Which Steps Are Remote and Which One Is in Person
Most stages run at a distance through your designated agent. Biometric enrolment for the passport is in person, in Port Vila or at an approved enrolment point abroad.
Reviewed by Dr. Anatoliy Yarovyi, Senior Partner
No, you don't need to live in Vanuatu to apply for its citizenship by investment programme. Almost the entire process is designed to be done from wherever you are in the world. Two steps are in person. The first is biometric enrolment for the passport, available in Port Vila or at an approved enrolment centre overseas; your designated agent confirms current locations. The second is the Oath of Allegiance, taken in the physical presence of a Commissioner for Oaths under the Citizenship Commission's published notice, and your agent confirms the current procedure.
Vanuatu Contribution Program (VCP) - A name used for a contribution-based citizenship stream under Vanuatu's Citizenship Act [Cap 112]. Its current status is not confirmed. The route open to new applicants is the Development Support Program (DSP), which requires a non-refundable financial contribution to a government fund, a strict due diligence process and no residence in Vanuatu.
Oath of Allegiance - A formal declaration of loyalty to Vanuatu that is a mandatory final step before citizenship is granted. Under the Citizenship Commission's published notice it must be taken in the physical presence of a Commissioner for Oaths; video link was accepted during COVID-19 restrictions, and your designated agent confirms the current procedure.
The Core Question: Can You Get a Vanuatu Passport Without Leaving Home?
Almost. The central appeal of Vanuatu's citizenship by investment programme is its efficiency and largely remote processing. The legal framework is built to serve global investors without imposing the residency burdens common in other countries; the exceptions are passport biometrics and the oath of allegiance, which you attend in person.
From the first checks to the final submission, your application is handled through a designated agent from the published register. All your documents—certified passport copies, police clearance certificates, proof of funds—can be prepared in your home country and sent securely by courier or electronically.
Two steps need more than paperwork. The first is biometric enrolment for the passport, which is done in person—in Port Vila or at an approved enrolment point abroad; your designated agent confirms current locations. The second is the Oath of Allegiance: the Citizenship Commission's published notice requires it to be sworn in the physical presence of a Commissioner for Oaths, video link was accepted during COVID-19 restrictions, and your agent confirms the current procedure. Neither step means moving to Vanuatu.
Comparing Citizenship Pathways: Contribution vs. Investment
Vanuatu has had two routes to citizenship by investment. Both result in the same passport, but only one is open: the Capital Investment Immigration Plan (CIIP) has not accepted new applications since March 2025, and its reopening is not confirmed. Neither path requires you to live in Vanuatu.
| Feature | Development Support Programme (DSP) | Capital Investment Immigration Plan (CIIP) |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanism | A direct, non-refundable contribution (donation) to a government development fund. | Closed to new applications since March 2025. |
| Minimum Cost (Single Applicant) | USD 130,000 contribution + USD 5,000 due diligence fee; other fees are set by regulation. | Closed to new applications since March 2025. |
| Financial Return | Zero. The contribution is a one-time, non-recoverable donation. | Not applicable: closed to new applications since March 2025. |
| Residence in Vanuatu Required? | No. | No. |
For new applicants, the Development Support Programme (DSP) is the route that is open, with published contribution tiers. The CIIP has not accepted new applications since March 2025, so its partial capital return is not something to plan around.
FAQ
Questions on Remote and In-Person Steps
Your designated agent first gathers your documents and lodges the file. Due diligence follows, with a US$5,000 fee, and the Citizenship Commission then decides the application. The oath and the passport come last. Biometric enrolment for the passport is done either in Port Vila or at one of the approved points abroad. It is one of a pair of in-person steps; the other is the oath, administered by a Commissioner for Oaths. Your agent tells you when and where each falls in your case.
Everything except the biometric step is normally handled at a distance. Your designated agent lodges the file, documents are prepared in your own country and sent on, and payments are made in US dollars. The oath follows the procedure your agent confirms under the Citizenship Commission's published notice.
Only a designated agent listed in the published register can submit the application, and the Citizenship Commission decides it under the Citizenship Act [CAP 112]. You cannot lodge it yourself. Check that your agent appears on the register before paying any fee, and keep copies of everything you send.
It takes place in Port Vila or at an approved enrolment point abroad. We have not seen an official list of overseas locations, so ask your designated agent which points are approved when you reach that stage. No period of residence is attached to this step; it is an appointment, not a stay.
No. No stage requires residence in Vanuatu, before or after the grant. Passport biometrics and the oath before a Commissioner for Oaths are attended in person, but each is a single appointment, not a residence period; your designated agent confirms the arrangements. The whole process usually takes two to four months, without guarantee.
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