Vanuatu and Nauru Pacific citizenship programmes in 2026

The South Pacific hosts two citizenship by investment programmes with very different histories. Vanuatu has operated investor citizenship schemes for many years and became the first country to lose visa-free access to the Schengen area because of them. Nauru launched its Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Program in 2025, presenting it as a source of funding for climate adaptation. As of October 2026 the two offer a useful contrast for families assessing smaller, faster programmes.

Both are compared with the Eastern Caribbean programmes in our overview of Caribbean citizenship by investment and the EU deadline, and the background checks involved are explained in our article on citizenship due diligence.

Nauru’s programme and its costs

The Government of the Republic of Naoero channels contributions to the Naoero Treasury Fund, which it says supports infrastructure, economic diversification and climate resilience. To mark the programme’s first anniversary, it introduced a US$25,000 discount from 3 February 2026 for applications filed before 31 December 2026. The official schedule lists:

• a contribution of US$90,000 for a principal applicant under the limited-time offer;
• US$2,000 for each additional dependant aged 16 and above, and US$15,000 for each sibling of the principal applicant or spouse;
• an application fee of US$5,000 for the principal applicant and US$2,000 per eligible dependant;
• due diligence fees of US$6,000 for the principal applicant and US$3,000 for each dependant aged 16 or above;
• bank due diligence and transaction charges from US$1,200, and a passport fee of US$500 per passport.

Processing is stated as typically three to four months from submission to approval. Applications are filed through approved agents.

For a structured overview of the route, our Nauru citizenship page sets out each stage of the application.

Vanuatu and the EU visa suspension

On 12 December 2024 the Council of the European Union adopted a decision fully suspending the visa waiver agreement with Vanuatu. The Council cited concerns over the security risks and the standard of applicant vetting in the country’s investor citizenship schemes. Vanuatu nationals now need a visa for short stays in the Schengen area.

Vanuatu has said it is reforming its programmes, but the suspension remains in place as of October 2026. Pricing varies with the programme and agent arrangement, so applicants should obtain current official figures before proceeding. Our Vanuatu citizenship page outlines the general process.

What these passports are used for

Because neither passport currently offers visa-free entry to the Schengen area, the Pacific programmes appeal to a narrower set of objectives.

• A contingency nationality that can be obtained quickly and without relocating.
• Diversification of travel documents for business travellers in Asia and the Pacific.
• Family coverage at a relatively modest cost compared with Caribbean or European options.

Travel access changes over time, and applicants should check the current visa requirements of the specific countries they visit most rather than relying on headline counts.

Families planning to include children or parents can read our guide to family members in citizenship programmes.

Questions to settle before applying

Smaller programmes can move quickly, which makes preparation more important rather than less. Before filing, families usually confirm the following.

• Whether their current country of nationality permits dual citizenship, since some countries restrict or remove nationality on naturalisation elsewhere.
• How the new nationality will be treated by the banks and tax authorities they deal with, including under international reporting standards.
• Which family members are eligible as dependants and how age thresholds affect fees.
• Whether the source of funds can be documented clearly, as due diligence will examine it in detail.

How they compare with other routes

The Caribbean programmes start from a regional floor of US$200,000 but are themselves the subject of a European Commission request to phase out by 1 June 2028. European residence routes such as Cyprus permanent residence involve higher capital commitments but provide a right to live in an EU member state. Each option answers a different question, and the right choice depends on whether the priority is residence, travel or contingency planning.

The lowest published Caribbean entry point is set out in our guide to Dominica citizenship costs.

If you would like to talk through how these rules might apply to your own circumstances, our team would be glad to help. You can call +357 979 42 388 or write to us through our contact page.

Sources

• Naoero Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Program, Contribution and fees, as of October 2026.
• Council of the European Union, Vanuatu: Council ends visa exemption, 12 December 2024.

This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal, tax or investment advice. Figures are stated as of 2026 and may change; confirm current requirements with the relevant authority and an independent adviser before acting. AT Express is a private consultancy and is not affiliated with any government or official programme.

Featured image: “Port Vila Harbour, Vanuatu from Chantilly Hotel, 13 April 2008 (2411564950)” by Phillip Capper from Wellington, New Zealand, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.