Integrity & compliance
A programme that issues identities and travel documents must be beyond reproach. The Bill builds international standards into the law itself — not into administrative practice that can quietly change.
One common rulebook, across every programme
Part 3 of the Bill applies a single regulatory framework to both programmes — the standards international reviewers expect, with the force of an Act:
Anti-money-laundering (AML)
Statutory AML obligations apply to every application and every programme — pooled foreign money raises the bar, and meeting it visibly is an asset.
Counter-terrorism financing (CFT)
CFT screening is a common regulatory requirement across the framework, aligned to international standards.
Know-your-customer (KYC)
Identity verification and due diligence on every applicant before anything is issued — no exceptions.
Sanctions & source-of-funds
Applications are screened against sanctions lists, with source-of-funds checks where applicable and a defined good-character standard.
Data protection & cybersecurity
A common data-protection and confidentiality framework, lawful-disclosure rules, and cybersecurity and record-keeping standards.
Audit & international cooperation
Independent financial audit, transparent annual reporting, and statutory provision for cooperation with international bodies.
Every application, the same discipline
Lodgement
Application received by the Bureau in the prescribed form, with identity documents and fees.
Identity verification
Documents and biometrics verified; the person is who they say they are.
Independent screening
Sanctions, politically-exposed-person and adverse-media screening to international standards.
Source of funds
Where applicable, the money’s origin is verified — on both qualifying routes.
Government decision
The Bureau — and only the Bureau — grants or refuses. Partner representatives are excluded from these decisions.
Ongoing integrity
Registers maintained, conduct monitored, and suspension or revocation applied where grounds arise — with review rights.
Vanuatu has learned from earlier programmes that drew international criticism. This Bill responds directly: it keeps citizenship entirely separate; it writes financial-integrity checks into primary law; it adopts recognised international standards — ICAO Doc 9303 for documents among them; and it makes the Bureau report publicly each year. The design goal is a programme that strengthens Vanuatu’s standing with partners, rather than risking it.
Beware of fraud
No fees are payable to anyone before the Act commences and official fee regulations are published. The Bureau does not operate through unsolicited offers, social-media agents or “guaranteed approval” intermediaries. If in doubt, verify through the contact page before paying anyone anything.
Integrity is the product
The worth of every status and every document issued under this Act depends on the discipline behind it. That discipline is in the statute — where only Parliament can change it.