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Republic of Vanuatu · residence general

Residence Visa (Leasehold Holder ground)

By · Last reviewed:

Source check: all 8 official citations reconfirmed 13 September 2026

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 sponsorship requiredDoes not lead to permanent residencyIssued for set periods and renewable while you maintain the qualifying leasehold and income. Confirm the current bands on the official Department of Immigration page.
Processing time
Indicative only - confirm current timelines on the official Department of Immigration page.
Government fees
Indicative only - residence visa fees vary by validity period, and qualifying property-value and income conditions apply. Confirm current amounts and thresholds on the official Department of Immigration page, not third-party sources.
Typical duration
Issued for set periods and renewable while you maintain the qualifying leasehold and income. Confirm the current bands on the official Department of Immigration page.
Sponsorship required
No
Leads to permanent residency
No
Reviewed Department of Immigration and Passport Services (Vanuatu) ↗

In short

As of 12 July 2026, the Residence Visa (Leasehold Holder 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/leasehold-holder-visa#answer

What is the Residence Visa (Leasehold Holder ground) in Republic of Vanuatu?

Residence Visa (Leasehold Holder ground) is an unsponsored Vanuatu route. Indicative government fees are Indicative only - residence visa fees vary by validity period, and qualifying property-value and income conditions apply. Confirm current amounts and thresholds on the official Department of Immigration page, not third-party sources; indicative processing time is Indicative only - confirm current timelines on the official Department of Immigration page; typical duration is Issued for set periods and renewable while you maintain the qualifying leasehold and income. Confirm the current bands on the official Department of Immigration page. This route does not lead to permanent residence.

Verified against Department of Immigration and Passport Services (Vanuatu) on 1 June 2026.

Overview

The Leasehold Holder ground is a basis for a Vanuatu Residence Visa for people who hold a qualifying property leasehold in Vanuatu, issued by the Department of Immigration and Passport Services. Because land in Vanuatu is generally held under lease rather than freehold, the route is framed around leasehold ownership of a property at or above a set value, together with a certified income for each person included in the application. The exact value and income figures change, so treat anything you read elsewhere as indicative. The visa is issued for set periods and renewed while you maintain the leasehold and income, and it is separate from the Development Support Program (which grants citizenship, not residence). Confirm the current conditions and fees on the official Department of Immigration page.

Eligibility

Typical criteria

Common blockers

Typical evidence

Application pathway

  1. Check the route fit

    Confirm you hold (or will acquire) a qualifying leasehold property at or above the set value and can certify the required income.

  2. Build the evidence pack

    Gather your lease documents, bank certification of income, passport and character clearance.

  3. Submit through the official channel

    Apply for the Residence Visa on the leasehold-holder ground through the Department of Immigration and Passport Services.

  4. After approval

    Receive the Residence Visa, maintain the leasehold and income, and renew before expiry as required.

After approval: prepare for your next step

For Residence Visa (Leasehold Holder 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.
Official Residence Visa (Leasehold Holder ground) instructionsBuild my moving plan for this routeMoving to Vanuatu

Official application links

Where to actually go next

Government links only

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.

  1. Official guidanceApplicant
    Use official Residence Visa (Leasehold Holder ground) route page ↗

    Use this official page to confirm requirements and follow the government filing route for Residence Visa (Leasehold Holder ground).

    Department of Immigration and Passport Services (Vanuatu) · verified

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Frequently asked questions

Can foreigners own land in Vanuatu for this visa?+

Land in Vanuatu is generally held under lease rather than freehold, so this route is built around qualifying leasehold ownership of a property at or above a set value, alongside a certified income. The exact value and income figures change, so confirm them on the official Department of Immigration page.

Do I need an income as well as a property for the leasehold visa?+

Yes. As well as holding a qualifying leasehold property, you typically need a certified income for each person included in the application. Any specific figures you see elsewhere are indicative only - confirm the current conditions on the official Department of Immigration page.

Does the Vanuatu leasehold residence visa lead to permanent residence?+

No. The leasehold-holder residence visa does not lead to settlement; it is issued for set periods and renewable only while you maintain the qualifying leasehold and income. Confirm the current terms on the official Department of Immigration page.

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

How 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

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