Manuel Garrido The Vanuatu passport is a travel document providing Vanuatu citizens with access to 95 out of 198 countries countries and territories without. The passport requirements to get a Vanuatu passport are straitforward through the country’s citizenship by investment program.
This guide provides everything you should know about Vanuatu passports, including:
Overview of the Vanuatu Passport
The Vanuatu Department of Immigration and Passport Services issues a Republic of Vanuatu passport to Vanuatuans for international travel. It is a valid proof of citizenship in the country.
Becoming a naturalized citizen of Vanuatu requires living in the country for at least ten years, after which you qualify for a Vanuatu passport. The fastest way to get a Vanuatu passport is by contributing $130,000 to the country’s development fund through the Vanuatu citizenship by investment program.
The Vanuatu government began issuing biometric passports (ePassports) in August 2024. These passports feature an RFID chip that is compliant with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards.
Seven Vanuatu Passport Benefits
Enhanced mobility: Citizens can travel to 95 Vanuatu countries without a visa, including Hong Kong and Singapore. Vanuatu passport holders will have the option to travel to New Zealand visa free from 6 July 2025.- Affordable program: A Vanuatu passport costs just $130,000 for a single applicant.
- No residency requirements: The Vanuatu Citizenship Commission does not require applicants to reside in Vanuatu to get a passport.
- Fast processing: Vanuatu’s passport passport program processes applicants within three months.
- Tax optimization: Vanuatuan passport holders with tax residency in the country do not pay Vanuatu taxes, including international business company or personal income taxes, or wealth, inheritance, capital gains, or property taxes.
- Family inclusion: The primary applicants’ family members can obtain a Vanuatu passport.
- Dual citizenship: Vanuatu allows dual citizenship, permitting citizens to get second passports.
Enhanced mobility: Citizens can travel to 95 Vanuatu countries without a visa, including Hong Kong and Singapore. Vanuatu passport holders will have the option to travel to New Zealand visa free from 6 July 2025.Vanuatu Passport Ranking
The Vanuatu passport ranks 112th on the Global Passport Index (GPI).
- Overall GPI ranking: 112th
- Enhanced Mobility Index: 110th
- Investment Index: 101st
- Quality of Life Index: 85th
As of 2025, Vanuatuan passport holders have visa free and visa on arrival access to 95 countries. The passport ranks among the most powerful in the South Pacific region.
Passport statistics
Statistic | Score |
Mobility Score | 95 |
Visa Free | 45 |
Visa on Arrival | 31 |
eVisa | 15 |
eTA | 3 |
Passport Power Rank | 112th |
World Reach | 48 percent |
Population | 320,409 (2023) |
Types of Vanuatu Passports
Three types of passports are issued by the Vanuatu Department of Immigration and Passport: Regular, service, and diplomatic.
Ordinary passport: Issued to regular Vanuatu citizens for international travel.
Diplomatic passport: Issued to high-ranking officials and their family members representing Vanuatu in international affairs.
Official/service passport: Issued to government employees traveling abroad on official state business.
Emergency passport: Issued to citizens who need to travel urgently but do not have an ordinary passport available.
Who qualifies for a passport?
Individuals who qualify for Vanuatu passports are persons born in Vanuatu, persons married to a Vanuatu citizen, persons who have lived in Vanuatu for at least ten years, or persons who invest in the Vanuatu Development Support Program (DSP) or an alternative investment option to obtain citizenship by investment.
Vanuatu allows dual citizenship, and the citizenship program does not require residency or language tests to qualify for a second passport.
Passport validity
An adult’s Vanuatu is valid for ten years and a child’s Vanuatu passport is valid for five years.
Vanuatu Passport by Investment Program
The Vanuatu citizenship by investment program is an economic citizenship program that allows investors and their families to obtain a Vanuatu second passport. The minimum investment is $130,000.
- Be over 18 and under 65 years old
- Hold a clean criminal record
- Have the means to invest at least $130,000
- Provide evidence of at least $250,000 in your bank account
There are three investment options for obtain Vanuatu citizenship:
Development Support Program (DSP) contribution: The DSP is a state fund. The main applicant must make a non-refundable contribution of $130,000. The contribution required for a main applicant, spouse, and two children is $180,000.
