Key facts
- EU suspended Vanuatu visa-free access: partially from 4 May 2022, fully from 4 February 2023
- Schengen visa requirement made permanent: 3 February 2025 (Regulation (EU) 2025/11)
- UK removed Vanuatu independently: 19 July 2023
- CIIP suspended for new applications by the Citizenship Commission: March 2025
What Happened: The Full Timeline
What This Means Practically
If you hold a Vanuatu CBI passport and want to travel to EU member states, you apply for a Schengen visa through the consulate of your destination country. This is a standard process available to most nationalities — it is not a prohibition on travel, simply a requirement for advance authorisation.
A single-entry Schengen visa costs €90 and takes 2–4 weeks to process. Multi-entry visas valid for up to 5 years are available to applicants with a consistent travel history.
Which Destinations Are Affected
- EU Schengen Area (29 states): Visa required for all Vanuatu passport holders
- United Kingdom: Standard Visitor Visa required
- Non-Schengen EU states (Cyprus, Ireland): Each has its own separate visa requirement — some are separate from the Schengen visa
All other destinations where Vanuatu previously had visa-free access remain unchanged. The suspension applied specifically to the EU Schengen arrangement — about 88 other destinations still provide visa-free or visa-on-arrival access.
Which CBI Programmes Still Have Schengen Access
The following Caribbean programmes retain EU Schengen visa-free access (and, except Dominica, UK visa-free access) as of 2026:
- Grenada — Schengen + UK + US E-2 treaty
- St Kitts & Nevis — Schengen + UK, oldest programme
- Antigua & Barbuda — Schengen + UK, family-friendly
- St Lucia — Schengen + UK, lowest Caribbean cost
- Dominica — Schengen only (UK visa required since 19 July 2023)
If EU Schengen or UK visa-free access is your primary objective in obtaining a second passport, a Caribbean programme is now the more appropriate choice. See the full comparison hub.
Should This Change Your Decision on Vanuatu?
It depends entirely on your objectives. Vanuatu retains significant advantages: one of the faster processing times (usually 2–4 months) among major CBI programmes, strong Asia-Pacific access, and a transparent contribution schedule. For applicants from Russia, certain CIS states, or other heavily restricted passports, Vanuatu still provides a substantial mobility upgrade — even without Schengen.
For applicants whose primary travel corridor is Europe or the UK, however, the calculus has clearly shifted toward Caribbean alternatives. A free consultation with our lawyers will map your specific travel needs against the available options.
Not Sure Which Programme Fits Your Travel Needs?
Free consultation — we compare Vanuatu vs Caribbean against your actual travel destinations.
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