Sovereign trust, offered to the world
One national institution, two programmes: Vanuatu National Status — with its own non-citizen travel document — and a Digital Residency for the global digital economy. Built to international standards, decided only by the Government of Vanuatu, and earning durable non-tax revenue for the Republic. None of it confers citizenship.
Established by Council of Ministers Decision N°273 of 6 October 2025 · AML/CFT and ICAO standards written into the law · Every final decision rests with Government
Where would you like to start?
From Cabinet decision to Act of Parliament
This programme is not speculative. It was established by the Council of Ministers in Decision N°273 of 6 October 2025, which approved the programmes, the Bureau and the partnership to deliver them — and appointed a Task Force, under the Prime Minister’s authority, to implement it. It is also a deliberate course-correction: a pivot away from the contested “sale of passports” of the past toward a residency-first, high-integrity model that sells services — never citizenship.
About the BureauDecision N°273 — 6 October 2025
The Council of Ministers approves the digital-residency and national-status (non-citizen travel-document) programmes, the Vanuatu National Bureau, and the partnership to deliver them — and appoints the implementing Task Force.
Drafting Instructions — 2026
The COM-approved Task Force settles the Drafting Instructions for the Bill, working with the responsible Ministries and the State Law Office.
The VNB Bill 2026
A single framework Act — the institution, one common regulatory rulebook, and the programmes in Schedules — finalised with Parliamentary Counsel for presentation to Parliament.
Commencement
Upon passage, the Bureau is constituted and the programmes open in stages by Order in the Gazette. Applications are accepted only after commencement.
A new fiscal model for small island states
Across the world, thirty-nine small island developing states — Vanuatu among them — share the same arithmetic: small populations, narrow tax bases, cyclones, earthquakes and eruptions that can erase a year’s income in a night — and budgets that lean on tourism and aid. Taxing a small population harder cannot close that gap. Something else has to.
Vanuatu’s answer is to treat sovereignty itself as a productive national asset. A sovereign state can issue trusted statuses, identities and registrations the world will pay for — delivered digitally, to international standards, without selling citizenship and without taxing its own people. Estonia proved the concept in Europe; Palau tested it in the Pacific. The Vanuatu National Bureau is the first attempt at the complete, legislated model — and if it works here, it is a blueprint every small island state can study.
Non-tax revenue
Income the Republic earns by serving the world — not by taxing its own people. A third pillar beside VAT and duties.
Shock-resilient
Digital services are not cancelled when a cyclone closes the airport or an earthquake closes the port. This revenue works precisely when the rest cannot.
An exportable blueprint
Built in primary legislation, to international standards — a working model other small states can adapt, with Vanuatu as first mover.
Two programmes. One standard.
Each programme sells a trusted service to vetted non-citizens — a recognised legal status with its travel document, or a digital identity for doing business with Vanuatu online. Both run under the same statutory integrity framework, and neither confers citizenship.
Vanuatu National Status
A recognised legal status for vetted non-citizens, with rights and obligations defined in law — and an ICAO-standard Non-Citizen travel document of its own.
Vanuatu Digital Residency
A secure, government-issued digital identity and a permit to use defined Vanuatu e-services from anywhere in the world. The Estonia-style model, built for the Pacific.
Real money for the Republic, through a clear Treasury line
Vanuatu funds its budget largely from VAT, duties and fees, and leans heavily on tourism — an income exposed to cyclones and global shocks. The Bureau adds a lawful, non-tax revenue stream that does not depend on visitor numbers: statutory fees and national contributions paid into Government accounts through separate, traceable, audited channels, distinct from what the operator is paid to deliver the service. The Bureau reports to Parliament every year.
How the money is governedCapital that builds the nation
Beyond fees, each National Status applicant commits capital to Vanuatu by one of two routes: an at-risk investment in the independent National Development Fund — channelled into government bonds and approved strategic projects — or a non-returning Strategic Business Development contribution paid directly to investment-committee-approved local enterprises. Independently managed, regulated and audited; never linked to the grant of status.
Inside the Fund and the SBD routeStandards written into the law, not left to practice
A programme that issues identities and travel documents must be beyond reproach. The Bill builds the international rulebook into the statute itself.
AML · CFT · KYC in the statute
Anti-money-laundering, counter-terrorism-financing and know-your-customer due diligence apply across both programmes — with sanctions and source-of-funds screening and a defined good-character standard.
ICAO Doc 9303 documents
The Non-Citizen travel document follows the same machine-readable international standard used by passports worldwide — recognisable and verifiable at borders, yet distinct in law and on its face.
Data protection & cybersecurity
A common data-protection and confidentiality framework with lawful-disclosure rules, cybersecurity standards, independent audit and international cooperation.
Parliament keeps the final say — this year and every year
The substance of each programme lives in Schedules with the force of an Act: only Parliament can change what the programmes are. The Bureau publishes an annual report, submits to independent audit, and answers to a Board chaired by an appointee of the Prime Minister with the Office of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Internal Affairs represented. The technology partner builds and runs the platform — it never holds sovereign power, and its representatives are excluded from regulatory and individual-application decisions.
Governance & transparency in fullLocked to primary law
Programme substance can be changed only by an Act of Parliament — not by regulation or ministerial order.
Annual transparency
An annual report and independent audit give Parliament a yearly view of revenue, volumes and conduct.
Sovereign decisions only
Approve, refuse, suspend, revoke — every final decision is made by the Government, always.
A route back
Source-code custody, guaranteed Government access to data and systems, step-in and termination safeguards.
Latest from the programme
Handbook for Members of Parliament published
The Bill explained in plain language for every Member — programmes, safeguards, and the national-interest case.
Read moreDrafting of the Bill advances with Parliamentary Counsel
One framework Act: institution, rulebook and programmes — being finalised for presentation to Parliament.
Read moreTask Force settles Drafting Instructions
Governance, revenue model and integrity framework defined for legislation.
Read moreBe part of it from the start
Register your interest to be notified when the programmes open — or, for Members of Parliament, officials and institutional partners, request a briefing from the COM-approved Task Force.