Vanuatu Passport Cost 2026: Full Pricing Breakdown

A Vanuatu passport costs from USD 130,000 for a single applicant under the Development Support Program (DSP), the lowest CBI entry point in 2026. Total all-in cost runs USD 140,000 to USD 150,000 for a single applicant once due diligence, biometric, certificate, passport, and professional advisory fees are included. A family of four pays USD 195,000 to USD 220,000 all-in under DSP.

What Does a Vanuatu Passport Cost in 2026?

The Vanuatu Development Support Program (DSP) starts at USD 130,000 for a single applicant, making Vanuatu the cheapest active citizenship by investment program in the world in 2026. The threshold has held steady since the 2017 program launch and has not been raised under the December 2024 e-passport rollout or the 2025 biometric reform.

The headline figure is the non-refundable contribution to the Vanuatu National Development Fund. The total all-in cost is higher once government due diligence, biometric submission, certificate and passport issuance, professional advisory, and document-preparation fees are added. For a single applicant, the all-in cost typically lands between USD 140,000 and USD 150,000. For a family of four, the figure runs USD 195,000 to USD 220,000 depending on biometric logistics and advisor selection.

Three legal routes are available, with different cost structures: the Development Support Program (DSP) for the lowest single-applicant entry, the Capital Investment Immigration Plan (CIIP) for partial capital recovery on families, and the Real Estate Option (REO) for investors who want a Pacific property position alongside the passport.

What Is the Full Cost Breakdown for the Vanuatu Passport?

The master table below shows every line item across all three routes for a single applicant. Family-of-four pricing is detailed in the next section. All figures are current as of June 2026 and source to the Vanuatu Citizenship Office and Commission fee schedule.

How Much Does Vanuatu Citizenship Cost by Family Size?

Family pricing scales differently across the three routes. The DSP scales per dependent at USD 15,000 each beyond the principal applicant. The CIIP holds flat at USD 165,000 for families of 1 to 4, then adds USD 25,000 per dependent from the fifth member. The REO scales modestly per family member up to four, then flat.

Within each route, the all-in total adds USD 200 per person for the citizenship certificate, USD 800 per adult for the passport, biometric fees from USD 1,000 per person, and the flat due diligence fee per applicant aged 16 or over. Professional advisory typically runs USD 5,000 to USD 15,000 depending on family complexity and selected provider.

How Do the Three Investment Routes Compare on Cost?

Development Support Program (DSP)

The DSP is the cheapest route at USD 130,000 non-refundable for a single applicant. The contribution flows to the Vanuatu National Development Fund and is permanently committed with no refund or redemption mechanism. The DSP carries the lowest due diligence fee (USD 5,500) and is the most widely used Vanuatu route. For families of one to three, the DSP delivers the lowest all-in cost across all three options.

Capital Investment Immigration Plan (CIIP)

The CIIP costs USD 165,000 flat for 1 to 4 applicants, with USD 50,000 of that allocated to the CNO Future Fund (also called the Cocoa and Coconut Sustainable Fund) linked to Vanuatu's agricultural sector. The USD 50,000 is redeemable after 4 to 5 years subject to fund performance and program terms in effect at redemption. Net cost after redemption is approximately USD 115,000 to USD 130,000 depending on family composition. The CIIP carries a higher upfront due diligence fee at USD 8,000 but produces the lowest net cost for families of four.

Real Estate Option (REO)

The REO requires investment of at least USD 200,000 in approved Vanuatu developments on Efate or Espiritu Santo, with a mandatory 5-year holding period before resale. The property can be resold after the holding period, potentially recovering most or all of the investment, but resale is not guaranteed and the market for Pacific CBI real estate is narrow. Professional advisory fees on REO files run higher (from USD 10,000) due to title transfer complexity. The REO suits applicants who specifically want a Pacific real-estate position alongside citizenship rather than the lowest-cost citizenship outcome.

What Hidden Fees Should You Budget For?

The five most commonly missed cost lines in a Vanuatu CBI budget. These typically add USD 1,500 to USD 3,500 per family file and are excluded from the headline contribution and government fee figures.

Budget at least USD 2,000 per family file for these line items in addition to the headline contribution and government fees. Single applicants from common-law jurisdictions with English-language source documents typically land closer to USD 1,200 to USD 1,800. Multi-jurisdiction families with non-English documents and complex source-of-funds files can run USD 3,500 to USD 5,000.

What Is the Payment Schedule and What Is Refundable?

Vanuatu CBI payments follow a phased schedule designed to limit applicant exposure before approval in principle is granted.

