Republic of Vanuatu · investor · Leads to settlement
Residence Visa (Foreign Investor ground)
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
Source check: all 3 official citations reconfirmed 13 September 2026
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.
- Processing time
- Indicative only - confirm current timelines on the official Department of Immigration and VIPA pages.
- Government fees
- Indicative only - residence visa fees vary by validity period, and VIPA approval and any business-licence fees apply separately. Confirm current amounts on the official pages.
- Typical duration
- Issued for set periods and renewable while you hold a valid VIPA certificate and the investment continues. Confirm the current bands on the official Department of Immigration page.
- Sponsorship required
- No
- Leads to permanent residency
- Yes
In short
As of 12 July 2026, the Residence Visa (Foreign Investor ground) for Republic of Vanuatu is an unsponsored Vanuatu immigration route. Sources: official Republic of Vanuatu government pages, reviewed 12 July 2026.
Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/vanuatu/investor-residence-visa#answer
What is the Residence Visa (Foreign Investor ground) in Republic of Vanuatu?
Residence Visa (Foreign Investor ground) is an unsponsored Vanuatu route. Indicative government fees are Indicative only - residence visa fees vary by validity period, and VIPA approval and any business-licence fees apply separately. Confirm current amounts on the official pages; indicative processing time is Indicative only - confirm current timelines on the official Department of Immigration and VIPA pages; typical duration is Issued for set periods and renewable while you hold a valid VIPA certificate and the investment continues. Confirm the current bands on the official Department of Immigration page. This route can lead to permanent residence.
Verified against Department of Immigration and Passport Services (Vanuatu) on 1 June 2026.
Overview
The Foreign Investor ground is a basis for a Vanuatu Residence Visa for people running or investing in a business in Vanuatu, issued by the Department of Immigration and Passport Services. The applicant must hold a Foreign Investment Approval Certificate from the Vanuatu Investment Promotion Authority (VIPA) and, where applicable, a business licence. The visa is issued for set periods and renewed while the investment and approval continue; sustained qualifying investment can also support a later Permanent Resident Visa application, though that is assessed separately. This residence route is distinct from the Development Support Program, which grants citizenship, not residence. Confirm the current conditions and fees on the official Department of Immigration and VIPA pages.
Eligibility
Typical criteria
- ✓A valid Foreign Investment Approval Certificate from the Vanuatu Investment Promotion Authority (VIPA).Department of Immigration and Passport Services (Vanuatu) ↗
- ✓A business licence where the activity requires one.Department of Immigration and Passport Services (Vanuatu) ↗
- ✓A valid passport with sufficient validity.Department of Immigration and Passport Services (Vanuatu) ↗
- ✓Character and supporting documents required by the Department.Department of Immigration and Passport Services (Vanuatu) ↗
Common blockers
- !No valid VIPA Foreign Investment Approval Certificate.Department of Immigration and Passport Services (Vanuatu) ↗
- !Ceasing the qualifying investment or letting the VIPA approval lapse.Department of Immigration and Passport Services (Vanuatu) ↗
- !Incomplete application or missing supporting documents.Department of Immigration and Passport Services (Vanuatu) ↗
Typical evidence
- ·Valid passport.Department of Immigration and Passport Services (Vanuatu) ↗
- ·VIPA Foreign Investment Approval Certificate.Department of Immigration and Passport Services (Vanuatu) ↗
- ·Business licence and company documents where applicable.Department of Immigration and Passport Services (Vanuatu) ↗
- ·Police or character clearance and supporting documents.Department of Immigration and Passport Services (Vanuatu) ↗
Application pathway
Check the route fit
Obtain (or confirm you hold) a VIPA Foreign Investment Approval Certificate and any required business licence for your activity in Vanuatu.
Build the evidence pack
Gather your VIPA certificate, business and company documents, passport and character clearance.
Submit through the official channel
Apply for the Residence Visa on the foreign-investor ground through the Department of Immigration and Passport Services.
After approval
Receive the Residence Visa, maintain the investment and VIPA approval, and renew before expiry. Sustained qualifying investment may support a later permanent residence application.
After approval: prepare for your next step
For Residence Visa (Foreign Investor ground), use the actual decision and the issuing authority’s instructions to establish what has been granted. A successful application, permission to enter, permission to work and a residence document are not interchangeable.
- 1. Check the decision. Confirm the name, passport, status granted, start date and any next action. Resolve an error with the authority before relying on the document for travel or employment.
- 2. Establish the travel step. Read any entry window, activation, collection or in-country registration instruction. For an extension or change of status, do not assume leaving the country is required or safe while a further step remains pending.
- 3. Confirm what you may do. Check whether employment, self-employment, remote work or study is permitted under the status granted. Do not infer unrestricted work rights from the absence of an employer sponsor.
- 4. Organise the household. Check each accompanying person’s permission separately, then arrange healthcare, accommodation, access to money and the relevant local registrations. A tax number or bank account does not by itself prove a right to work.
- 5. Keep the ongoing conditions visible. Record the actual expiry, renewal process, permitted absences and any duty to report changes. An initial grant does not automatically establish permanent residence or citizenship.
Plan the practical side of your stay
Once you have checked the official route, you can prepare for day-to-day life in Vanuatu. These optional services are separate from the application and do not establish visa eligibility.
Official application links
Where to actually go next
These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.
- Official guidanceApplicantUse official Residence Visa (Foreign Investor ground) route page ↗
Use this official page to confirm requirements and follow the government filing route for Residence Visa (Foreign Investor ground).
Department of Immigration and Passport Services (Vanuatu) · verified
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Related routes
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.
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.
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.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a VIPA certificate for the Vanuatu investor residence visa?+
Yes. The Foreign Investor ground requires a valid Foreign Investment Approval Certificate from the Vanuatu Investment Promotion Authority (VIPA), and a business licence where the activity needs one. The residence visa is granted on top of that approval. Confirm the current requirements on the official Department of Immigration and VIPA pages.
Can the investor residence visa lead to permanent residence in Vanuatu?+
It can be a foundation: serious, sustained investors may later apply for a Permanent Resident Visa, which is assessed separately on its own criteria. The investor residence visa itself remains tied to your VIPA approval and investment. Confirm the current pathways on the official Department of Immigration page.
If I start a business in Vanuatu instead of finding a job, which residence route covers that?+
Running or investing in a business in Vanuatu is covered by the Foreign Investor ground, which requires a valid Foreign Investment Approval Certificate from VIPA and a business licence where the activity needs one. Serious, sustained investors may later apply for a Permanent Resident Visa, which is assessed separately on its own criteria. Confirm the current requirements on the official Department of Immigration and VIPA pages.
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 VanuatuHow we verified this
We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.
Primary source: Department of Immigration and Passport Services (Vanuatu)
Last checked: 1 June 2026