Vanuatu's Parliament has not sat in its own chamber since the earthquake of 17 December 2024. The magnitude 7.3 quake near Port Vila damaged the building badly enough that members have since met in the Parliament library, converted into a temporary chamber. Repairing the seat of government has become one of the clearest symbols of Vanuatu's recovery, and several countries have stepped forward to help pay for it. The most recent is Indonesia.
This briefing sets out what Indonesia is funding, places it alongside the support Vanuatu receives from its other partners, and explains why the wider picture matters to anyone who holds Vanuatu citizenship or is considering applying for it. Every figure below is linked to its source at the end of the article.
What Indonesia is funding
Indonesia's grant covers two projects: the renovation of Vanuatu's Parliament House in Port Vila, and the construction of classrooms at Manua Junior Secondary School in North Efate. The Vanuatu Daily Post reported the Indonesian Government's contribution at approximately VT188 million.
Before committing the funds, an Indonesian technical team visited Port Vila to survey the sites. According to the Daily Post, the team carried out structural and soil testing, took concrete samples from the Parliament building for analysis, assessed materials, safety and regulatory compliance, and prepared a Detailed Engineering Design that it discussed with Vanuatu officials. The visit was facilitated by Vanuatu's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Utilities. Indonesia's Ambassador to Vanuatu, Dr Siswo Pramono, who is based in Canberra, spoke publicly about the projects.
On 3 March 2026 the grant handover for the Parliament and Manua school renovations was signed at the Vanuatu High Commission in Canberra, by Vanuatu's Acting High Commissioner and the Indonesian Ambassador. The High Commission described the event as a sign of Indonesia's continued commitment to infrastructure development in Vanuatu.
Earlier Indonesian support
The grant builds on a run of practical assistance. In 2023 Indonesia renovated the VIP lounge at Bauerfield International Airport in Port Vila. The Indonesian Navy hospital ship KRI dr. Wahidin Sudirohusodo later visited Port Vila and provided free medical treatment to more than 350 ni-Vanuatu, and Indonesia has run a nurse training programme with Vanuatu's Ministry of Health and the Vanuatu Nursing College.
Parliament: two partners, two scopes of work
Indonesia is one of two governments funding work on Parliament. Prime Minister Jotham Napat confirmed that China will fully fund repairs to the Parliament chamber, with the work carried out by the state-owned China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC). Parliament's own October to December 2025 newsletter reported that CCECC had begun reinforcing the chamber's four main foundation pillars, with completion then expected in the first quarter of 2026.
Public reporting describes the Chinese works as structural repair of the chamber and the Indonesian grant as renovation of Parliament House. The detailed division between the two has not been published, and readers should treat them as separate, complementary projects rather than a single shared contract.
The wider group of partners
Indonesia and China sit within a much larger group of governments that support Vanuatu. The table below summarises the major commitments that are publicly documented since the December 2024 earthquake.
| Partner | Support | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| France, Australia, New Zealand (FRANZ) | Joint earthquake response: urban search and rescue, engineers to assess schools and government buildings, water treatment, a 17-person surgical team, over 15,000 tonnes of supplies across 20 flights | VUV 750M+ |
| Australia | Initial humanitarian package, then additional recovery aid for education, health and transport delivered through Vanuatu's own systems | A$7M + A$10M |
| Australia | Nakamal Agreement (29 June 2026): budget support, policing, cyber and maritime security, renewable energy, traineeships, enhanced mobility | A$500M (reported) |
| New Zealand | Earthquake recovery advice and reconstruction, plus a solar and battery storage project on Efate and Tanna with France as a partner | NZ$10M |
| Japan | Teouma Bridge, Sarakata Hydroelectric Power Plant, disaster prevention and mitigation expertise | Not published |
| China | Full repair of the Parliament chamber, carried out by CCECC | Not published |
| Indonesia | Parliament House renovation; classrooms at Manua Junior Secondary School, North Efate | ~VT188M |
The FRANZ joint statement of 2 January 2025 also records coordination with the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, the European Union and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Two things stand out. The first is breadth: Vanuatu's partners span its Pacific neighbours, Europe through France, and the major Asian economies. The second is that much of the money is going into lasting public assets, such as schools, bridges, hydroelectric power, renewable energy and the Parliament itself, rather than one-off relief.
For a citizen of a small island state, the depth of a country's international relationships is a practical matter. It shapes how quickly the country recovers from disasters and how stable its institutions remain.
What this means for Vanuatu citizens and applicants
Clients often ask us whether a country of around 300,000 people is a stable place to hold a second citizenship. The partner picture above is part of the answer. Vanuatu is a sovereign Commonwealth and United Nations member state with long-standing relationships across the Pacific, Asia and Europe, and those relationships produced a fast, well-funded response when the country was hit by a major disaster.
