How much Vanuatu citizenship costs in 2026

7 min read · Published 6 October 2026

The programme contribution depends on family size, and on top come due diligence, fees, passports and a trip for biometrics. Here is what a Vanuatu passport costs for one person and for a family.

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Key point	2026 figures
Contribution for one	from $130,000, non-refundable
Contribution for a family of 4	from $180,000
Due diligence	$5,000 per application
Timeline	usually 1-3 months to the certificate
Travel	only for biometrics, no need to live there
Schengen and the UK	visa required
Dual citizenship	allowed

Amounts checked: 2026-10-06

Vanuatu runs one of the fastest citizenship-by-contribution programmes: no exams, language or residence, usually within 1-3 months. The main part of the price is a non-refundable contribution to a state fund, and its size depends on how many people are in the application.

But the 2026 passport differs from the one sold a few years ago: visa-free entry to the Schengen area and the UK has been withdrawn. Below is every cost item, the minimum for a family, the timeline and what happens to the money if you are refused.

What the cost is made of

Cost item	Amount	Who pays
DSP contribution	from $130,000	main applicant
FIU due diligence	$5,000	once per application
Application filing fee	~$45	once per application
Citizenship certificate	~$85	each family member
Passport	from $60	each family member
Biometrics	actual cost: travel to Vanuatu or an overseas point	each family member
Certificates, apostilles and translations	per document	each family member

The contribution grows with each family member: a spouse adds $20,000, each of the first two children under 18 adds $15,000, anyone after that $10,000. The $5,000 due diligence and the filing fee are paid once per application. Fees in local currency are converted to dollars and rounded up.

Filing through an official agent with a complete file the first time

Since 2025 Vanuatu's checks accept only a complete file, and name mismatches or gaps in your biography cost months of correspondence. Murblz checks whether you meet the restrictions, gathers certificates, the CV and source-of-funds documents, files through an agent from the official list and arranges biometrics for the whole family.

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How much Vanuatu citizenship costs per family member

The contribution grows with each family member: a spouse adds $20,000, each of the first two children under 18 adds $15,000, anyone after that $10,000. Due diligence and the filing fee are paid once per application.

Who	Programme contribution	Filing fee	Due diligence
Main applicant	$130,000	-	-
Spouse	$20,000	-	-
First child under 18	$15,000	-	-
Second child under 18	$15,000	-	-
Each further family member	$10,000	-	-
Whole application: filing and due diligence	-	$45	$5,000

We will calculate online the full cost for your family: the contribution, fees for each member and due diligence.

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How much it costs for a family of 2, 3 and 4

Family	Minimum
Two adults	from $155,000
Two adults and a child	from $170,000
Two adults and two children	from $185,000

The application can include a spouse, children under 18, children aged 18 to 25 in full-time study who depend on you, and dependent parents over 50. Each person is checked separately and each needs their own passport.

What the cost does not include

flights and accommodation for biometrics;
police certificates from the countries you have lived in recently, with apostille and English translation;
delivery of documents and passports;
expedited passport production if needed;
consular fees for countries that will require a visa with the new passport.

Timeline by step

Step	Time
Checking restrictions and choosing an agent from the official list	a few days
Gathering documents, certificates and translations	2-6 weeks
Due diligence	from a few days to a few weeks
Review and commission decision	per the meeting schedule
Paying the balance, oath and certificate	up to 90 days after approval
Biometrics and passport	by appointment

From filing to the certificate usually takes 1-3 months, but at the end of 2024 the commission itself warned that tighter checks may lengthen timelines. Allow extra time for a biometrics appointment.

Is money refunded if you are refused

The programme contribution is non-refundable: it is a payment to the state, not an investment in an asset. That is why 25% of the government fee is paid before review and the balance only after approval.

If you are refused at the checking stage, you lose the due diligence fee and the part already paid, but you do not pay the main amount. The main reasons for refusal are a criminal record, document inconsistencies and an unclear source of funds, which we identify before filing.

Comparison with neighbouring programmes

Country	Route	Minimum for one	Time	Dual citizenship
Nauru	Climate resilience fund contribution	from $102,700	3-4 months	not set by law
Sierra Leone	Go-For-Gold contribution	from $100,000	60-90 days declared, 3-6 months in practice	allowed
Dominica	Fund contribution or real estate	from $210,000	3-6 months	allowed

Nauru and Sierra Leone are cheaper, but their programmes are younger, and the Sierra Leone passport opens noticeably fewer countries. Dominica costs more, but its passport gives visa-free entry to the Schengen area.

Can Russian citizens apply

Yes. On 9 March 2026 the citizenship office sent agents a memorandum adding Russia to the list of restricted countries, but on 11 March the commission chair withdrew it as an error and confirmed that Russian citizens' applications are accepted on general terms. In practice, source-of-funds checks for Russian citizens go deeper, and the rules may change again. After obtaining a second citizenship you must notify the Russian Interior Ministry within 60 days.

This topic in other countries

Citizenship cost in other countries:

More about the country:

All programmes and a family calculator - how much citizenship costs in different countries.

FAQ

How much does Vanuatu citizenship cost in 2026?

The minimum contribution is $130,000 for one person, $150,000 for a couple, $165,000 with one child and $180,000 with two. On top come $5,000 due diligence per application, small fees, passports and a trip for biometrics.

How much is a Vanuatu passport?

The passport itself costs from $60 per person, but you can only get it after citizenship through the programme with a contribution from $130,000. The citizenship certificate costs about $85 per person.

Is the contribution refunded if you are refused?

No, the contribution is non-refundable. But the main amount is paid only after approval, so if you are refused at the checking stage you lose the due diligence fee and the part already paid.

Do you need to travel to Vanuatu?

You do not need to live there or attend an interview. Since 1 July 2025 passport biometrics are given in person, in Vanuatu or at an overseas point of the passport service.

Do you need a Schengen visa with a Vanuatu passport?

Yes. Since 4 February 2023 visa-free entry to the EU for Vanuatu passports has been fully suspended, and since 2025 the visa requirement is permanent. The UK requires a visa too.

Does Vanuatu allow dual citizenship?

Yes, you do not need to give up your previous citizenship. A Russian citizen must notify the Interior Ministry of a second citizenship within 60 days.

How long does the process take?

Usually 1-3 months from filing to the certificate, plus time for a biometrics appointment and passport production.

Don’t want to figure this out alone?

We handle the whole process end to end: we check your documents, match a program to your situation and give you honest timelines and costs. Ask your question in the chat: the free consultation starts right here. Legal representation before authorities and courts is handled by Murblz specialists together with locally licensed partners.

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