Country Profile
An island-nation in the Pacific Ocean, Vanuatu was jointly ruled by the United Kingdom and France under a 1906 system known as the British-French Condominium. Named the New Hebrides by Captain Cook in the 18th century, the nation was re-named Vanuatu – meaning ‘Our Land Forever’ – upon achieving independence. Vanuatu’s economy is dominated by small-scale farming and fishing, with primary exports including kava, coconut, and cocoa. Tourism, primarily from Australia and New Zealand, faltered after the passage of Tropical Cyclone Pam in 2015, but continues to account for a large part of Vanuatu’s GDP. China is establishing a growing presence in Vanuatu, particularly through investment and loan schemes.
- Official name: Republic of Vanuatu
- National anthem: We, We, We
- Location: South Pacific Ocean, Oceania
- Capital city: Port Vila
- Official language: English; French; Bislama
- Independence: 30 July 1980, from the United Kingdom and France (the British-French Condominium)
- Government type: Parliamentary democratic republic
- Head of State: President
- Head of Government: Prime Minister
- Basis of legal system: English common law; French civil law; customary law
- Currency: Vanuatu Vatu
- Climate: Tropical
Programme Profile
Investment Options for a single applicant
- Development Support Program: total fees are US$136,500 for one applicant, US$156,500 for a family of two, US$171,500 for a family of three and US$186,500 for a family of four. The guide lists US$25,000 for each additional qualifying dependant.
- Capital Investment Immigration Plan: total fees are US$165,500 for an application covering one to four people. The fee for each additional qualifying dependant is US$25,000.
The Vanuatu Development Support Programme
Applicants can apply for CBI via Vanuatu’s Development Support Programme (DSP) or the Capital Investment Immigration Plan (CIIP). Tourism, primarily from Australia and New Zealand, continues to account for a large part of Vanuatu’s GDP. Vanuatu’s economy is supported by agriculture, fisheries and tourism.
- Vanuatu’s CBI applications are processed quickly, although delays are sometimes incurred because of the oath of allegiance procedure having to be completed in the physical presence of a Commissioner for Oaths, located in Vanuatu, Dubai, Hong Kong or Singapore.
- Citizenship certificates may be received by a designated agent; however, applicants are required to appear in person for biometric enrolment and facial-recognition registration before a passport is issued. The approved locations and any separate oath requirement should be confirmed before publication.
- In practice, applicants benefit from the government not imposing a language test, which could otherwise require learning any of Vanuatu’s three official languages – English, French, and Bislama.
- Applicants are not required to attend an interview during the vetting process, and family members, including dependent children and parents over 50, can be included in the main application.
- Successful applicants are not required to renounce their original nationality.