their tax liability. They must prove they spend at least 183 days a year in Vanuatu to qualify.

Reliable banking system. Vanuatu’s citizens and residents 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.

Family reunification. The government allows Vanuatu passports to be issued to relatives of its citizens in the following cases:

1. 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. The relevant documents — original birth certificate and original birth certificate or certificate of Vanuatu citizenship of the parent or grandparent.

2. The applicant is the spouse of a Vanuatu citizen and had lived in Vanuatu for at least 2 years when they applied for citizenship. The relevant documents — marriage certificate and proof of residence in Vanuatu for at least two years.

3. The applicant is the spouse, child or parent of a Vanuatu citizen who obtained citizenship by investment. The relevant documents — investor’s naturalization certificate and proof of kinship, such as a birth certificate.

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:

• spouse;

• children of the investor or spouse under 25 years of age and adopted children. Only unmarried children over 18 years old can be included;

• parents over 50 years old.

Adding an eligible relative to the citizenship by investment application costs at least $15,000 per additional family member. Vanuatu citizenship by investment costs $135,129 when only the investor is included in the application.

Name change. Vanuatu law allows you to change your name on your passport. However, in this case, you must also change your name in your passport issued by your country of origin. Vanuatu does not issue passports in different names for the same person.

Max,

Student at Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London

I am studying fashion design at Saint Martin’s at the University of the Arts London. I changed my name on my original passport and my Vanuatu passport so that it was a better match with my brand name.

Documents required to change your name in a Vanuatu passport:

• name change application;

• a copy of the Vanuatu citizenship certificate;

• a copy of your passport issued by your country of origin;

• copy of your Vanuatu passport;

• a copy of the no criminal record certificate in countries where you have been granted citizenship;

• copy of the birth certificate.

The cost of changing the name in the passport of an investor or a member of their family is $10,000.