Stage 1: Initial retainer and due diligence (Day 0 to 30). The applicant pays the advisor retainer and the USD 5,500 (DSP/REO) or USD 8,000 (CIIP) government due diligence fee at file submission. This stage funds the FIU background check and document review. Due diligence fees are non-refundable regardless of application outcome. The advisor retainer terms vary by provider and may be partly refundable on file withdrawal before submission.

Stage 2: Contribution payment (Day 30 to 90 after approval in principle). On positive FIU clearance, the applicant has 90 days to wire the qualifying contribution. DSP and REO contributions are non-refundable. CIIP contributions include the USD 50,000 redeemable allocation to the CNO Future Fund. The remaining USD 115,000 is non-refundable.

Stage 3: Biometrics and document fees (Day 60 to 120). Biometric submission fees (from USD 1,000 per person), citizenship certificate fees (USD 200 per person), and passport issuance fees (USD 800 per adult) are paid at the in-person appointment or shortly thereafter. These fees are non-refundable.

CIIP redemption mechanics. The USD 50,000 redeemable component under CIIP is held by the CNO Future Fund for 4 to 5 years. Redemption is conditional on fund performance and program terms in effect at the redemption date. The Vanuatu Citizenship Office does not guarantee the redemption amount or timing, and applicants should treat the redemption as upside rather than guaranteed return.

REO resale mechanics. Property purchased under REO can be resold after the 5-year holding period. Resale recovery depends on market demand for Pacific CBI real estate, which is narrow. Applicants should not assume full recovery of the USD 200,000 investment and should treat REO as a Pacific real-estate position with citizenship upside.

How Does Vanuatu Citizenship Cost Compare to Caribbean Programs?

Vanuatu DSP at USD 130,000 single is the cheapest active CBI program in 2026, undercutting every Caribbean alternative on absolute cost. The table below maps Vanuatu against the four major Caribbean CBI programs. For a deeper comparison covering mobility, processing time, and structural differences, see our Grenada vs Vanuatu deep dive.

For applicants prioritizing absolute cost, Vanuatu is the leader at USD 130,000 single applicant. For applicants prioritizing global mobility (including EU Schengen and UK access), the Caribbean alternatives are materially stronger despite the USD 70,000 to USD 120,000 cost premium. The Vanuatu vs Caribbean choice resolves to whether the cost saving outweighs the loss of EU and UK visa-free access.

Vanuatu Passport Cost Frequently Asked Questions

How Much Does a Vanuatu Passport Cost for a Single Applicant?

A Vanuatu passport costs from USD 130,000 for a single applicant under the Development Support Program (DSP) non-refundable contribution. All-in cost including due diligence (USD 5,500), biometric submission (from USD 1,000), certificate and passport issuance (USD 1,000), and professional advisory (from USD 5,000) typically lands between USD 140,000 and USD 150,000.

What Is the Cheapest Way to Get a Vanuatu Passport in 2026?

The DSP route at USD 130,000 single applicant is the cheapest path to a Vanuatu passport. The CIIP route costs more upfront (USD 165,000) but is cheaper net of redemption for families of three or four. The REO route at USD 200,000 minimum is the most expensive entry point and is generally chosen for property exposure rather than cost.

What Is the Vanuatu Citizenship Price for a Family of Four?

For a family of four, the DSP contribution is USD 180,000 (USD 130,000 principal applicant + USD 50,000 for the spouse and two children). Adding the USD 5,500 due diligence, biometric fees, certificate and passport fees, and advisory, the all-in DSP cost for a family of four runs USD 195,000 to USD 220,000.

Is Any Part of the Vanuatu Citizenship Cost Refundable?

Under the DSP and REO routes, no portion of the contribution is refundable. Under the CIIP route, USD 50,000 of the USD 165,000 contribution is held by the CNO Future Fund and redeemable after 4 to 5 years subject to fund performance. Government due diligence, biometric, certificate, and passport fees are non-refundable across all routes.

What Hidden Fees Should I Budget for Beyond the Headline Cost?

Budget USD 1,500 to USD 3,500 per family file for document apostille legalization, sworn translation of non-English documents, courier and document delivery, bank wire fees, and notarization. These costs are excluded from the headline contribution and government fee figures and are commonly missed in initial Vanuatu CBI budgeting.

How Does Vanuatu Citizenship Cost Compare to Caribbean Programs?

Vanuatu DSP at USD 130,000 single is the cheapest CBI program in 2026, undercutting Dominica (USD 200,000), Antigua (USD 230,000), Grenada (USD 235,000), and Saint Kitts (USD 250,000). The trade-off is mobility: Vanuatu lost EU Schengen visa-free access on December 12, 2024 and UK access in 2023, while Caribbean programs retain both.

Last reviewed: June 2026.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or immigration advice. Program terms, fees, and regulatory requirements change frequently. Verify current requirements before acting.