VanuatuResidence permit

Residence visa in Vanuatu

The residence visa is intended for foreign nationals who wish to live in Vanuatu for more than twelve months. The programme provides for several grounds: spouse or de facto partner of a citizen, dependent child, employee with a contract of a year or more, self-funded resident with confirmed income, and foreign investor with a certificate. The visa is issued for the chosen term and may be renewed as long as the conditions on which it was obtained are maintained. The tax base is favourable, with no taxes on personal income, capital gains or inheritance.

Visa term

The visa is issued for 1 year, 3 years, 5 or 10 years.

Processing time

21 working days from the filing of the complete set.

Source: Department of Immigration and Passport Services Vanuatu — Residence Visa

Routes to a residence visa

The programme offers several independent grounds on which a foreign national may apply for a residence visa. Each route has its own requirements as to income, investment or family situation.

By family situation

Spouse or de facto partner of a citizen of Vanuatu
Dependent child of a citizen of Vanuatu under 21
Widow or widower after the death of a spouse, where the marriage lasted 5+ years

By employment and investment

Employment contract with a Vanuatu company for 12 months or more
Foreign investor with VIPA approval and a business licence
Owner of a leased plot of land worth 10 million vatu or more

On your own means

Self-funded resident with a monthly income from 250,000 vatu
A self-funded resident with a partner needs 500,000 vatu a month
Legacy retirees from before 7 February 2011: from 150,000 vatu a month

When the programme will not suit you

You need to travel to Vanuatu for short-term tourism (up to 3 months)

Approach a Vanuatu consulate for a tourist visa or a visitor visa

You plan to work under an employment contract of less than a year

Use a work visa for a short period or a visitor visa

You plan to invest in real estate as a financial asset without a business

Consider the real estate investment programme or other government programmes

Your monthly income is less than 150,000 vatu and you do not fit any other ground

Build up the required income or consider other ways of moving to Vanuatu

What it costs

Fee for a 1-year residence visa (adult)	57 600 VUV
Fee for a 10-year residence visa (adult)	511 200 VUV
Visa fee for a child under 18	+2 880 VUV
Annual visa maintenance fee on renewal	+20 000 VUV
Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table. “Visa fee for a child under 18” adds 2 880 VUV; “Annual visa maintenance fee on renewal” adds 20 000 VUV. Charges with no official price list are in the list below.	568,800–591 680 VUV

Paid separately

Consular services of immigration agencies — Fees for third-party help with preparing documents or for advice are not included in the government fee
Cost of the criminal-record certificate and other certificates — Documents confirming facts (criminal-record certificates, bank references) are issued by the relevant bodies, usually for a separate charge

Documents to gather

An applicant aged 18 and over must provide documents which together show their photograph, signature, current address, date of birth, name at birth and every change of name.

Valid passport (original and copy)
At least three identity documents (which together must show all the required details)
Criminal-record certificate (original, issued no earlier than the past three months)
Two passport-size photographs (4x6 cm) with the name printed on the back
Completed residence visa application form
Proof of income confirmed by a Vanuatu bank (for self-funded residents)
Marriage or de facto relationship certificate (for partners)
Birth certificate of the dependent child (for those with children in their care)
Employment letter from the employer (for employees under contract)

How the process runs

Applying for a residence visa involves several consecutive stages of checking and approval.

1
Preparing and collecting the documents
1-2 weeks
Collect all the required documents for the ground you have chosen. Make sure the copies are properly certified and the photographs signed and labelled.
2
Filing the application with the immigration office
1 day
File the complete set of documents with Vanuatu's Department of Immigration and Passport Services in person, by post or through an authorised representative. Make sure every document is present and correctly drawn up.
3
Document checks and requests for information
5-7 working days
The immigration office will check that the documentation provided is complete and accurate. It may request further details or clarifications if needed.
4
Consideration of the application
14-16 working days
The department analyses the application in detail, checks that it meets the requirements of the chosen ground and verifies the funds and the criminal-record certificates.
5
Decision and notification
2-3 working days
Once the checks are complete, the Department of Immigration notifies the applicant of the decision. An approved visa is issued as a sticker in the passport or document.
6
Receiving the visa
1 day
The applicant receives the visa and can begin the process of moving to Vanuatu. Check that all the details and the visa's validity dates are correctly stated in the passport.

Who you can bring with you

The rules on including family members in the application differ depending on the ground chosen.

Spouse or de facto partner

May be included in the application on production of proof of the marriage or de facto relationship. For partners the required monthly income rises: a self-funded resident with a partner needs 500,000 vatu instead of 250,000.

Dependent child under 18

May be included in an application as a partner, employee, investor or landowner. Cannot be included in an application as a self-funded resident. A separate fee of 2,880 vatu is charged for each child.

Child aged 18-21

May be included only if they remain financially dependent and unmarried. Documentary proof of dependence (financial, psychological or physical) is required.

Renewal and the grace period

A residence visa may be renewed provided the applicant continues to meet the requirements of the chosen ground. The renewal procedure requires the application to be filed at least a month before the current visa expires. Renewal requires updated documents confirming continued compliance with the criteria (for example proof of current income for self-funded residents or a letter from the employer for employees). Renewing the visa for the following year attracts a maintenance fee of roughly 20,000 vatu. The applicant must complete the renewal form and attach all the required documents. Consideration of the renewed application may take several weeks.

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

A permanent residence visa is applied for by ni-Vanuatu by descent and by those who have lived in Vanuatu for at least 12 months.

Frequently asked questions about Residence visa

What minimum monthly income is required for a residence visa on your own means?

A single person needs a confirmed monthly income of 250,000 vatu deposited into a bank account in Vanuatu. If the applicant includes a spouse or de facto partner, the required income rises to 500,000 vatu a month.

How long does it take to process a residence visa application?

Processing a residence visa application takes roughly 21 working days from the filing of the complete set of documents. The actual time may vary depending on how complete the documents are and whether further information has to be requested.

Can a retiree who held a permit before 7 February 2011 obtain a residence visa on a lower income?

Yes, if you held a residence permit as a self-funded retiree before 7 February 2011 you qualify for lower income requirements: 150,000 vatu a month for a single person or 300,000 vatu for a couple, instead of the current standard 250,000 and 500,000 vatu respectively.

Which family members can be included in a residence visa application?

A spouse or de facto partner may be included in an application on any ground. Dependent children (under 18, or up to 21 where dependent) may be included in an application as a partner, employee, investor or landowner. Children cannot, however, be included in an application as a self-funded resident.

Other ways to move to Vanuatu

Employment VisaEmployment

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: 7 August 2026.