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 â meaning âOur Land Foreverâ â upon achieving independence. Vanuatuâs 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 Vanuatuâs GDP. China is establishing a growing presence in Vanuatu, particularly through investment and loan schemes.
- Official name:Â Republic of Vanuatu
- National anthem:Â We, We, We
- Location:Â South Pacific Ocean, Oceania
- Capital city:Â Port Vila
- Official language:Â English; French; Bislama
- Independence:Â 30 July 1980, from the United Kingdom and France (the British-French Condominium)
- Government type:Â Parliamentary democratic republic
- Head of State:Â President
- Head of Government:Â Prime Minister
- Basis of legal system: English common law; French civil law; customary law
- Currency: Vanuatu Vatu
- Climate:Â Tropical
Programme Profile
Investment Options for a single applicant
- US$130,000 (of which US$80,000 is retained by the Government)
- US$150,000 for up to a family of 4 including processing fees.
The Vanuatu Development Support Programme
Applicants can apply for CBI via Vanuatuâs 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 Vanuatuâs GDP. China is establishing a growing presence in Vanuatu, particularly through investment and loan schemes.
- Vanuatuâs 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 the government has announced a new policy requiring an applicant to physically appear before Immigration and Passport officers for registration of biometrics and facial recognition data before being issued with a passport.
- In practice, applicants benefit from the government not imposing a language test, which could otherwise require learning any of Vanuatuâs three official languages â 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.