Development Support Program (citizenship by investment)

Overview

The Development Support Program (DSP) is Vanuatu's citizenship-by-investment route. Applicants make a non-refundable contribution to a government development fund and, if approved, are granted Vanuatu citizenship. It is run by the Vanuatu Citizenship Office under the Citizenship Commission (Citizenship Act, Cap 112), and applications are made through government-authorised agents rather than directly. This is a citizenship route, not a residence visa - it is entirely separate from Vanuatu's residence visas. A critical change for anyone weighing it up: the EU removed Vanuatu from its visa-free Schengen list (Council decision of 12 December 2024) over due-diligence concerns, so a Vanuatu passport no longer gives visa-free access to the Schengen area. Visa-free access to any other country is decided independently by that country and can change. Treat any contribution figures or passport-access claims you read elsewhere as indicative and confirm them with the Vanuatu Citizenship Office.

Eligibility

Application pathway

1. 01

   Check the route fit

   Confirm the current contribution levels and conditions with the Vanuatu Citizenship Office, and understand that a Vanuatu passport no longer gives visa-free Schengen access.

2. 02

   Build the evidence pack

   Gather your passport, source-of-funds evidence and police or character clearances for due diligence.

3. 03

   Submit through the official channel

   Apply through a government-authorised agent, who lodges the application with the Vanuatu Citizenship Commission.

4. 04

   After approval

   On approval and payment of the contribution, citizenship is granted. Verify what visa-free access the passport actually provides before relying on it.

Also explored by

Compare Republic of Vanuatu with

• 🇦🇬 Antigua and Barbuda
• 🇱🇨 Saint Lucia
• 🇰🇳 Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis

Related routes

• Permanent Resident Visa

  Vanuatu's longer-term residence status, for people with Ni-Vanuatu descent, a long period of lawful residence, or a serious sustained investment. It is residence, not citizenship - the citizenship route is the separate Development Support Program.

• 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.