Vanuatu Citizenship by Investment
The world's fastest citizenship route — a straightforward, fully remote contribution with citizenship in roughly 1–2 months. Best suited to regional mobility and contingency planning (note: no longer visa-free to the EU/Schengen or UK).
Program at a Glance
Key facts for the Vanuatu program
Vanuatu offers the fastest citizenship timeline in the world — typically one to two months — through a straightforward, fully remote contribution. It is best understood as a speed-and-simplicity option for regional mobility and contingency planning, and we advise clients with current, accurate visa-free expectations rather than legacy claims.
- Processing time
- ~1–2 months
- Visa-free travel
- ~118 destinations (excludes EU/Schengen & UK)
- Minimum investment
- From USD 130,000 (DSP donation)
What to know
Vanuatu remains the fastest CBI route, but its passport value has materially narrowed: the EU revoked visa-free Schengen access (effective February 2025) and the UK revoked visa-free access in July 2023. Any older marketing citing visa-free Europe or the UK is out of date. We position Vanuatu honestly — as a fast, low-cost mobility and contingency option, not a Europe-access passport.
Figures are indicative and subject to change by the issuing authority. Speak with an Ancova advisor for current pricing, due-diligence requirements, and route-specific eligibility.
Investment routes
Ways to qualify for Vanuatu
Development Support Program (DSP)
USD 130,000 single / USD 180,000 family of four
A non-refundable contribution to the national development fund — the fastest and most-used route, with no residency requirement (+USD 25,000 per additional dependant).
Capital Investment Immigration Program (CIIP)
From USD 165,000
An alternative route with a partially redeemable investment component rather than a pure donation; less commonly used.
Eligibility
Who qualifies
- Main applicant aged 18 or over
- Clean criminal record with police clearance certificate(s)
- No active criminal investigation and no relevant prior visa denials
- Verifiable lawful source of funds covering the contribution
- Passes due diligence and AML screening by the Financial Intelligence Unit
- Medical certificate of good health (some nationalities are generally ineligible)
The process
From brief to passport
- 1
Consultation & engagement
Engage a government-licensed DSP agent, receive a quotation, and confirm eligibility.
- 2
Documents & due-diligence fee
Compile documents and pay the ~USD 5,000 due-diligence fee.
- 3
Submission to the Citizenship Commission
The licensed agent submits to the Vanuatu Citizenship Commission and Investment Migration Bureau.
- 4
Due diligence & approval-in-principle
Government screening is conducted, with approval-in-principle typically within ~14 business days.
- 5
Investment & oath
Pay the full DSP contribution after pre-approval, complete the oath, and receive the certificate and passport.
Why Vanuatu
What this passport unlocks for the principal and family
Fastest CBI timeline
Citizenship in roughly 1–2 months, significantly faster than Caribbean or European routes.
Zero direct taxation
No personal income, capital-gains, inheritance, estate, wealth, or gift tax on citizens.
Fully remote, no presence
The application is completed remotely; no need to live in or visit Vanuatu.
No interview or language test
There is no interview, language requirement, or educational qualification.
Dual citizenship permitted
You may retain your existing nationality, subject to your home country's rules.
Lifetime, heritable
Citizenship is for life and can pass to future generations.
Visa-free highlights
- Hong Kong
- Singapore
- Malaysia
- United Arab Emirates
Advisory Approach
Discreet, compliance-led guidance from brief to passport.
The Vanuatu route is reviewed against your family profile, existing nationalities, source-of-funds documentation, and long-term mobility goals. Ancova coordinates application preparation, due diligence, government liaison, and onward passport issuance.
- Eligibility review tailored to the principal and dependants
- Source-of-funds and source-of-wealth documentation support
- Liaison with approved agents and government channels
- Post-approval handling: oath, passport, and onward planning
This page is general information for educational purposes only and is not legal, tax, financial, or immigration advice. Investment thresholds, processing times, and program terms change; confirm the current details with a qualified Ancova adviser before acting.
Everything You Need to Know
Need more clarity? Our team is here to provide tailored guidance and support.
Roughly 1–2 months for approval and 2–3 months to receive the passport — the fastest CBI timeline available.
A non-refundable DSP contribution from USD 130,000 for a single applicant (USD 180,000 for a family of four), plus a due-diligence fee of about USD 5,000.
No. There is no residency or physical-presence requirement and the process is completed entirely remotely.
No. The EU revoked visa-free Schengen access for Vanuatu passport holders effective February 2025; a Schengen visa must now be applied for.
No. The United Kingdom reintroduced visa requirements for Vanuatu citizens in July 2023.
Yes — you keep your original nationality unless your home country prohibits it.
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