Recent Policy & Legal Developments

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In early 2025, Vanuatu suspended its Capital Investment Immigration Plan (CIIP) on March 17, citing regulatory review amid concerns over due diligence and passport issuance transparency. However, by May 2025, the scheme was reinstated with tighter oversight, higher investment thresholds, and stricter financial controls, including the requirement that all payments be made directly into the state treasury. The newly amended CIIP, governed by Order 95 of 2025, introduced multiple investment pathways, including the Development Support Program (DSP), Real Estate Option (REO), and the relaunch of the CNO Future Fund—a government-backed sustainable agriculture initiative.

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Furthermore, the Passport Amendment Act 2025 modernizes issuance procedures, clarifying that CBI passports cannot grant diplomatic status, addressing global integrity concerns. These reforms aim to restore visa-free trust, particularly with the EU and UK, following earlier suspension of Schengen access, and align Vanuatu's CBI with international standards.

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