Vanuatu National Status
A recognised legal status granted to vetted non-citizens — with clearly defined rights and obligations set out in the law, and an ICAO-standard travel document of its own. It is not citizenship, and the law says so expressly.
A defined status, not a nationality
Vanuatu National Status is a lawful status created by Schedule 1 of the Bill. A successful applicant — vetted against the full statutory integrity framework — receives a Certificate of Vanuatu National Status, an identity document, and the programme’s Non-Citizen travel document.
What it is not: it is not citizenship, confers no nationality, no vote, and no political rights. Custom land remains beyond its reach. The status exists alongside — never inside — the citizenship of the Ni-Vanuatu people.
In brief
- Granted only by the Bureau — the Government — after full screening
- Defined rights and obligations, set out in the law
- Renewable administratively, subject to continued compliance
- Revocable for fraud, misrepresentation or character grounds
Rights — and hard limits
What a Status Holder receives
- A Certificate of Vanuatu National Status and identity card
- The ICAO-compliant Non-Citizen travel document
- Access to defined services and dealings with the Republic
- Sponsorship of qualifying dependants under the Schedule
- Entry in the National Register, with verifiable standing
What it can never include
- Citizenship or nationality of the Republic of Vanuatu
- The right to vote or to hold political office
- Ownership of custom land
- Automatic right of abode or settlement in Vanuatu
- Any step or preference toward citizenship
Two routes — invest, or contribute
To qualify, an applicant makes a substantial financial commitment to Vanuatu by one of two routes, and on either route also pays a national contribution that goes straight to the Treasury. Amounts are set by regulation; the figures shown are indicative.
The National Development Fund
- An at-risk investment into an independent, regulated Fund — pooled and put to work for the nation
- Deployed into government bonds and approved strategic projects: infrastructure, urban renewal, disaster recovery and resilience
- Redeemed after a fixed lock-up period — the value may rise or fall; it is not capital-protected
- Managed under a fixed mandate by an independent investment committee
At-risk means exactly that: the investor shares the risk of the portfolio. The State does not guarantee repayment — which is precisely why the Fund adds no fixed debt to the national budget.
Strategic Business Development (SBD)
- A non-returning contribution paid directly to local priority enterprises
- Recipients approved by the same independent investment committee, on published criteria
- Directed to where the country most needs growth — agriculture, fisheries, tourism, manufacturing and services
- Externally audited, with public disclosure
Nothing is returned to the applicant: the SBD is a contribution to the local economy, not an investment — and it earns no rights beyond eligibility for status.
From application to register
Application
Lodged with the Bureau in the prescribed form, with identity documents and the applicable fees.
Due diligence
AML/CFT and KYC checks, sanctions and source-of-funds screening, and the good-character standard — on every applicant, on both routes.
Decision by the Bureau
Grant or refusal is decided by the Government — always. The operator never holds this power.
Grant & documents
Certificate, identity document and the Non-Citizen travel document are issued; the holder is entered in the National Register.
Renewal & compliance
Administrative renewal subject to continued compliance; records maintained under the data-protection framework.
Suspension & revocation
Status can be suspended or revoked for fraud, false documents, sanctions exposure or character grounds — with review and appeal rights under the Act.
When do applications open?
Upon commencement of the Act, in stages set by Order in the Gazette. Register your interest and we will notify you when the programme opens.