Vanuatu permanent residence
Permanent residence in Vanuatu is an official long-term residence status which the state grants on two different grounds: to people of ni-Vanuatu descent or those who have lived in the country for the prescribed period, and to serious foreign investors prepared to put substantial funds into the archipelago's economy. The authority openly acknowledges that the cost of the investor route is not fixed and is discussed case by case, and it has repeatedly warned about forged status documents and unauthorised intermediaries.
Source: immigration.gov.vu — Vanuatu Department of Immigration, Permanent Resident VISA
Who can obtain it
By descent or residence
- People of ni-Vanuatu origin or their descendants
- Foreign nationals who have lawfully lived in Vanuatu for the last 12 months before filing the application
- Applicants ready to undergo identity checks and to confirm law-abiding conduct abroad
Through investment
- Serious foreign investors prepared to put substantial funds into Vanuatu's economy
- Applicants who approach the Department of Immigration directly or through an officially accredited agent for their region
- Investors who have passed the immigration service's probity checks
What it costs
| Fee for a residence visa for 1 year — in practice the first step towards permanent resident status on the residence ground | 57,600 VUV |
|---|---|
| Fee for a residence visa for the maximum term — 10 years, which matches the term of the permit under the permanent residence programme | +511,200 VUV |
| Minimum value of leased property for the “leasehold owner” option | +10,000,000 VUV |
| Minimum confirmed monthly income for the “self-funded resident” option | +250,000 VUV |
Documents to gather
The set of documents is checked by the Department of Immigration itself: an incomplete set is grounds for refusal without consideration on the merits.
- Completed permanent residence application form stating the visa subclass applied for
- Valid passport and a certified copy of it
- At least three documents which together confirm identity: photograph, signature, current address, date and place of birth, and any change of name
- Details of both parents and information about their residence in Vanuatu — to confirm ni-Vanuatu descent on the residence ground
- Criminal-record certificate from every country where the applicant has spent 90 days or more since obtaining their current Vanuatu visa
- Recent medical certificate
- Identity declaration — attestation of the applicant's identity by a third party who has known them for a long time; the applicant does not sign this part themselves
- For the investor subclass — documents on the origin and size of the investment, filed directly with the Department of Immigration or through an officially accredited agent
- Receipt for payment of the government fee
How the process runs
The route to permanent residence in Vanuatu runs through one of two visa subclasses and requires official confirmation at every stage.
- 1
Identify the appropriate subclass
Establish whether the applicant falls under the descent and residence ground or under the investor ground.
- 2
Build up the right of residence, where applicable
12 monthsObtain a residence visa on one of the grounds — partner, child, work, self-funded income, foreign investor or leasehold owner — and live in the country for the prescribed period.
- 3
Check the agent's authority
For the investor route, approach the Department of Immigration directly or use only an officially accredited agent for your region: the authority has publicly warned about forged permanent resident cards and about companies with no contract with the state.
- 4
Collect the documents
Prepare identity documents, criminal-record certificate, medical certificate, identity declaration from a third party and, for the investor route, proof of the origin and size of the investment.
- 5
File the application and pay the fee
Deliver the complete set of documents to the Department of Immigration and Passport Services in Port Vila in person or by post together with payment of the government fee.
- 6
Undergo the department's checks
The department checks the authenticity of the documents, the applicant's probity and compliance with the criteria of the chosen subclass.
- 7
Receive the decision
If approved, the applicant is granted permanent resident status with the right of visa-free entry, residence with no time limit provided the permit is renewed, and the right to do business after registering with the relevant authority.
Who you can bring with you
The application may be filed together with close relatives, but the composition of the family and the rules differ depending on the ground.
The applicant's children under 17 for whom they are responsible
Unmarried children aged 18 to 20
Spouse or de facto partner
The applicant's parents
Trips, renewal and the grace period
Residence in the country for the term of the permit (to be checked)
Permanent resident status is granted in the form of a residence permit for 10 years and must be renewed to keep the status. There is no separate simplified procedure for changing status to permanent residence while in Vanuatu — all the conditions of the relevant ground must be met in advance, before the application is filed.
What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship
Route to permanent residence
Possible through continued residence
Route to citizenship
Does not give a passport or the CBI advantages directly
Frequently asked questions about Vanuatu permanent residence
Can you change status to permanent resident while in Vanuatu on another visa?
For how long is permanent resident status granted and does it have to be renewed?
Who can obtain the status without a large investment?
Does the authority publish an exact investment amount for the investor subclass?
How can you check that an agent offering to arrange the status is acting officially?
Have there been cases of fraud with Vanuatu permanent resident documents?
What rights does permanent resident status give?
Other ways to move to Vanuatu
Every route in one list — migration programmes: Vanuatu.
The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 18 August 2026.