Vanuatu is an archipelago in the south-west Pacific Ocean with a citizenship programme for foreign investors. The applicant obtains Vanuatu citizenship for themselves and their family through a financial contribution to the government programme, after a background review. The decision rests only with the authorities of Vanuatu.
In this guide we explain the application process with Royal Golden, based on our services contract and our published questions and answers. We give the travel position based on official sources of the European Union and the UK Government.
Who decides
- The Vanuatu Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) reviews the application.
- After the FIU's review, the authorities of Vanuatu decide on citizenship.
- Royal Golden prepares the application, delivers it to the competent authorities through authorised channels and is in contact with the authorities about it.
The steps
- Signing the services contract and paying the deposit
- Collecting and checking the documents
- Delivering the application to the authorities
- Review by the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU)
- The FIU's decision and our notice to you
- The second payment
- Further review and the decision on citizenship
- Issue and delivery of the citizenship documents: the Vanuatu passport, the national identity card and the citizenship certificate
The customer portal shows each step.
Timing
Our contract sets a term of 110 days, from the day of signing to the delivery of the Vanuatu passport. This term covers every step, and the portal shows the days left. The term is our commitment for our own services. The authorities of Vanuatu decide independently and set their own review time.
The price and what it includes
- The contract amount depends on the persons in the application and follows our price table. The table is on the "Programmes" page and in the cost calculator. All amounts are in US dollars.
- The amount is fixed at signing, and a later change of the price table does not change a signed contract.
- The contract amount covers every agreed cost of the application: official government fees, review and eligibility checks, our services and follow-up, translation, certification, notarisation and legalisation, medical examinations, postage, the passport, the national identity card and the citizenship certificate.
Payment
- 40 per cent of the contract amount at signing.
- 60 per cent only after the FIU's approval. You have at least 40 calendar days from the date of our notice.
- Payment is in tether (USDT) on the TRON network (TRC-20), at the contractual rate of one US dollar to one tether, and only to the address shown in your own payment request in the portal. We never ask for payment to an address sent any other way.
If the application is refused
If the FIU or another competent authority of Vanuatu officially refuses the application, including a final refusal of citizenship, everything received for that application is refunded, without any deduction, within 72 hours of receiving the official notice. A tether payment is refunded in the same amount of tether, and we pay the network fee.
Withdrawal
You may withdraw at any time with a written statement in the portal or by e-mail to info@royalgoldinvest.com. After a voluntary withdrawal, the amounts paid are not refunded, subject to the rights mandatory law gives you. This rule never affects the full refund after an official refusal.
The family
Our price table covers a single applicant and a married couple, with or without children and up to three children. For any other composition, the persons' eligibility is reviewed first and the price is set in a separate written amendment, which you read and sign.
Travelling on a Vanuatu passport
- Since Regulation (EU) 2025/11 of 19 December 2024, Vanuatu passport holders need a visa for the Schengen area.
- Since 19 July 2023 a visa is also needed for the United Kingdom. Ireland also requires a visa.
- This passport gives access to many countries visa-free, with a visa on arrival or with an e-visa. See the details in the article "Travelling on a Vanuatu passport".
If visa-free travel to Europe is your main goal, take this position into account before deciding.
Sources
- Royal Golden's services contract for Vanuatu and the questions and answers published in the site's "FAQ" section (checked on 24 October 2026)
- Regulation (EU) 2025/11 of 19 December 2024 — https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2025/11/oj/eng (checked on 24 October 2026)
- Council of the European Union, "Vanuatu: Council ends visa exemption" (12 December 2024) — https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2024/12/12/vanuatu-council-ends-visa-exemption/ (checked on 24 October 2026)
- UK Government, visa requirement for Vanuatu nationals (19 July 2023) — https://www.gov.uk/government/news/visa-requirement-for-ni-vanuatu-nationals-visiting-uk (checked on 18 October 2026)