Real Estate Option Program (REO): Investors can purchase approved Vanuatu real estate valued at least $200,000.
CIIP (Capital Investment Immigration Plan) donation: Investors can donate $150,000 to the CIIP to acquire citizenship. $50,000 from the donation is redeemable after four years.
Five Ways to Get a Vanuatu Passport
Birth: Children born in Vanuatu gain citizenship at birth if their parents are stateless or their whereabouts are unknown.
Descent: Persons born to at least one Vanuatu citizen parent or grandparent qualify for citizenship by descent. The parent or grandparent must have held citizenship at the time of their birth.
Naturalization: A foreign national who has lived in Vanuatu for at least ten years qualifies for citizenship by naturalization. They must also be of good character, speak English, French, or Bislama, and prove knowledge of Vanuatu’s history, culture, and politics.
Marriage: The foreign spouse of a Vanuatu citizen qualifies for Vanuatu citizenship after two years of marriage.
Investment: Investors of the Vanuatu citizenship program obtain Vanuatu citizenship by investing at least $130,000 in the Vanuatu government fund. Applicants must be over 18, have a clean criminal record, and have the means to make the required investment.
Visa Requirements for Vanuatu Citizens
There are 95 Vanuatu passport visa free countries and territories as of April 2025, according to the Global Passport Index. These destinations allow access without a visa, with a visa on arrival, or with an electronic visa.
Strategic countries include the Russia, with which the Vanuatu government signed a visa waiver agree in 2025, as well as Singapore and Hong Kong. The government of New Zealand announced it will allow Vanuatuans to travel to the country visa free from 6 July 2025.
Vanuatu Passport Requirements
To apply for a Vanuatuan passport, you must have gained Vanuatu citizenship by birth, descent, naturalization, or investment. The document requirements include the following:
- Vanuatu passport application (Form A for ordinary citizens and Form B for economic citizens)
- Citizenship certificate
- Confirmation letter from the Vanuatu Citizenship Office
- Two recent passport photos
- Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) clearance certificate
- Police clearance certificate
- A copy of the Vanuatu birth certificate
- A copy of the marriage certificate (if applicable)
- A letter from an authorized recruiting agent for Labor Mobility (if applicable)
The fees vary based on the applicant’s age, Vanuatu passport type, and the processing speed required
Application Process to Get a Vanuatu Passport
Vanuatu citizens can apply for a passport directly with the Vanuatu Department of Immigration and Passport Services or through an embassy or high commission overseas.
- Complete the official Vanuatu Passport Application Form B for economic citizens. The Vanuatu passport process includes fulfilling a biometric and fingerprinting requirement at the nearest Vanuatu Embassy or Consulate.
- Gather the required documents. This may include an expired passport, citizenship certificate, a letter of consent for minors, or proof of marital status.
- Attach two passport-size photographs. These must be 45mm x 35 mm, no more than six months old, and the back must be signed by the endorser who can attest to the applicant’s likeness and identity.
- Pay passport application fees. The specific Vanuatu passport cost differs for regular and fast-track processing.
- Submit the completed application to the Department of Immigration and Passport Services, an embassy, or a high commission abroad.
Amendments to biometric protocols
The Government of Vanuatu has announced that on 1 May 2025, it will introduce a mandatory requirement to submit biometrics in person. Official submission locations include Port Vila, Vanuatu, and consular posts in the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, and the French territory of New Caledonia. The Vanuatu government plans to announce additional locations designated for biometric submissions alongside the choice to opt for a mobile biometric unit for an additional fee to avoid travel.
Vanuatu passport time
Applying for Vanuatu citizenship by investment takes about three months, including the due diligence procedures. The normal passport process takes up to 21 days.
Expedited processing
Vanuatu citizens have two options for an additional cost to fast-track passport processing:
Express processing: Up to ten days processing time
Urgent processing: Up to three days processing time
Vanuatu Passport Fees
The cost of a Vanuatu passport through the Vanuatu citizenship by investment program starts at $130,000 for a single applicant and $180,000 for a family of up to four. Other fees apply, including due diligence fees, processing fees, citizenship application fees, and interview fees.
