Republic of Vanuatu visas
Vanuatu administers residence through the Department of Immigration and Passport Services, with six residence-visa grounds (partner, child, employee, self-funded, investor and leaseholder) and a permanent-resident visa. Its Development Support Program (citizenship by investment) is run separately by the Citizenship Commission and grants citizenship, not residence. Note that the EU removed Vanuatu from its visa-free Schengen list in December 2024.
7 routes · 5 without a sponsor · 4 lead to settlement
Official portal
Primary source
Department of Immigration and Passport Services ↗ · Department of Immigration and Passport Services (Vanuatu)
Link last verified:
Regulators of immigration advice
- Vanuatu Law Society (VLS) — Professional body of legal practitioners in Vanuatu. There is no dedicated immigration-adviser regulator; citizenship-by-investment is administered by the separate Citizenship Commission.
Visa routes (7)
Residence Visa (Employee ground)
For people coming to work in Vanuatu for an employer, where the job runs for 12 months or more. The visa is granted on the employee ground and tied to that employment.
Sponsor required · Non-settlement · Last reviewed 12 July 2026
Residence Visa (Self-funded ground)
For people who can support themselves in Vanuatu from certified offshore income, without local employment. You show a regular income certified by a bank operating in Vanuatu.
No sponsor needed · Non-settlement · Last reviewed 12 July 2026
Residence Visa (Foreign Investor ground)
For people investing in a business in Vanuatu who hold a Foreign Investor approval certificate from VIPA. The visa is granted on the foreign-investor ground and tied to that investment.
No sponsor needed · Leads to settlement · Last reviewed 12 July 2026
Residence Visa (Leasehold Holder ground)
For people who hold a qualifying property leasehold in Vanuatu and can show a certified income. Land in Vanuatu is held by lease, so this route is built around leasehold ownership rather than freehold.
No sponsor needed · Non-settlement · Last reviewed 12 July 2026
Residence Visa (Partner / Child ground)
For the partner or child of someone settled in Vanuatu - for example a Vanuatu citizen or a resident. The visa is granted on the family relationship and supported by the sponsoring family member.
Sponsor required · Leads to settlement · Last reviewed 12 July 2026
Permanent Resident Visa
Vanuatu's longer-term residence status, for people of Ni-Vanuatu descent, people who have been residing in Vanuatu for the last 12 months, or serious investors intending to invest in Vanuatu. It is residence, not citizenship - the citizenship route is the separate Development Support Program.
No sponsor needed · Leads to settlement · Last reviewed 22 July 2026
Development Support Program (citizenship by investment)
Vanuatu's citizenship-by-investment route: a non-refundable contribution to a government fund in exchange for citizenship, run by the Vanuatu Citizenship Office / Citizenship Commission. Important update: a Vanuatu passport no longer gives visa-free Schengen access.
No sponsor needed · Leads to settlement · Last reviewed 1 August 2026
Recent Republic of Vanuatu policy changes
·significant
EU removes Vanuatu from its visa-free Schengen list
The EU removed Vanuatu from its visa-free Schengen list in December 2024 over citizenship-by-investment due-diligence concerns; a Vanuatu passport no longer gives visa-free Schengen access.
Planning life after your move?
Organise documents, arrival money, housing and the practical steps after visa approval. Your route conditions remain the starting point.
Frequently asked questions
How many visa routes does Republic of Vanuatu have?+
We cover 7 Republic of Vanuatu visa routes in these categories: sponsored work, general residence, investor, family, and citizenship by investment. Each one links to its primary government source and carries a last-reviewed date.
Which Republic of Vanuatu visas do not need an employer sponsor?+
5 of the 7 Republic of Vanuatu routes we cover can be pursued without an employer sponsor, which helps if you do not have a job offer yet. The remaining 2 are employer-sponsored.
Which Republic of Vanuatu visas lead to permanent residence?+
4 of the 7 routes can lead to settlement or permanent residence; the others are temporary. Open each route for its settlement detail and qualifying period.
Need tailored advice?
We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.
Find a regulated advisor in Vanuatu