Vanuatu
Passport Value Index

Vanuatu Passport Access in 2026

Vanuatu’s Citizenship by Investment Program leads to a passport providing access to 135 of the world’s 227 destinations. That’s 59.5% of all worldwide destinations. This represents access to 14.2% of global GDP and 26.8% of the world’s most visited travel destinations, based on international visitor arrivals.

Countries & Territories Breakdown

Vanuatu passport holders can access a high percentage of the world. This access breaks down into four main categories.

• 60 destinations fully visa-free
• 31 with visa on arrival
• 3 with a simple electronic travel authorization (eTA)
• 41 with an eVisa – straightforward online access that most passport indices ignore.

That leaves 92 destinations in the world that require a traditional visa application – the slow route of sending your passport away, booking appointments, or queuing at an embassy or visa center.

But counting destinations doesn’t give the full picture.

Why Visa-Free Counts Don’t Tell the Whole Story

For years, passport rankings have focused almost entirely on one metric: the number of destinations accessible without a visa.

At La Vida, we believe this only tells part of the story. Visa-free access to a small, underdeveloped island doesn’t offer the same practical value as access to major economies, financial centers and the world’s busiest travel destinations.

Most passport indices treat every destination equally. Whether it’s access to France, Australia or a tiny Pacific island, each counts as one point. In reality, the destinations a passport unlocks vary enormously in terms of business opportunities, travel demand and economic importance.

La Vida Measures Passport Value Differently

That’s why we developed the La Vida Passport Value Index. Our passport comparison tool is built for one purpose: helping people decide whether a second citizenship is worth the investment, and which program delivers the most value for their situation. Rather than simply counting destinations, our methodology weights each one according to:

• Its share of global GDP (World Bank)
• Its share of international visitor arrivals (UN World Tourism Organisation)

On that basis, a Vanuatu passport provides access to:

• $14.9 trillion of global GDP (14.2% of the world economy)
• 379.8 million international visitor arrivals (26.8% of worldwide travel)

In other words, the value of a Vanuatu passport lies not only in the number of destinations it reaches, but in the significance of those destinations.

(You can read exactly how we calculate these figures in our Passport Value Data and Methodology.)

Travel Value – Top Destinations by Visitors

A Vanuatu passport reaches several of the world’s most popular travel destinations, including Hong Kong, Macao, Thailand and Malaysia. Each bar shows that country’s share of worldwide international arrivals.

What this means

A Vanuatu passport provides access to destinations that account for just over a quarter of international leisure and business trips made worldwide.

Business Value – Top Destinations by GDP

Some of the largest economies by GDP that a Vanuatu passport grants access to are India, Russia, Thailand, Israel and the UAE. Each bar shows that country’s share of global GDP.

What this means

A Vanuatu passport reaches destinations responsible for just over 14% of global economic output, providing access to a number of significant regional economies, including India and Russia.

La Vida’s Expert Insight

Vanuatu isn’t the most powerful passport in the citizenship by investment market, and this report’s own figures reflect that honestly: 14.2% of global GDP and 26.8% of world travel access is meaningfully lower than the Caribbean programs. What Vanuatu offers instead is price and speed. At $130,000, it’s one of the more cost-effective citizenship by investment programs available, with processing among the fastest anywhere. For investors whose priority is a straightforward Plan B or broader travel options beyond a lower-ranked passport – rather than maximum weighted access – that combination is the appeal.

Investors seeking stronger weighted access, particularly to Europe and China, are generally better served by the Caribbean programs such as Grenada or Antigua, though these come at a higher investment outlay. The right choice depends on what the passport actually needs to achieve, not which option ranks highest on paper.

Why Passport Access Matters

A stronger passport can provide far more than easier travel. Depending on your objectives, improved international mobility may support:

• International business connection
• Family relocation planning
• Education opportunities
• Cross-border banking
• Property investment overseas
• Lifestyle flexibility
• Long-term geopolitical diversification
• Global tax efficiency

Discover How Vanuatu Compares With Your Current Passport

When choosing a citizenship by investment program, the fit between a second passport and your existing one is often overlooked. Your current passport already has its own visa access list – anything a second passport adds should complement those destinations. Doubling up on the same access offers no real benefit.

See what a Vanuatu passport would actually add for you. Our free Passport Value Report tool compares your current passport with Vanuatu’s (or any of the programs we offer) and shows the additional GDP access, travel access and destinations a second citizenship would bring – personalized to your passport, not a generic ranking. La Vida is the only consultancy offering this level of analysis, and the report is free.

Vanuatu Citizenship by Investment

Vanuatu is an archipelago nation located in the South Pacific, and its Citizenship by Investment program is currently the only one available in the Asia-Pacific region. Citizenship is available through a contribution to a national development fund starting at $130,000 plus fees. Processing is among the fastest of any citizenship by investment program, typically completed within 30 to 60 days, with no requirement to visit Vanuatu at any stage. Citizenship extends to a spouse and dependent children, and is hereditary, passing to future descendants.

La Vida offers over 18 residency and citizenship programs worldwide. We analyze not just visa-free travel, but the full picture – family eligibility, timescales, costs and long-term benefits – to identify the program that best fits your needs.

Read the full details of Vanuatu’s Citizenship by Investment Program, or register with us to receive your free report and speak to an advisor.

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