Vanuatu Citizenship by Investment (Development Support Programme)
Short answer
Vanuatu runs one of the world's fastest and lowest-cost citizenship-by-investment routes, centred on a non-refundable government contribution under the Development Support Programme (DSP). It is potentially suitable for applicants who want a quick second passport and a backup plan with minimal residence or travel obligations, rather than a relocation or EU pathway. A major 2026 caveat: the EU permanently removed Vanuatu's Schengen visa-free access, and the UK and Ireland have also withdrawn it, so the passport's travel value is now far narrower than older promotions suggest, and the program has drawn international compliance scrutiny. A separate refundable investment option (CIIP) was reported suspended in 2025 during a regulatory overhaul, while the contribution-based DSP has continued to operate. This is general information only and not legal advice; a professional review is recommended to confirm current rules and your own situation.
Best for
- Applicants who primarily want a fast second passport and a backup plan, not a place to relocate
- People comfortable with a non-refundable contribution in the USD 130k-180k+ range plus fees
- Families wanting to include spouse and children in a single application
- Those whose priority is dual citizenship and asset/diversification planning rather than European travel
- Entrepreneurs or investors with clearly documented, clean source of funds who value speed
Not ideal for
- Anyone whose main goal is visa-free travel to the EU/Schengen, the UK or Ireland — these are no longer available
- Those seeking an EU residence or future EU citizenship pathway
- Applicants who want a refundable or asset-backed investment as the primary route (the refundable CIIP option was reported suspended in 2025)
- People who cannot clearly evidence a clean, legitimate source of funds
- Anyone needing a passport with the broadest possible global mobility, where stronger CBI or naturalisation routes may rank higher
Snapshot
- Region
- Oceania
- Budget band
- Medium–High
- Timeline
- Fast
- Residence burden
- Very low
- Passport potential
- Direct
- Family suitability
- High
- Tax / banking complexity
- Low / Medium–High
- Estimated budget
- Typically a non-refundable government contribution starting in the region of roughly USD 130,000 for a single applicant and around USD 180,000 for a family of four, plus due diligence, processing, agent and passport fees that commonly add several thousand to tens of thousands more. Applicants are also commonly asked to demonstrate net assets or available funds in the region of USD 250,000. Exact figures vary by family size, current government order and the firm engaged, so treat this as a budget band rather than a fixed price.
Commonly requested documents
- Commonly requested: valid passport(s) and national ID for all applicants
- Birth certificates and, where relevant, marriage certificate for family applications
- Police clearance / criminal record certificates from countries of residence
- Source-of-funds and financial evidence (bank statements, proof of assets, often net worth in the region of USD 250k)
- Medical / health certificates and recent photographs
- CV or professional background and, increasingly, in-person biometric data capture
Main risks
- Reputation and compliance risk: the program has faced significant international scrutiny over its golden-passport scheme, leading to loss of EU, UK and Irish visa-free access
- Travel value has narrowed: the EU permanently ended Schengen visa-free access and a US B-1/B-2 visa policy tightening was reported, so the passport delivers less mobility than older marketing implies
- Program-change risk: rules, fees and options shift; the refundable CIIP option was reported suspended in 2025, and the DSP operates under government orders that can change
- Funds are largely non-refundable: the core contribution is a sunk cost regardless of future policy changes
- Due diligence and source-of-funds: applications can be refused; unclear funding, prior refusals or record issues raise risk and a professional review is essential
Recommended next steps
- Treat this as an initial route match and book a professional review to confirm current government orders, fees and your eligibility
- Clarify your real priority — backup passport vs. EU travel vs. relocation — since this route no longer serves EU/UK/Ireland travel goals
- Prepare a clean, well-documented source-of-funds file early, as due diligence is central to approval
- Confirm the latest biometric submission options and locations before committing
- Compare against other CBI or residence routes if broad global mobility or an EU pathway matters to you
See if this route fits your profile
Frequently asked questions
Information reviewed: 2026-06 · subject to change — not legal advice · Sources: consilium.europa.eu, fragomen.com, globalcitizensolutions.com
Important disclaimer
This tool provides a general route-matching estimate based on the information you entered. It is not legal, tax, financial, or immigration advice. It does not guarantee eligibility, approval, visa issuance, residence approval, citizenship, bank account approval, or any government outcome. A professional assessment is recommended.