Vanuatu also contributes heavily to its own budget through its citizenship programmes. Reporting of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management's mid-year statement put citizenship revenue at VT11.4 billion in January to June 2026, around 39 per cent of government revenue excluding donor funds. Investor citizens are therefore part of how the country finances its public services, alongside its international partners. The Ministry has not yet published the underlying monthly report, so these figures should be read as reported rather than final.
The Nakamal Agreement and citizenship by investment
What applicants should know
Article 6(2) of the Nakamal Agreement commits Vanuatu to develop effective mechanisms to differentiate citizenship by investment from other forms of citizenship. The text does not say what those mechanisms will be or how Australia will use them. Industry commentators are divided: some read it as a record-keeping commitment, others as a step towards treating investor citizens differently.
Article 6(1) commits Australia to "enhanced mobility arrangements" for Vanuatu visitors, to be reviewed annually. It does not provide visa-free travel to Australia, and Vanuatu passport holders still need an Australian visa.
Our advice is straightforward: do not choose Vanuatu citizenship on the expectation of easier access to Australia. Choose it, if it suits you, for the reasons that hold regardless of this agreement. We will update clients as the differentiation mechanisms are defined.
Our view
Indonesia's grant for Parliament and Manua school is a modest sum in the context of Vanuatu's total aid flows, and it is valuable for exactly that reason: it adds another partner to a country that already draws support from across the region. A state that can call on Australia, New Zealand, France, Japan, China and Indonesia when it needs to rebuild is a state with deep international ties.
As a government-designated agent since 2018, Advance Citizenship's job is to give applicants an accurate picture of the country whose citizenship they are acquiring, including developments such as Article 6(2) that call for careful reading. We think informed applicants make better decisions, and we would rather a client hears the full picture from us.
Frequently asked questions
What is Indonesia funding in Vanuatu?
Indonesia is funding the renovation of Vanuatu's Parliament House and the construction of classrooms at Manua Junior Secondary School in North Efate. The Vanuatu Daily Post reported the Indonesian contribution at approximately VT188 million. A grant handover for the Parliament and Manua school renovations was signed on 3 March 2026 at the Vanuatu High Commission in Canberra.
Why does Vanuatu's Parliament need renovating?
The Parliament building was damaged in the magnitude 7.3 earthquake that struck near Port Vila on 17 December 2024. Parliament has since sat in its library, converted into a temporary chamber. China is funding structural repairs to the chamber through China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), and Indonesia is funding renovation of Parliament House under a separate grant.
Which countries support Vanuatu's development and recovery?
Vanuatu's main partners include Australia, New Zealand and France, which coordinate disaster response under the FRANZ Arrangement and together provided more than VUV 750 million in humanitarian assistance after the December 2024 earthquake. Australia added A$17 million in earthquake support and signed the Nakamal Agreement with Vanuatu on 29 June 2026. New Zealand committed NZ$10 million for recovery and renewable energy. Japan funds infrastructure including the Teouma Bridge and Sarakata hydroelectric plant. China is funding Parliament chamber repairs, and Indonesia is funding Parliament House and school renovations.
What is the Nakamal Agreement?
The Nakamal Agreement is a treaty between Vanuatu and Australia signed in Canberra on 29 June 2026. It covers economic support including budget support, climate and renewable energy, disaster response, policing and security, and critical infrastructure. Media reports put Australia's commitment at A$500 million. It also commits Australia to enhanced mobility arrangements for Vanuatu visitors.
Does the Nakamal Agreement affect Vanuatu citizenship by investment?
Article 6(2) commits Vanuatu to develop effective mechanisms to differentiate citizenship by investment from other forms of citizenship. The agreement does not say what those mechanisms will be or how Australia will apply them, and it does not grant Vanuatu citizens visa-free travel to Australia. Applicants should not choose Vanuatu citizenship on the expectation of easier access to Australia.
Does foreign aid make Vanuatu citizenship by investment more secure?
Sustained support from multiple governments indicates that Vanuatu is an established, internationally engaged state, which is relevant to anyone holding its citizenship. Aid does not guarantee the future of any particular programme. Vanuatu's citizenship programmes also contribute heavily to its own budget: reporting of the Ministry of Finance's mid-year statement put citizenship revenue at VT11.4 billion in January to June 2026.
Considering Vanuatu citizenship?
Advance Citizenship has been a government-designated agent for Vanuatu's citizenship programmes since 2018. We will give you an honest assessment of what Vanuatu citizenship offers your family, including where recent developments such as the Nakamal Agreement are relevant, before you commit to anything.
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