Vanuatu citizenship by investment under the DSP is open to most nationalities, but applicants must satisfy specific eligibility requirements before a file can be submitted to the Citizenship Commission. This page covers who qualifies, which nationalities face enhanced scrutiny, age and family rules, and the 5-year diaspora exemption that applies to certain restricted nationals.
Every main applicant must meet all of the following:
| Requirement | Standard |
|---|---|
| Minimum age | 18 years (main applicant) |
| Criminal record | No conviction for serious offences (see list below) |
| Sanctions | Not listed on UN, OFAC, EU, or UK sanctions registries |
| Interpol | No active Red Notice or Diffusion |
| Active proceedings | No pending criminal charges in any jurisdiction |
| Source of funds | Demonstrably legal origin (documented) |
| Health | No untreated communicable disease posing public health risk |
| Authorization | Application must be submitted by a licensed authorized agent |
Dependants may be included on the main applicant's DSP file:
Applicants from FATF-designated high-risk or non-cooperating jurisdictions face enhanced due diligence — more detailed scrutiny of source of funds, business activities, and political connections. Enhanced due diligence does not automatically disqualify applicants; it extends the review timeline to 75–90+ days and requires more comprehensive documentation.
Enhanced due diligence currently applies to applicants who are nationals of, or have significant business ties to, countries on the FATF grey or black list, or EU high-risk third-country lists. These lists change periodically. Your legal representative should confirm current status for your specific nationality before filing.
The Vanuatu Citizenship Commission maintains a confidential internal list of nationalities from which it has historically declined to accept applications or applies extremely elevated scrutiny. This list is not officially published. Based on practitioner experience, applications from nationals of countries subject to comprehensive international sanctions regimes (North Korea, Iran in certain configurations) face near-certain rejection.
For most nationalities — including nationals of Russia, China, India, Pakistan, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, and other states sometimes viewed as complex — citizenship applications are processed normally or with enhanced due diligence. The nationality alone is not disqualifying; the individual's personal record is decisive.
Certain nationals of countries that have restrictions on acquiring foreign citizenship (for example, some Gulf states with restrictions on dual citizenship) may qualify for the diaspora exemption if they have been resident outside their home country for a continuous period of at least five years.
This exemption is relevant to Vanuatu's internal assessment of an application's broader compliance context, not to the home country's laws. Nationals of countries that prohibit dual citizenship who apply for Vanuatu citizenship remain responsible for understanding their home country's dual citizenship rules — Vanuatu's grant of citizenship does not override those.
Automatic disqualifiers (any conviction):
Generally not disqualifying (depending on age and circumstances):
Case-by-case assessment (may require explanation):
The Commission does not routinely require a medical examination for standard applications. However, applicants may be asked to provide a medical certificate if their file contains adverse health indicators, or if they are nationals of jurisdictions with higher rates of certain communicable diseases.
Applicants with serious communicable diseases (active tuberculosis, untreated HIV/AIDS where public health risk is flagged, certain hemorrhagic fever histories) may face requests for medical evidence. These situations are handled case-by-case and are not automatic disqualifiers in most cases if the condition is managed.
The most reliable way to assess eligibility before committing to an application is a confidential pre-application review with a licensed authorized agent. This review covers:
→ Due diligence process in detail: Vanuatu FIU Due Diligence — What the Background Check Covers
→ Reasons applications fail: Why Vanuatu Citizenship Applications Are Rejected
→ Requirements documents: Vanuatu Citizenship Requirements
It depends entirely on the nature of the offence. Minor, old, non-financial crimes often do not affect eligibility. Serious offences — fraud, money laundering, trafficking, terrorism — are automatic disqualifiers. A pre-application criminal record review with your legal representative is strongly recommended before submitting any funds.
Yes. Russian nationals apply through the standard DSP process. There are no nationality-based restrictions on Russian applicants as of 2026, though enhanced source-of-funds documentation may be requested. Sanction-listed individuals — those on EU, UK, OFAC, or UN lists — are ineligible regardless of nationality.
This depends on documentation. Legally married spouses are straightforward. Common-law or unmarried partners may be includable with extensive cohabitation evidence and a statutory declaration, but this is assessed case-by-case. Civil partnerships recognized under your home jurisdiction may be treated as equivalent to marriage — confirm with your legal representative.
The main applicant must be at least 18 years old. Minor children (under 18) can be included as dependants on a parent's application but cannot file independently. There is no maximum age limit for any category of applicant.
No. English is the dominant language of the application documents and Commission correspondence, but applicants do not need to speak English. Your authorized legal representative manages all Commission communication. Documents in other languages require certified translation into English.
General information only, not legal advice. Visa and programme rules change; confirm current details before deciding. Last verified 2026-07-08.
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