POSTERN

Vanuatu

Development Support Program citizenship. Vanuatu sells citizenship for a donation in about two months, but the EU suspended visa-free Schengen access for Vanuatu passports in 2022 and fully in December 2024, and as of September 2026 that suspension is still in force; the passport reaches roughly 90 countries, not the EU.

Free, with the law behind every answer

Development Support Program citizenship

Full Vanuatu citizenship and a passport for life, passed to children, with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to roughly 90 countries; not the Schengen Area, not the UK (since 2023), not the US.

Who qualifies

  • A non-refundable donation to the Vanuatu government of $130,000 for a single applicant ($150,000 for a couple, $165,000 for three, $180,000 for a family of four) under the Development Support Program, successor to the Vanuatu Contribution Program.
    Vanuatu Citizenship Program (DSP / CIIP)
  • A non-refundable due-diligence fee of $5,500 per application; background checks were tightened in 2023–2024 and now run partly through the Vanuatu Financial Intelligence Unit.
    Vanuatu Citizenship Program (DSP / CIIP)
  • The alternative Capital Investment Immigration Plan (CIIP) costs about $170,500 all-in for a family of four, of which $50,000 goes into the Vanuatu Cocoa Sustainable Fund and is redeemable after four years.
    Vanuatu Citizenship Program (DSP / CIIP)
  • The EU Council fully suspended Vanuatu’s visa-waiver agreement with effect from 12 December 2024 (a partial suspension had applied since October 2022), citing the security risk of Vanuatu’s investor-citizenship schemes; every Vanuatu passport holder now needs a Schengen visa, whatever the passport’s issue date.
    European Council fully suspends Vanuatu visa waiver agreement (Fragomen)

Whether you keep your U.S. citizenship depends on the option you choose later.

1

Does it fit your family?

2 questions, from the program’s own rules.

How old are you?

Not legal advice.

2

What it takes.

Investment
About $130,000.
Age
18 or older.
Time
Historically 30–60 days; with the heavier due diligence, 2–3 months is realistic in 2026.
Cost
About $135,500 for a single applicant under the DSP (donation plus due diligence), about $185,500 for a family of four; CIIP about $170,500 for four before the $50,000 redeemable investment comes back. Add agent fees.
The hard part
Knowing what you are buying. EU visa-free travel was the reason most people bought the Vanuatu passport, and it has been suspended since 2022 with no sign of coming back; any agent still advertising Schengen access is out of date.

Dollar figures are converted from the local currency at the rate the program’s research used; the official figure is in the local currency.

3

Citizens by 2028.

  1. 2028
    Citizenship and passport

    Usually 2–3 months from filing.

Language
Pass the naturalisation assessment in Bislama, including language, culture and civic knowledge.
Two passports
Yes. You keep your U.S. citizenship.
  • Citizenship itself with no residence before or after; Vanuatu passports lost visa-free Schengen access in December 2024.
The law behind these dates
4

Living there.

Time you must spend there
None, before or after the grant.
Tax
Vanuatu has no personal income, capital gains or inheritance tax, but citizenship alone changes nothing about your home-country tax residence.

We never file a tax return. We tell you what applies and brief the professional who does.

5

Start today.

  1. Applications go only through a government-licensed agent; read the Citizenship Commission’s program page before speaking to one.Open dsp.gov.vu ↗
  2. Gather these documents.
    • Proof of the funds to invest: about $130,000, and where they came from
    • Request your FBI Identity History Summary
6

Postern can’t run this for you yet.

The official application forms, submission and recovery specification are not complete. Postern cannot run this application yet.

Options open to you today →
7
ISSUED TO

YOUR FAMILY

Cover