The Vanuatu government has imposed a personal visit requirement for all investors applying for citizenship by investment program effective from Aug 5, 2024 under the new passport system implemented by Department of Immigration. The new rules apply for applicants who are Vanuatu citizenship holders who apply for Vanuatu passport under three investment schemes.

  1. Vanuatu Development Support Program (DSP)
  2. Vanuatu Contribution Program (VCP)
  3. Capital Investment Immigration Plan (CIIP)

The new passport system requires personal enrollment and appearance before immigration and passport officials to provide biometric and facial data for all persons applying through Vanuatu citizenship by investment program. This is additional security measure implemented by authorities to properly vet citizenship investors, in response to criticism by European Commission, UK and other international organizations on poor security checks.

Anyone who apply for Vanuatu passports must travel to Vanuatu to apply in person.

Includes family members. It is not possible to get Vanuatu passport through proxy without appearing in person.

The official announcement is available for download pdf