Vanuatu’s revenue from the citizenship by investment programme for the first half of 2026 has been published. Interim data was released by the country’s Ministry of Finance and Economic Management.
A comparison with previous periods shows how the programme’s revenue is changing. Lyle Julien, an investment migration expert, analysed the new figures.
Official statistics
11.4 billion vatu, or about US$95.5 million, was received by Vanuatu CBI from January to June 2026[1]Source: Daily Postt.
In total, 29 billion vatu entered the budget during the period, or about US$243 million. The citizenship programme provided 39% of this amount and became the largest source of government revenue.
In the first half of the year, Vanuatu fulfilled 55% of its annual revenue plan. The revised plan for 2026 is 53.9 billion vatu, or about US$451.5 million. Actual revenue for January to June exceeded the budget forecast by 8.9%, and the result for the same period in 2025 by 5.7%.
Impact of cancelled visa-free regimes on Vanuatu’s revenue
Citizens of Vanuatu do not have visa-free travel to the EU and the UK. The European Union suspended the visa-free regime on February 4th, 2023, and on December 12th, 2024, finally removed Vanuatu from the list of countries with visa-free entry.
The European Union explained the decision by security risks that, in its assessment, were created by the CBI. For a similar reason, the United Kingdom introduced visas for citizens of Vanuatu in July 2023.
The cancellation of visa-free travel led only to a temporary decrease in the programme’s revenue. In 2023, revenue fell from 8.5 to 8.1 billion vatu, or by about 4%. In 2024, revenue recovered and reached 9.4 billion vatu.
In 2025, revenue grew by 57% to 14.7 billion vatu. In the first 6 months of 2026, the CBI had already brought 11.4 billion vatu, or about US$96 million, to the budget.
How to obtain Vanuatu citizenship by investment
Vanuatu citizenship is granted in 2 or more months. There is no need to live in the country or take exams. A personal visit is required only to submit biometrics, either in Vanuatu or in one of the countries where the procedure is available.
Close relatives can be included in one application: a spouse, children under 25, and parents over 50. The investor chooses one of two options:
- A non-refundable contribution to the state fund — $130,000+ for one applicant.
- Investment in the Cocoa Sustainable Development Fund — $165,000+ for one applicant or a family of up to 4. The investor receives a fund share with a nominal value of $50,000. After 5 years, the share can be redeemed, and this part of the investment can be returned.
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