Vanuatu citizenship by investment starts from $130,000, but the amount an applicant ultimately needs to budget depends on more than the headline figure. The selected investment route, number of family members, Due Diligence, document preparation and biometric arrangements can all affect the final cost.
There are currently two main options: the Development Support Program (DSP) and the Capital Investment Immigration Plan (CIIP). Their pricing structures differ significantly, particularly for families.
Understanding those differences before applying makes it easier to calculate both the required investment and the additional expenses that arise during the process.
The DSP Starts From $130,000
The Development Support Program uses a straightforward contribution structure based on family size.
A single applicant contributes at least $130,000. For a married couple, the amount increases to $150,000, while a family of three starts from $165,000 and a family of four from $180,000. Each additional dependant adds $15,000.
This means family members do not each need to make a separate $130,000 contribution.
For example, a couple applying together starts from $150,000 rather than $260,000. If they have two eligible children, the contribution rises to $180,000. A family of five would start from $195,000.
A separate $5,500 FIU Due Diligence fee applies to a DSP application, so even before case-specific expenses are considered, the amount to budget is higher than the published contribution alone.
CIIP Uses a Different Family Pricing Model
The Capital Investment Immigration Plan starts from $165,000, but its structure is different.
The same starting amount applies to an application covering up to four people. A single applicant, couple, family of three or family of four therefore starts from $165,000. Each additional dependant adds $25,000.
For larger family applications, this creates a noticeably different calculation from the DSP.
A family of four, for example, starts from $180,000 under the DSP but $165,000 under the CIIP. For a single applicant, the relationship is reversed: the DSP starts from $130,000 compared with $165,000 under the CIIP.
The two figures are not directly interchangeable, however. The programs have different financial structures, and the CIIP amount includes Due Diligence, whereas the DSP carries the separate $5,500 FIU fee.
The appropriate comparison therefore depends on the whole application rather than the headline amount alone.
What Does a Family Actually Need to Budget?
For a straightforward DSP case, the starting calculation is relatively simple.
An individual begins with the $130,000 contribution plus the $5,500 FIU fee. A couple starts with $150,000 plus the same Due Diligence fee, while a family of four starts with $180,000 plus $5,500.
From there, the final budget becomes more individual.
Passport issuance and biometric procedures need to be taken into account. Documents may require translation, notarisation, certification or legalisation. Because biometric enrolment is completed in person, applicants may also incur flights and accommodation depending on which approved location they use.
Professional fees form another part of the overall application budget because citizenship applications are processed through authorised agents.
As a result, two families making the same qualifying contribution may not necessarily have identical final costs.
Payments Are Made as the Application Progresses
Applicants do not necessarily transfer the entire qualifying amount at the beginning of the process.
The first program-related stage involves Due Diligence and preparation of the supporting documentation. Under the DSP, the FIU fee is $5,500 per application and covers the family included in the case.
The qualifying contribution is then divided into stages.
An initial 25% payment on $130,000 is $32,500. For a $150,000 contribution, it is $37,500; for $165,000, $41,250; and for $180,000, $45,000.
After the relevant approval stage, the remaining 75% is paid. A single applicant contributing $130,000 would therefore complete the contribution with another $97,500, while the remaining payment on $180,000 would be $135,000.
Biometric and passport formalities follow at the appropriate stage of the process.
For applicants planning their finances, this schedule can be almost as important as the total amount because it shows when funds need to be available.
Documentation Can Change the Final Budget
The government contribution does not change because an applicant has a more complicated personal or financial history. The work required to document the case can.
Foreign documents may need notarisation, apostille or another form of legalisation. Certified translations can also be required depending on the language and type of document.
Family applications naturally involve more paperwork than individual cases. Adding a spouse requires marriage documentation, while children require birth certificates and other records. Adult dependents or parents may need additional evidence demonstrating that they satisfy the relevant eligibility requirements.
Financial documentation is another variable.
An entrepreneur with several companies, income from multiple jurisdictions or a complex source-of-wealth history may need to provide considerably more evidence than an applicant with a straightforward financial profile.
These expenses are difficult to reduce to one universal figure before the case has been reviewed.
Biometrics Introduce a Travel Cost
Obtaining Vanuatu citizenship by investment does not require applicants to relocate to the country, but passport issuance includes an in-person biometric procedure.
Approved locations include Vanuatu, Dubai, Hong Kong and New Caledonia.
For someone already based near one of these locations, the additional expense may be relatively limited. Another applicant may need to budget for international flights, accommodation and related travel costs for several family members.
These are personal expenses rather than part of the government contribution, but they still matter when calculating the amount required to complete the entire process.
Family Size Can Change Which Route Makes More Sense
The difference between DSP and CIIP becomes particularly visible when several relatives are included.
Under the DSP, every additional family member changes the contribution according to the program’s pricing structure. The amount moves from $130,000 for an individual to $180,000 for a family of four and then increases by $15,000 for every further dependant.
Under the CIIP, the starting $165,000 covers up to four applicants. Only the fifth and subsequent family members increase the amount, at $25,000 each.
This means there is no single investment route that can be identified from the starting price alone.
A single applicant and a family of four looking at exactly the same two programs will see very different cost relationships. Family composition should therefore be established before comparing the financial structure of the available routes.
