Vanuatu still issues citizenship by investment, but the travel picture and the process changed recently. Here is the 2026 position and what to confirm.
Information, not advice. Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Always confirm the present rules with the official program authority and a licensed professional before you act.
The biggest change is travel. In December 2024 the Council of the European Union removed Vanuatu from the visa exempt list, so Vanuatu citizens now need a Schengen visa to enter the European Union. This followed a period of partial suspension and was tied to European concerns about how applicants were vetted.
The process also tightened. From July 2025 applicants are required to provide biometrics, either in Vanuatu or at an authorised overseas office, and additional document fees were introduced. The investment route continues to operate, but with more steps than before.
Citizenship is granted by the Vanuatu Citizenship Office and Commission, a constitutional body that oversees all citizenship matters. The best known investor pathway is the Development Support Program, a non refundable contribution to the state, with due diligence carried out before approval.
Because contribution levels, due diligence fees and document charges have moved, treat any figure you see on a marketing page as indicative only. Confirm the current cost and process with the Citizenship Office before you commit.
Watch how other countries treat the Vanuatu passport for travel, since visa free lists can change again. Watch also for any further European or partner country action, and for revisions to the contribution amounts and vetting steps.
Be clear about what the passport delivers today rather than what older articles claim. The value of a second citizenship rests on current visa free access, tax position and your own circumstances, all of which you should verify independently.
Yes, the investment route remains open and is administered by the Vanuatu Citizenship Office and Commission. The process now includes biometrics and the travel benefits have narrowed.
No. The European Union ended visa free Schengen access for Vanuatu citizens in December 2024, so a Schengen visa is now required.
European authorities cited concerns about vetting standards, information sharing and the absence of a residence requirement in the citizenship by investment scheme.
Information, not advice. Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Always confirm the present rules with the official program authority and a licensed professional before you act.
We introduce you to vetted, independent advisors, in confidence and at no obligation. Your topic is noted for you below.
Independent and paid by the people we help, never by a government and never by a firm.
One short email when a programme rule changes, with the official source named so you can verify it. No hype, unsubscribe anytime.