What It Costs

Figuring out the total Vanuatu citizenship cost is the number one concern for investors. Why? Ambiguous quotes, hidden charges, and surprise fees can turn a strategic investment into a financial nightmare. This guide gives you a definitive breakdown of every mandatory cost for the Vanuatu Development Support Programme (VDSP). It's the country's only official citizenship by investment route. The program's biggest selling point is relatively brief processing: the whole procedure generally takes two to four months, never guaranteed.

Our firm has managed applications for clients worldwide, navigating the very specific demands of the Vanuatu Citizenship Commission. Government contributions and related fees are published and itemised separately from any agent fee.

Vanuatu Development Support Programme (VDSP) - The main legal route to Vanuatu citizenship by investment. Set up under the Citizenship Act [Cap 112], it asks applicants for a substantial contribution to a government fund that finances national development projects; the money is not refunded.

Understanding the Vanuatu Citizenship by Investment Programme

The Vanuatu Development Support Programme (VDSP) is the only official government channel for acquiring citizenship through investment. It was created by the Government of Vanuatu under the Citizenship Act [Cap 112] to raise funds for the nation's infrastructure and economic growth. This single programme replaces all previous schemes. It's administered by official bodies, including the Vanuatu Citizenship Commission and the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), which handles the all-important due diligence checks.

What really sets the VDSP apart from many other programmes is its relatively brief processing. Once a complete application is lodged, the whole procedure generally runs two to four months, though no date can be promised. Think about that: a decision measured in months rather than years. That is brief for citizenship by investment, offering a clear and efficient path for qualified investors.

Complete Cost Breakdown: The Government Contribution

The heart of the Vanuatu citizenship cost is the non-refundable contribution you make directly to the government. The required amount is tiered, changing based on how many family members are on the application. These figures are the minimum donation to the Development Support Programme (VDSP). They don't include due diligence, administrative, or agent fees, which we'll cover next.

Crucially, the large contribution is only payable after you have passed all due diligence checks and received an 'Approval in Principle' from the Citizenship Commission.

• Single Applicant: USD 130,000
• Married Couple: USD 150,000
• Married couple, one child below 18: USD 165,000
• Married couple, two children below 18: USD 180,000
• Each Additional Dependant: USD 10,000

These amounts are set by the government and can change. Always confirm the current figures when you decide to apply.

Mandatory Due Diligence and Administrative Fees

Beyond the main donation, several other fees are required to finish the process. The most important is the due diligence fee. It is non-refundable and must be paid at the very beginning, long before the main investment is made.

Vanuatu FIU Due Diligence Fee

• Cost: USD 5,000 per application.
• Purpose: This non-refundable fee goes to the Vanuatu government's Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) for a thorough background check on the main applicant and all dependants. It's a mandatory first step; no application moves forward without FIU clearance. If an applicant fails this check, the process stops, and this fee is forfeited. There is no appeal.

Other Mandatory and Potential Costs Applicants must also budget for a few other administrative and professional charges. While some are small, they are part of the total Vanuatu passport price.

• Application & Certificate Fees: The government applies nominal fees for the application submission and for issuing the physical Citizenship Certificate after approval.
• Passport Issuance Fee: There's a separate government fee for producing and issuing the passport book itself.
• Professional & Advisory Fees: By law, you must use a government-approved agent to submit your application. These agents charge professional fees for preparing your file, offering advice, liaising with the government, and managing the entire process. These are separate from government charges and vary between firms.
• Ancillary Costs: Don't forget to account for minor expenses like bank transfer fees, document notarisation, and courier charges.

Vanuatu Passport Strength vs. Caribbean Alternatives

How does Vanuatu's programme stack up against those in the Caribbean? The decision usually comes down to a trade-off between cost, speed, and visa-free travel.

Feature	Vanuatu (VDSP)	Caribbean (Average)	Takeaway
Min. Donation (Single)	USD 130,000	USD 200,000	Vanuatu has a significantly lower entry cost for single applicants.
Processing Time	2–4 months overall (not guaranteed)	3–6 months	Vanuatu's process is substantially faster, making it ideal for those needing a quick solution.
Visa-Free Access	~88 countries	140+ countries (varies by country)	Caribbean passports open more doors visa-free, the EU Schengen Area among them.
EU/UK Visa-Free	No (Visa Required)	Yes (for most programmes)	This is the single biggest drawback of the Vanuatu passport.
Key Destinations	Hong Kong, Singapore, Russia	EU Schengen Area, UK, Hong Kong, Singapore	The choice depends entirely on which travel destinations matter most to you.

Here's the bottom line. For investors who need speed and a lower upfront cost—and for whom visa-free access to the EU and UK isn't critical—Vanuatu is a compelling, efficient option. But if your life or business requires broad travel freedom in Europe, a Caribbean programme may be a better fit, even with its higher cost and longer wait.

The Published Fee Schedule

The amounts below come from the Citizenship Office schedule. An agent cannot discount them and cannot add to them without saying so separately.

What it is	Amount	When
Application fee, per application	VT 5,000	On lodging, whatever the applicant's age
Financial Intelligence Unit due diligence fee	US$5,000	Due before screening starts; never refunded
Single applicant	US$130,000	After the Commission approves the application
Married couple	US$150,000
Married couple and one child	US$165,000
Married couple and two children	US$180,000
Each additional applicant	US$10,000

The Capital Investment Immigration Plan has its own fees

Under the CIIP, applications went through a different form and a different fee table from the DSP. New CIIP applications have been closed since March 2025 and a restart has not been confirmed, so any CIIP amount you see quoted elsewhere deserves caution. We list none here. The Citizenship Office page on fees and charges is the primary source, and a designated agent confirms what currently applies.

A headline-to-headline comparison misleads here, since each route uses its own pricing basis. The useful figures are your family's complete bill and the share of it, if there is one, that can be recovered.