What It Costs in Total

Navigating Vanuatu's Citizenship by Investment (CBI) landscape feels complex. There are varying costs, conflicting information online, and a real risk of rejection if you don't meet the requirements perfectly. For a single applicant, the starting point is a $130,000 government donation for the Development Support Programme (VDSP), plus a separate, non-refundable $5,000 due diligence fee. But that isn't the final number. Understanding the full financial picture is critical for a smooth process, which generally takes 60 to 90 days from submission to passport in hand. This timeline means if you submit in January, you should expect a decision by April at the earliest—so plan any major travel or business deals around that window. Our legal team has handled countless applications and can provide a clear, confidential cost breakdown.

Vanuatu Development Support Programme (VDSP) - A citizenship by investment programme established by the Government of Vanuatu. It requires a non-refundable contribution to a government fund in exchange for citizenship, as stipulated in the nation's Citizenship Act [CAP 112].

Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) - A Vanuatu government body responsible for conducting mandatory background and due diligence checks on all citizenship applicants to ensure the integrity of the programme.

Understanding the Main Vanuatu Citizenship Investment Options

There are two primary paths to a Vanuatu passport through investment, both created by the government. They have different financial structures but ultimately lead to the exact same citizenship status. Your choice between them boils down to your financial strategy and whether you prefer a straightforward donation or a partial investment.

Vanuatu Development Support Programme (VDSP): The Donation Option

The VDSP is the most established route to Vanuatu citizenship. Simple. It's a one-time, non-refundable donation made directly to the government's development fund. The required amount is tiered based on the size of your family.

• Single Applicant: $130,000
• Married Couple: $150,000
• Couple with One Child: $165,000
• Couple with Two Children: $180,000
• For each additional dependant: $25,000

Remember, these figures are just the core government donation. Other mandatory fees apply.

Vanuatu Capital Investment Immigration Plan (CIIP): The Investment + Donation Option

A newer alternative, the CIIP, combines a smaller non-refundable donation with a redeemable investment. This structure can be attractive for investors who want to recover a portion of their capital after a set period.

• Its structure: part of what you pay is a non-refundable contribution and part is a redeemable investment into a designated fund, which is returned after a holding period. That mix is what distinguishes it from the Development Support Programme, where the whole amount is a donation.
• Its figures: published amounts and holding periods for the CIIP vary between advisory sites, and the Citizenship Office does not publish a fee schedule for it in the same form as it does for the DSP. Take the current terms from a designated agent in writing before comparing it with the donation route, and check which fund the investment goes into.

The potential for capital recovery is the key difference here. While the CIIP's initial family cost seems lower, you have to weigh the net non-refundable portion against the pure donation model of the VDSP.

This article is published by an independent law firm for informational purposes only and does not represent or claim affiliation with any government body, international organization, or official authority.

When Each Amount Becomes Payable

The order in which money leaves your account matters as much as the total, because the two main payments carry entirely different risk.

The US$5,000 due diligence fee is payable before the Financial Intelligence Unit begins its check. It is non-refundable in every case, including — in fact especially — where the check is not passed. This is the only substantial sum genuinely at risk, and it is at risk precisely because it buys the examination rather than the outcome.

The contribution is different. It falls due after approval in principle, once the Commission has indicated it will grant citizenship. An applicant who fails due diligence never reaches this point and never pays it. That sequencing is the single most reassuring feature of the programme's structure, and it is worth confirming in writing with any agent before engaging them, because an agent asking for the full contribution up front is departing from it.

Agent fees sit outside both and vary widely. Some agents invoice in stages, some in full at engagement, some take a portion on approval. Since government figures are fixed by regulation and identical everywhere, the agent fee is the only genuinely comparable number between quotes — and the only one worth negotiating.

The costs people forget to budget for

Document preparation is the line item most frequently omitted from a quote and it is rarely trivial. Police clearance certificates carry fees in each jurisdiction that issues them. Apostilles are charged per document. Certified translation is charged per page, and a marriage certificate with an unusual script can cost more than expected. Courier charges for originals moving internationally add up. For a family application with documents from several countries, this cluster can reach several thousand dollars on its own.

Nothing in it is optional, and none of it is refundable if the application does not proceed.