Who qualifies for Vanuatu citizenship by investment?

Main applicant criteria

• Age: minimum 18 years on date of submission
• Character: clean criminal record in every country of residence in the last 10 years
• Health: sound health, evidenced by a basic medical certificate (no chest X-ray, no infectious disease screening)
• Source of funds: verifiable, lawful source of the qualifying contribution — salary, business income, sale of assets, inheritance, or investment returns
• Net worth: typically US$250,000+ in net assets, demonstrable through bank statements, audited financials, or asset valuations
• Nationality: not currently a national of a restricted jurisdiction without holding a second passport or long-term residency elsewhere

Family members you can include

• Spouse or legally-recognised partner
• Children under 18 (automatic)
• Children aged 18–29 if financially dependent or in full-time education
• Children of any age with physical or mental disabilities preventing self-sufficiency
• Parents (of applicant or spouse) financially dependent on the main applicant

All approved family members receive identical Vanuatu citizenship and the same biometric passport — there is no second-tier status.

Restricted nationalities

Vanuatu maintains a confidential list of nationalities for which applications undergo enhanced due diligence or are not currently being accepted. The published restricted list includes Iran, North Korea, Syria and Yemen. The list is periodically updated by the Citizenship Commission.

Holders of a second passport or long-term residency elsewhere may still qualify. If you currently hold or have previously held citizenship from a sensitive jurisdiction, request a confidential eligibility review before assuming the program is closed to you.

Documents typically required

• Certified passport copy (every page) for each applicant
• Birth certificate, and marriage certificate where applicable
• Police clearance certificate from each country of residence in the last 10 years
• Medical certificate (standard form)
• Proof of address (utility bill or bank statement, last 3 months)
• CV / professional résumé
• Source-of-funds documentation (bank statements, tax returns, sale agreements, audited accounts, inheritance papers)
• Six passport-size photographs per applicant, to ICAO specification

Grounds for refusal

• Active criminal conviction or pending criminal proceedings
• Subject of an active INTERPOL Red Notice or international sanctions
• Material misrepresentation in the application
• Funds traceable to proceeds of crime
• Prior refusal under another CBI program without disclosure