Vanuatu Citizenship by Investment
Obtain Vanuatu citizenship in as little as 30 days through a $130,000 government donation — zero tax, zero residency, fully remote process.
Vanuatu CBI offers the world's fastest citizenship — passport in 30–60 days from $130K. Zero tax jurisdiction, no residency required, dual citizenship permitted.
Vanuatu CBI: The World's Fastest Path to a Second Passport
Vanuatu Citizenship by Investment, operated by the Vanuatu Citizenship Office under the Citizenship Act [CAP 112], is among the fastest and most straightforward CBI programmes globally. The flagship Development Support Program (DSP), launched in 2017, can deliver citizenship approval in as little as 45–60 days — entirely remotely. No visit, no interview, no language test, and no residency requirement at any stage.
Two pathways are available: the DSP (non-refundable donation from $130,000) and the Capital Investment Immigration Plan (CIIP), requiring $165,000 with $50,000 redeemable after 4 years through a government-approved fund. The CIIP was briefly suspended in March 2025 for a regulatory overhaul and reopened in May 2025 with enhanced due diligence. As a zero-tax jurisdiction with no income, capital gains, wealth, or inheritance tax, Vanuatu is attractive for digital entrepreneurs and investors seeking tax restructuring.
The Vanuatu passport provides visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to approximately 90 destinations, including Hong Kong, Singapore, Russia, and most of Southeast Asia and the Pacific. Important: the EU formally ended Vanuatu's Schengen visa exemption on 12 December 2024 (after suspending it in 2022). Vanuatu passport holders now require a visa for Schengen Area travel. The passport does not provide visa-free access to the US, Canada, Australia, or Japan. Vanuatu fully permits dual citizenship.
Key Benefits
- Fastest CBI globally: Citizenship approval in 45–60 days. No other programme consistently matches Vanuatu's speed.
- Zero-tax jurisdiction: No income tax, capital gains, wealth tax, inheritance tax, or corporate tax on international income. Only 15% VAT on local goods/services.
- Fully remote: Entire process — application, approval, oath, passport collection — completed without visiting Vanuatu.
- Competitive family rates: CIIP covers up to family of 4 for $165K. Includes children under 25 and parents over 50.
- Dual citizenship: Fully permitted. No renunciation of existing nationality required. Citizenship permanent and heritable.
- Partially refundable option: CIIP includes $50K invested in approved fund, redeemable after 4 years.
Risks and Considerations
- Schengen access revoked: EU formally ended Vanuatu's Schengen visa exemption on 12 December 2024. Visa now required for all Schengen travel. Restoration under diplomatic discussion.
- Limited passport power: ~90 destinations (rank #50) vs 157 for Saint Kitts or 147 for Grenada. No visa-free to US, Canada, Australia, Japan, or Schengen.
- Reputation risk: Financial institutions view Vanuatu CBI passports with increased scrutiny. CIIP was suspended Mar–May 2025 for regulatory overhaul.
- Non-refundable DSP: The $130K DSP donation is fully non-refundable — a pure cost unlike real estate programmes where you retain a tangible asset.
- Natural disaster risk: Located in Pacific Ring of Fire — cyclones, earthquakes, volcanic activity can impact CIIP real estate investments.
