Vanuatu Citizenship: Procedure, Eligibility & Benefits

There has been a steady increase in obtaining secondary passports among high-profile businessmen and investors over the years. Out of the many ways of attaining dual citizenship, Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programs are the most prevalent.

In 2017, the Republic of Vanuatu sanctioned the Vanuatu Citizenship Development Support Program (DSP) to pave way for businesspersons and investors to obtain a secondary citizenship.

The Republic of Vanuatu is an archipelago of 83 islands that’s located 1,750 km from the shorelines of Australia. With a population of just over 300,000, the tropical island chain is governed by a parliamentary democracy, and has a written constitution.

Benefits of Vanuatu Citizenship

The clement weather, easy-going lifestyle, and the attractive weather captivates the likes of many tourists and expats. The beneficiaries of the Vanuatu citizenship and passport enjoy the following benefits:

• Visa-free access to over 130 countries
• Permits dual citizenship
• No inheritance, income, wealth or capital gains tax
• Peaceful and beautiful country

All one needs to do is donate to the government of Vanuatu and clear some other background criteria, and you’re all set!

Vanuatu’s CBI Program

To enrol into the program, applicants are required to make a minimum pecuniary donation to the Vanuatuan government. You must fulfill the following criteria to qualify for Vanuatu citizenship:

• Applicants must be 18 years or older
• Applicants must have no criminal record
• Must have funds that equal at least $250,000
• Dependent parents must be above the age of 50
• Dependent children must be under the age of 25

Application Process for Vanuatu Citizenship

Step 1: Determine your eligibility

Before you collect a citizenship application form, you will be apprised of whether you are eligible for the program or not. Upon eligibility, you will be given the relevant form pertaining to your business and personal life. You will be given one of the five of the following forms:

Form A: This form will be handed to a Vanatuan non-citizen if they have lived in Vanuatu continuously for a period of at least 10 years before applying for citizenship.

Form B: A non-citizen who’s married to a Vanuatu citizen can only apply for Vanuatuan citizenship if they satisfy both of the following criteria: (a) they’re legally married to their spouse, and (b) lived in Vanuatu for a period of at least 2 years.

Form C (a): A non-citizen is eligible to apply for Vanuatu citizenship through Entitlement if at least one of their parents or grandparents is identified from the Ni-Vanuatu ancestry or is a citizen by naturalization.

Form D: Investors who come under the Capital Investment Immigration Plan (CIIP) are eligible to apply for Vanuatu Citizenship. But they must meet the relevant criteria under the Citizenship Act.

For forms related to Honorary Citizenship, the applicant must satisfy the legal requirements provided in section 20 of the Citizenship Act (Cap 112) and the Vanuatu Economic Rehabilitation Program.

Step 2: Gathering all the relevant documents

Each form has a different set of documents that must be submitted with the application form. Note that your application form will be rejected if you do not provide the relevant documents.

Step 3: Complete your application

After you submit the documents according to the checklist, you can lodge your application. You will be required to pay the application fee before your application is processed.

Bear in mind that the main objective of paying for the application is the economic upliftment of the Vanuatuan region; hence the big numbers.

The cost of the application is as given below:

Single Applicant: $135,000

Family of 2: $165,000

Family of 3: $180,000

Family of 4: $195,000

For every additional family member, $15000 will have to be paid extra. The above costs do not include miscellaneous costs like official application forms, authorized agent’s service charge, couriers, certification of citizenship and passport, and other disbursements.

Step 4: Examination of Application Form

Your application will be thoroughly analyzed by the relevant authorities to confirm that you:

• Are eligible to become a citizen
• Have filled in the application form correctly
• Have provided all the documents as required in the checklist

Step 5: Bislama Test Requirement

This step is only for those that use Form A or Form B for application. After completing to fill up your form, you will have to give a written Bislama Test. This test tests your knowledge on the republic of Vanuatu from a legal, politic, social, and historic perspective.

The Bislama test runs for 1 hour and its result will be forwarded along with your application to the Citizenship Commission. Failing in Bislama Test (1) will mandate a Bislama Test (2), which can be given only after 6 months of taking the first one.

Step 6: Assessment of your Application

Your application, along with the relevant documents, will then be forwarded to the Citizenship Internal Screening Committee for another reviewal.

Step 7: Approval by Citizenship Internal Screening Committee

If the Internal Screening Committee gives you the green tick on your application, your application form will be forwarded to the Citizenship Commission. This is the legislative body responsible for approving your citizenship application. Chances are less but never zero for your application to get rejected by the Citizenship Commission in case that you provide inadequate documents or do not satisfy a certain criterion.

Step 8: Issuance of verification letter

You will receive a letter from the Secretary-General of Citizenship concerning the result of your application.

Upon approval from the committee, you must clear some more requirements before your citizenship certificate is issued:

• Completion of an oath
• Providing your details for the Citizenship Certificate
• Payment of Citizenship fee

Step 9: Completing the oath

You will have to collect an oath form and the authorization letter to the Commissioner of Oath from the Citizenship Office and complete it in the presence of the same.

Step 10: Payment of Citizenship Fee

After pledging to the oath, you will be required to pay the citizenship fee.

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