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Republic of Vanuatu · family · Leads to settlement

Residence Visa (Partner / Child ground)

By · Last reviewed:

Source check: all 7 official citations reconfirmed 13 September 2026

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.

Requires sponsorshipLeads to permanent residencyIssued for set periods and renewable while the qualifying relationship continues. 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 applicant age. Confirm current amounts on the official Department of Immigration page.
Typical duration
Issued for set periods and renewable while the qualifying relationship continues. Confirm the current bands on the official Department of Immigration page.
Sponsorship required
Yes
Leads to permanent residency
Yes
Reviewed Department of Immigration and Passport Services (Vanuatu) ↗

In short

As of 12 July 2026, the Residence Visa (Partner / Child ground) for Republic of Vanuatu is a sponsor-led Vanuatu immigration route. Sources: official Republic of Vanuatu government pages, reviewed 12 July 2026.

Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/vanuatu/partner-child-residence#answer

What is the Residence Visa (Partner / Child ground) in Republic of Vanuatu?

Residence Visa (Partner / Child ground) is a sponsor-led Vanuatu route. Indicative government fees are Indicative only - residence visa fees vary by validity period and applicant age. Confirm current amounts on the official Department of Immigration page; 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 the qualifying relationship 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 Partner and Child grounds are family bases for a Vanuatu Residence Visa, issued by the Department of Immigration and Passport Services, for the partner (including a de facto partner) or child of someone settled in Vanuatu, such as a Vanuatu citizen or a resident. The application is supported by the sponsoring family member and requires authenticated relationship documents. The visa is issued for set periods and renewed; where the sponsor is a Vanuatu citizen, a family relationship can in some cases support a later Permanent Resident Visa, which is assessed separately. This residence route is distinct from the Development Support Program, which grants citizenship rather than 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 your partner or child relationship with someone settled in Vanuatu and that they will support the application.

  2. Build the evidence pack

    Gather authenticated relationship or birth certificates, the sponsor's status evidence, your passport and character clearance.

  3. Submit through the official channel

    Apply for the Residence Visa on the partner or child ground through the Department of Immigration and Passport Services.

  4. After approval

    Receive the Residence Visa and renew before expiry while the relationship continues. Where the sponsor is a citizen, you may later explore permanent residence, assessed separately.

After approval: prepare for your next step

For Residence Visa (Partner / Child 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 the conditions for your own permission, including work, and keep evidence of the qualifying relationship. The principal applicant’s conditions may differ.
  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 (Partner / Child ground) instructionsBuild my moving plan for this routeMoving to Vanuatu

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

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 + sponsor
    Use official Residence Visa (Partner / Child ground) route page ↗

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

    Department of Immigration and Passport Services (Vanuatu) · verified

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Frequently asked questions

Can my partner or child join me in Vanuatu?+

The Partner and Child grounds let the partner (including a de facto partner) or child of someone settled in Vanuatu apply for a Residence Visa, supported by that family member and authenticated relationship documents. Confirm the current requirements on the official Department of Immigration page.

Does a family residence visa lead to permanent residence in Vanuatu?+

Where the sponsor is a Vanuatu citizen, a family relationship can in some cases support a later Permanent Resident Visa, which is assessed separately on its own criteria. The family residence visa itself is renewed while the relationship continues. Confirm the current pathways on the official Department of Immigration page.

What documents prove my relationship for a Vanuatu family residence visa?+

You typically need an authenticated marriage, partnership or birth certificate, plus the sponsoring family member's evidence of their status in Vanuatu (citizenship or residence); relationship or birth documents not authenticated as required are a common blocker. Confirm the current document requirements 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

See the full evidence trail and methodology

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