The Parliament of Vanuatu approved the Bill on Amendments to the Citizenship Act (No. 2025). This step demonstrates the government’s serious intention to strengthen the program’s reputation and increase its transparency. The changes directly affect the process of obtaining citizenship through investment. For investors, this means stricter checks but also an increase in the value of the passport in the long term.
Strengthening the Due Diligence Procedure: A New Selection Standard
The key task of the reform was to protect the integrity of the program and its reputation on the international stage. The government of Vanuatu is implementing stricter filtering mechanisms to completely exclude dubious candidates from entering the program. Now, individuals with a criminal record or those on an international wanted list through Interpol will not be eligible to apply for a passport. This decisive step increases trust in the program from other states and financial institutions.
What do the amendments mean for investors?
The adopted bill does not simply introduce new prohibitions. It restructures the management of the program, making it more independent from political influence and understandable for all participants. These are the most relevant news about Vanuatu’s citizenship program today. Investors considering Vanuatu’s citizenship by investment program in 2025 should take into account the following key innovations:
- Enhancing the independence of the Commission: Mechanisms are being created to protect the decision-making process from external pressure, ensuring the stability and predictability of rules;
- Enhanced Due Diligence: Implementation of multi-level security checks, including mandatory requests to Interpol, for all applicants;
- Strengthening reputation: These measures directly address the concerns of international partners, which in the future may contribute to the restoration of visa-free travel with key countries.
Impact on cost and procedure in 2025
Although the official cost of the Vanuatu citizenship by investment program for 2025 has not yet undergone direct changes due to this law, the strengthening of due diligence procedures may affect the overall processing time. Investors should prepare for more thorough checks. Our law firm is an official partner of Stanford Knight & Partners — one of the world’s accredited agents for citizenship by investment programs.
News about Vanuatu citizenship by investment
The reforms of 2025 clearly show that Vanuatu is choosing the path of quality and long-term sustainability rather than short-term benefits. For investors who value reputation and the long-term value of their assets, this approach makes the Vanuatu passport even more attractive. We continue to monitor all legislative changes to provide our clients with the most up-to-date and accurate legal support.
