The Vanuatu Government, through the Citizenship Commission, has suspended all new applications under the Capital Investment Immigration Plan (CIIP) until further notice.
This has been confirmed by the newly appointed Chairman of the Vanuatu Citizenship Commission (VCC), Charles Maniel.
CIIP is a Citizenship-by-Investment (CBI) programme that requires foreign investors to make a significant contribution to the local economy through approved capital investment projects, which in turn grants them citizenship.
Successful applicants will enjoy citizenship and passport benefits. Currently, new applications are now on hold due to the suspension.
The suspension only applies to CIIP and does not include the Vanuatu Development Support Programme (DSP) and the Vanuatu Contribution Programme (VCP).
VCC Chairman Maniel said that the suspension is necessary to address some gaps and strengthen the programme. He conveyed to the Daily Post that the office is working on a new regulation that is yet to be finalised.
Reviewing the CIIP Regulation is part of the government’s 100-day plan. Key activities include evaluating and amending the Citizenship Act and regulations related to the CIIP and the DSP.
Just last week, the government cancelled the passports of several Chinese nationals, claiming they had fraudulently obtained them. Following the cancellation, the government directed an investigation into agents facilitating citizenship applicants for criminals and unwanted individuals.
Agents aiding such applications will have their licences reviewed and revoked, and criminals bypassing due diligence will have their passports cancelled, according to the government.
The Head of the Government, Prime Minister Jotham Napat, has made it clear that Vanuatu will not harbour criminals or fugitives when directing the Citizenship Commission to cancel the Vanuatu passport issued to Indian national Lalit Modi following revelations in international media.
Vanuatu’s free-visa access has been suspended by the European Union (EU) due to risks posed by the investor citizenship schemes, and recently Vanuatu has appeared on a reported U.S travel ban list.
