Vanuatu - Development Support Citizenship Program

Application Procedures and Fee

Starting in January 2017, the Government of the Republic of Vanuatu launched the Contribution Program for the purpose of raising funds to support infrastructure and promoting the economic development of Vanuatu. The Contribution Program – also called the Development Support Program (or “DSP”) – is a new provision enacted by the Vanuatu Government under the Citizenship Act, with the powers conferred on the Prime Minister. The Program has been launched pursuant to Section 13D of the Vanuatu Citizenship Act [CAP 112], under the Citizenship (Contribution Program) Regulation Order No. 220 of 2016 enacted on 19 December 2016. The Minister is to prescribe by Regulation the requirements for an application for citizenship under the Program. The citizenship acquired under the Contribution Program is fully recognized by the Government of Vanuatu, and the nationality is regarded as Ni-Vanuatu (Vanuatu citizen). Those applying for and receiving Vanuatu Citizenship under the DSP have the full freedom to reside in Vanuatu at all times, and the passport is renewable upon expiry. Furthermore, citizenship is hereditary. Please note: Citizens of Iran, Iraq, Syria, North Korea, and Yemen are currently NOT eligible to apply under this program.
1.	Services and Application Fees
	Kaizen’s handling fee for the Contribution Program is HKD63,800. In particular, our fee covers the following services:
		Eligibility assessment and consultation with our immigration consultant; Due diligence conducted on main applicant, spouse and dependents where applicable to confirm eligibility under the program; Assistance with the preparation of the citizenship application documentation; Submission of the Nomination Form and supporting documents to the Vanuatu authorities; Upon receipt of the approval-in-principle, coordinate with the applicant for the balance payment of the processing fees to the government as well as the investment or donation amount; Guidance on oath taking at the Vanuatu Consulate (HK) by the applicant and the obtention of his/her Vanuatu passport.
	Note:
		The fees stated are exclusive of the government fee, delivery charge, document translation fee, and notarial fee etc., if any.
		For reference purposes only and subject to change, the processing and application fees payable to the Government of Vanuatu as at September 28th, 2021 are as follows: Fees Amount (USD) Refund Policy Background check and due diligence USD5,000 per application Non-refundable Administration and disbursements USD500 per person Non-refundable Donation (after principal approval) Main Applicant：USD130,000 Main Applicant & Spouse：USD150,000 Main Applicant, Spouse & 1 child under 18: USD165,000 Main Applicant, Spouse & 2 children under 18: USD180,000 Refundable (only if the application is refused) Passport application USD250 per person Refundable (only if the application is refused) Citizenship Commission Fees USD150 per person Non-refundable
2.	Payment Terms and Refund Policy
	Kaizen currently accept Hong Kong Dollar check, cash or TT and credit card through PayPal only. If payment is settled through PayPal, extra 5% services fee will be charged. Upon confirmation of your engagement, we will issue an invoice for your settlement. Due to the nature of the services, payment of our handling fee must be fully settled in advance. Once service is commenced, no handling fees will be refunded. The initial payment of USD5000 per applicant for due diligence, administration and disbursement fees to the Vanuatu Government must also be made at this stage. If China or Taiwan official tax invoice is required, Value-Added Tax or Business Tax at the prevailing rate in the respective jurisdiction will be charged.
3.	Eligibility Criteria
	To be eligible for the passport program, an applicant must:
		Make the required donation to the Vanuatu Government; Be over 18 years old; Have no criminal record; Provide medical certificate confirming good health; Provide all required documentation in English or that is translated into English by a certified translation body; Hold a bank account balance that exceeds USD250,000; Pass the due diligence checks.
4.	Documentary Evidence and Information Requirements
	STAGE 1
	Pre-approval:
		Nomination Form Certified copy of all passports held Certified copy of photo identity card Original police record from country of birth, citizenship, residence (if different), and any country in which the applicant has resided for at least 1 year in the past 10 years, for each applicant aged 16 and over Personal profile (CV) including education and employment history (main applicant and spouse)
	STAGE 2
	Full Document Submission:
		Nomination Form and all supporting documents Original excerpt of full birth record or certified copy of full birth certificate with MOFA attestation (i.e., birth document that includes your parent’s details, household register, family book, etc.) Original medical certificate Eight (8) original passport-size photos
	Forms and documents (required from main applicant only):
		One (1) original bank reference letter issued by an internationally recognized bank, not older than 6 months One (1) original professional reference (e.g. from an attorney, notary public, chartered accountant or other professional of similar standing), not older than 6 months One original employment letter Certified copy of university/college diplomas Proof of residential address (copy of valid tenancy contract/original utility bill)
	Documents required (only applicable to married persons applying together):
		Original excerpt of marriage record or certified copy of marriage certificate with MOFA attestation (if applicable)
5.	Application Steps and Estimated Timeline
	Steps Procedure Responsible Party Estimated Processing Time* 1 Eligibility assessment conducted by Kaizen’s immigration consultant Applicant / Kaizen 5-7 days 2 Pre-approval phase: due diligence checks conducted by the Vanuatu Government on main applicant, spouse and dependents where applicable. Applicants are required to pay the due diligence fees and submit a copy of their passport and police clearance certificate at this stage. Vanuatu 1-3 weeks 3 Once the applicant is pre-approved by the Government of Vanuatu, Kaizen will assist in gathering the supporting documents, filling out the citizenship forms and the preparation of the application file in accordance with the Government’s requirements. The medical certificate must be prepared at this stage. Applicant / Kaizen 3-4 weeks 4 Submission of the properly collated Nomination Form and application package to the Vanuatu authorities Kaizen 3 days 5 Approval-in-principle of the application Vanuatu 2-3 weeks 6 Upon approval-in-principle, the investment or donation amount as well as the balance of the Government processing fees become payable. Once the transfers are made, the passport application is submitted. Applicant / Kaizen 1-2 weeks 7 Upon satisfaction of the requirements, the Vanuatu Citizenship Office and Commission issues the Certificate of Registration and passport(s) to the applicant, the spouse and the dependents if any Vanuatu 3-4 weeks 8 Oath taking at the Vanuatu Consulate (HK) by the applicant(s) and obtention of his/her/their Vanuatu passport(s) Applicant / Kaizen 1 day Estimated Total Processing Time (Standard application): 11-18 weeks
	* The processing time is estimated based on the average file and may vary depending on the cooperation of applicant, the processing time by the Government of Vanuatu, immigration policy changes, etc. In addition, the required processing time may be prolonged due to the on-going pandemic.
Related Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevis Citizenship
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