Republic of Vanuatu · residence general
Residence Visa (Self-funded ground)
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
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.
- 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, and a certified income condition applies. Confirm current amounts on the official Department of Immigration page, not third-party sources.
- Typical duration
- Issued for set periods and renewable while you keep meeting the income condition. Confirm the current bands on the official Department of Immigration page.
- Sponsorship required
- No
- Leads to permanent residency
- No
In short
As of 12 July 2026, the Residence Visa (Self-funded 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/self-funded-resident-visa#answer
What is the Residence Visa (Self-funded ground) in Republic of Vanuatu?
Residence Visa (Self-funded ground) is an unsponsored Vanuatu route. Indicative government fees are Indicative only - residence visa fees vary by validity period and applicant age, and a certified income condition applies. Confirm current amounts 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 keep meeting the income condition. 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 Self-funded ground is a basis for a Vanuatu Residence Visa for people who support themselves from offshore income rather than local work, issued by the Department of Immigration and Passport Services. You typically show a regular monthly income certified by a bank operating in Vanuatu, with a higher figure where a spouse or partner is included; the exact figures change, so treat anything you read elsewhere as indicative. The visa is issued for set periods and renewed, and is separate from the Development Support Program (which grants citizenship, not residence). Always confirm the current income conditions and fees on the official Department of Immigration page.
Eligibility
Typical criteria
- ✓A regular monthly income certified by a bank operating in Vanuatu.Department of Immigration and Passport Services (Vanuatu) ↗
- ✓A higher certified income where a spouse or partner is included (verify the current figures on the official page).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
- !Income that cannot be certified by a bank operating in Vanuatu.Department of Immigration and Passport Services (Vanuatu) ↗
- !Income below the required level for the people included in the application.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) ↗
- ·Bank certification of the qualifying offshore income.Department of Immigration and Passport Services (Vanuatu) ↗
- ·Police or character clearance as required.Department of Immigration and Passport Services (Vanuatu) ↗
- ·Supporting documents required by the Department of Immigration.Department of Immigration and Passport Services (Vanuatu) ↗
Application pathway
Check the route fit
Confirm you can certify a qualifying offshore income through a bank operating in Vanuatu for everyone included in the application.
Build the evidence pack
Obtain the bank certification of income and gather your passport, character clearance and supporting documents.
Submit through the official channel
Apply for the Residence Visa on the self-funded ground through the Department of Immigration and Passport Services.
After approval
Receive the Residence Visa, keep meeting the income condition, and renew before expiry as required.
After approval: prepare for your next step
For Residence Visa (Self-funded 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.
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 (Self-funded ground) route page ↗
Use this official page to confirm requirements and follow the government filing route for Residence Visa (Self-funded ground).
Department of Immigration and Passport Services (Vanuatu) · verified
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Related routes
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.
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.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do I need for a Vanuatu self-funded residence visa?+
You need a regular monthly income certified by a bank operating in Vanuatu, with a higher figure where a spouse or partner is included. The exact amounts change over time, so any figure you see elsewhere is indicative only - confirm the current income condition on the official Department of Immigration page.
Can I work in Vanuatu on a self-funded residence visa?+
This ground is for people supporting themselves from offshore income rather than local employment, so it is not a work visa. If you intend to work for a Vanuatu business, the Employee ground is the relevant route. Confirm the current conditions on the official Department of Immigration page.
As a remote worker, can I qualify for Vanuatu residence on my offshore income?+
The self-funded ground is aimed at people with a steady offshore income who do not need to work locally, including remote-income earners, and you show a regular monthly income certified by a bank operating in Vanuatu. Income that cannot be certified by a bank operating in Vanuatu is a common blocker. Confirm the current income condition on the official Department of Immigration page.
Can my spouse and children be included on my Vanuatu self-funded residence visa?+
The self-funded ground can cover couples where one income is certified for both partners, and a higher certified income applies where a spouse or partner is included. Confirm the current income condition for everyone in the application on the official Department of Immigration page.
Which Vanuatu residence routes do not need a sponsor or employer?+
The self-funded, foreign-investor and leasehold-holder grounds do not require sponsorship, unlike the employee and partner/child grounds. The self-funded ground in particular is for people seeking residence independent of a local employer. Confirm the current conditions for each route 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 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