Vanuatu citizens pay the following fees for passports:
- Child’s passport (0 to 5): VT 5,000 ($40)
- Child’s passport (6 to 17): VT 7,000 ($55)
- Adult’s passport: VT 10,000 ($80)
- Express passport: VT 20,000 ($160)
- Urgent passport: VT 25,000 ($200)
Renewal and Replacement of Vanuatu Passports
Renewal process
Vanuatu passport renewal fees for Vanuatu economic citizens include a passport fee and courier fee.
Adult’ passport: $3,000
Child’s passport (0 to 18): $2,850
Courier fee: $1,000
Applicants must submit the following documents:
- Expired/expiring Vanuatu passport
- Vanuatu Passport Application Form B
- Recent passport photos (digital copies)
- Certified copy of Vanuatu Birth Registration Certificate (if applicable)
- Certified copy of Vanuatu Citizenship Certificate
- Certified copy of passport of country of origin
- Police Clearance of country of residence
- Certified copy of birth certificate
Replacing lost or stolen passports
To replace a lost, stolen, or damaged Vanuatu passport, you must follow the renewal process and supply the following support documents:
- A police report detailing the loss or theft or signed Immigration Lost or Damage Declaration Form.
- Previous Vanuatu passports (if applicable)
Embassies and Consulates for Grenada Passport Services
Consulate General of the Republic of Vanuatu (Beijing, China)
3-1-11 San Li Tun Diplomatic Compound, Beijing, China
Tel: +86 10 6532 0337
Fax: +86 10 6532 0336
Email:
Embassy and High Commission of the Republic of Vanuatu (Brussels, Belgium)
Avenue de Tervuren 380 1150 Woluwe-Saint-Pierre Belgium
Tel: +32 2 772 7141
Fax: +32 2 771 7494
Email: [email protected]
How Can Global Citizen Solutions Help You?
Global Citizen Solutions is a boutique migration consultancy firm with years of experience delivering bespoke residence and citizenship by investment solutions for international families. With offices worldwide and an experienced, hands-on team, we have helped hundreds of clients worldwide acquire citizenship, residence visas, or homes while diversifying their portfolios with robust investments.
We guide you from start to finish, taking you beyond your citizenship or residency by investment application.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Vanuatu Passport
How to get a passport of the Republic of Vanuatu?
You can qualify to obtain a Republic of Vanuatu passport by birth, descent, naturalization, or through investment in the country’s economy through economic citizenship program.
Can my family also apply for Vanuatu's passport by investment program?
Your family can obtain a Vanuatu citizenship certificate and passport by making the minimum investment required to apply for family members.
How to buy a Vanuatu passport?
You cannot buy a Vanuatu passport; however, you can obtain Vanuatu citizenship and a passport by investing in Vanuatu’s citizenship program.
How much is a Vanuatu passport?
The Vanuatu passport fee starts at $130,000 for a single person, $150,000 for a couple, and $180,000 for a family of four.
Does an Indian passport holder need a visa for Vanuatu?
An Indian passport holder has visa free travel to Vanuatu for up to 30 days.
How do I get a golden passport in Vanuatu?
You can get a Vanuatu golden passport holder by applying for citizenship through the country’s citizenship program and making an investment in its economic development.
How strong is the Vanuatu passport?
According to the Global Passport Index, the Vanuatu passport ranks 112th, offering reasonable strength.
Is a Vanuatu passport visa-free to the UK?
The UK government requires Vanuatu passport holders to apply for a visa to travel to the UK.
What happened to Vanuatu's passport?
The European Union suspended Vanuatu’s visa free access to the Schengen Area in 2022 and voted to make the suspension permanent in December 2024.
Can you renounce Vanuatu citizenship?
You can renounce your Vanuatu citizenship and surrender your passport by submitting a complete Declaration of Renunciation of Vanuatu Citizenship form to the Vanuatu Citizenship Office.
