Apply for Vanuatu Citizenship
Discover how to easily apply for Vanuatu citizenship with clear steps, expert tips, and official resources.
STEP 1: Determine that you are eligible
Prior to the collection of a citizenship application form, you shall be advised on whether or not you are eligible to become a Vanuatu citizen. Upon eligibility, you shall be advised and provided the correct Application Form depending on the nature of your eligibility.
Form A. Any non-citizen may be eligible to apply to become a Vanuatu citizen only if he or she has lived in Vanuatu for a continuous period of at least 10 years immediately prior application.
Form B: A non-citizen who is married to a Vanuatu citizen may apply for Vanuatu citizenship only if the following requirements are met:
i. The applicant must be legally married to a Vanuatu citizen.
ii. The applicant must have lived in Vanuatu for at least 2 years before submitting the citizenship application.
Form C (a). A person is eligible to apply to become a Vanuatu citizen through Entitlement if at least one of his or her parent or grandparent is a person of Ni-Vanuatu ancestry or a citizen by naturalization.
It is important to note that in the case of Entitlement through naturalization, the eligible applicant must have been born after his parent (s) became (naturalized) citizen (s). If the applicant was born prior his parent (s) became naturalized and was not included in the application by his parent (s) when applying for citizenship, he cannot be Entitled to Citizenship through naturalization.
Form C (b). This Form applies to a person who has renounced his or her Vanuatu citizenship and who wishes to regain his or her citizenship.
Form D. Any investor under the Capital Investment Immigration Plan (CIIP) is eligible to apply for Vanuatu Citizenship if he or she meets the relevant criterias provided under the Citizenship Act .
Form related to Honorary Citizenship: Candidates are eligible if they meet the legal requirements provided under Section 20 of the Citizenship Act [Cap 112] and Vanuatu Economic Rehabilitation Program.
Children
Applications for children under 18 years of age must be made by a responsible parent or lawful guardian.
STEP 2: Gather all required documents as per the Checklist of each Application Form
Each application Form has a checklist (see final page of Form) which required certain documentation that must be submitted together with your completed Form. Providing all of the required documentation will enable us to process your application promptly.
Your application may be returned to you if the required documents are not provided with your application.
Use the related checklist as a guide to the documentation required.
STEP 3: Complete and lodge your application
Complete and lodge your application together with all the legal required documents (as per checklist). Upon lodging of your application, you shall pay the Application Fee (please refer to Citizenship Fees and Charges under Citizenship) prior further process of your application.
STEP 4: Examination of your application by responsible Officers
Your application will be then perused by the responsible Officers and forwarded to the Compliance Officer for a second examination to ensure that you:
- are eligible to become a citizen;
- completed your application Form correctly; and
- provide all required valid documents as per checklist.
STEP 5: Bislama Test requirement
This final legal requirement, prior the Commission’s consideration, only applies to applicants of Forms A and B. Upon satisfaction of the completion of your application and provision of all required documentation, you shall sit a written Bislama Test which is basically about general knowledge of the Republic of Vanuatu legally, politically, historically and socially.
The time frame of the Bislama test sitting is 1 hour. The successful result of the test will be forwarded together with your application to the Citizenship Commission. Failure to pass the Bislama Test (1) will put your application on hold and require you to sit a Bislama Test 2. The latter can only be completed within 6 months or more depending on how well you are prepared.
STEP 6: Assessment of your application by the Citizenship Internal Screening Committee
Your completed application form, along with all required documentation, will then be forwarded to the Citizenship Internal Screening Committee for further review to ensure that you meet all requirements before proceeding to the next stage of the process.
STEP 7: Consideration and approval of your application by the Citizenship Commission
If the Internal Screening Committee is satisfied with your application, it will then forward it to the Citizenship Commission which is the body responsible to approve citizenship application. Hence, the approval of your application rests with the Commission.
The Commission may defer or reject your application if you fail to provide a required and valid document or information or to satisfy some specific requirement.
STEP 8: Issuance of a letter concerning the decision of the Commission to your application
One week after the Commission’s meeting, you shall receive a letter from the Secretary General of Citizenship Office concerning the decision of the Commission on your application.
Upon being instructed that the Commission has approved your application, you shall also be advised on the final requirements prior the issuance of your citizenship certificate, such as:
- Completion of an oath
- Provide the correct spelling of your name to be printed on the Certificate ; and
- Payment of Citizenship Fee
STEP 9: Completion of an Oath
The completion of your oath can only be made if your application had been approved. This requires you to collect an oath form and the authorisation letter to the Commissioner of Oath from the Citizenship Office and complete it in the presence of a Commissioner of Oath.
Note that completion of oath can only be made in Vanuatu’s court. This means that an application who is based in Santo can complete his oath in our Court in Luganville. However, applicants who live in a foreign country must travel to Vanuatu to complete their oath.
STEP 10: Payment of Citizenship Fee
Upon completion of your Oath, you are finally required to pay your Citizenship Fee (please refer to Citizenship Fees and Charges under Citizenship) to enable the printing of your Vanuatu Citizenship Certificate.
The Bislama test takes approximately 1 hour to complete. A successful test result will be forwarded together with your application to the Citizenship Commission. If you fail the Bislama Test, your application will be placed on hold, and you will be required to sit the test again before your application can proceed.
Vanautu Visa Free Countries
Over the past number of years, the Vanuatu government has been successfully working to expand its list of visa-free countries.