The Vanuatu FIU screens every applicant against INTERPOL, World-Check, and OFAC lists within 48 hours. Due diligence fee: USD 7,500 for main applicants. Total processing: 1–2 months from submission to passport.
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The Vanuatu FIU completes background checks within 48 hours and submits findings to the Citizenship Screening Committee. Due diligence fee: USD 7,500 for main applicants (increased from USD 5,000 in 2024), USD 5,500 for dependents over 16, plus a USD 250 application fee per person. Total processing from submission to passport: 1–2 months.
Screening covers INTERPOL Red Notices, World-Check, OFAC sanctions, and UN Security Council lists. Police clearance certificates required from your country of residence and any country where you lived 12+ months — valid for six months from issuance. All due diligence fees are non-refundable.
Citizenship due diligence is the mandatory background verification process that screens applicants against international criminal databases, sanctions lists, and financial intelligence records to prevent money laundering, terrorism financing, and reputational harm to a citizenship by investment program.
rnBackground screening protects the integrity of Vanuatu’s citizenship by investment program. The Vanuatu Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), operating under the State Law Office, conducts mandatory anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing checks on every applicant before the Citizenship Screening Committee reviews the file. The FIU searches international criminal records, sanctions databases, and intelligence-sharing networks — then submits written findings within 48 hours of receiving complete documentation.rnrnThis rigorous process directly affects program credibility and the visa-free travel privileges Vanuatu passport holders enjoy. Citizenship Regulation Order No. 33 of 2019 mandates the FIU’s involvement to prevent approvals of high-risk individuals that could trigger international scrutiny or visa-free access restrictions.rnrnHow multi-layer screening works: The FIU cross-references applicant data against INTERPOL’s wanted persons database, World-Check (maintained by Refinitiv), OFAC sanctions lists published by the U.S. Treasury, and UN Security Council consolidated lists. Any match triggers secondary review and typically results in automatic rejection. The Citizenship Screening Committee then performs a final vetting stage — members review police clearances, source-of-funds documentation, and any adverse findings — before making a recommendation to the Prime Minister under the Citizenship Act (Cap. 112). Only applications that clear all layers receive Prime Ministerial approval.
The main applicant pays USD 7,500 for due diligence, dependents over 16 pay USD 5,500, and every applicant pays a USD 250 application fee. Vanuatu increased the main applicant fee from USD 5,000 in 2024 to fund expanded database access and enhanced screening protocols.
| Applicant Type | Due Diligence Fee | Application Fee | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main applicant | USD 7,500 | USD 250 | USD 7,750 |
| Spouse | USD 5,500 | USD 250 | USD 5,750 |
| Dependent over 16 | USD 5,500 | USD 250 | USD 5,750 |
| Dependent under 16 | USD 0 | USD 250 | USD 250 |
Note: A family of four (two adults, two children over 16) pays USD 25,000 in due diligence fees alone before investment contributions. All fees are non-refundable regardless of application outcome — including voluntary withdrawal before the FIU completes checks.
The 2024 fee increase from USD 5,000 to USD 7,500 funded three upgrades: expanded World-Check database access to include beneficial ownership records, enhanced FIU analyst training in cryptocurrency tracing, and increased participation in Egmont Group intelligence-sharing protocols.
You must submit a certified passport copy, a second government-issued photo ID, and a detailed CV covering the last 10 years of residential addresses and employment. Police clearance certificates from your country of primary residence and any country where you lived 12 or more consecutive months are mandatory — these must be issued within six months of application submission.
All non-English documents require certified translation. Documents from Hague Convention member countries need apostille authentication. Countries with federal systems (US, Canada, Australia) may require state-level or provincial clearances in addition to national ones if you lived in multiple jurisdictions.
Complete processing takes 1–2 months from submission to passport issuance, with some applications extending to 3 months when secondary verification is required. The FIU’s 48-hour database screening timeline is fixed by regulation — most delays accumulate during document verification and committee scheduling, not during the FIU’s searches.
| Stage | Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Document verification | 3–7 days | Incomplete certification or missing pages stall this phase |
| FIU database screening | 48 hours | Regulatory fixed — cannot be expedited |
| Citizenship Screening Committee review | 2–3 weeks | Depends on meeting schedule |
| Prime Minister approval | 1–2 weeks | After committee recommendation |
| Passport production and delivery | 1–2 weeks | After Prime Ministerial approval |
No formal fast-track option exists. The most effective way to minimize delays is submitting complete, properly certified documentation at initial filing via an authorized agent experienced in Vanuatu CBI applications.
1–2 months from submission to passport issuance, sometimes extending to 3 months for complex cases. The Vanuatu FIU completes database screening within 48 hours. Delays accumulate during Citizenship Screening Committee review and Prime Minister approval if additional documentation is requested.
USD 7,500 for main applicants, USD 5,500 for spouses and dependents over 16, plus a USD 250 application fee per person. Fees increased from USD 5,000 for main applicants in 2024 to fund enhanced screening protocols. All fees are non-refundable.
No refunds. Due diligence fees are non-refundable regardless of application outcome — database access fees, analyst time, and committee review are incurred immediately upon file submission and are not recoverable even if you withdraw voluntarily.
Certified passport copy, second government photo ID, comprehensive 10-year CV, police clearance certificates from your country of residence and any country where you lived 12+ months, bank statements, financial institution reference letters, and source-of-funds documentation. All non-English documents require certified translation.
Yes. The Vanuatu FIU searches INTERPOL databases for Red Notices, wanted persons records, and stolen travel documents as part of the mandatory 48-hour screening protocol. The FIU also checks World-Check, OFAC sanctions lists, and UN Security Council consolidated lists.
Active criminal charges, serious crime convictions (fraud, money laundering, terrorism, violent offenses), OFAC or UN sanctions list presence, and confirmed terrorism links. Undisclosed criminal history or false information in applications also causes disqualification.
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