PORT VILA, VANUATU — The Vanuatu Citizenship Office and Commission hereby make this statement following recent Daily Post Issue NO. 7209 on Saturday 08, 2025 and also went viral on social media on the matter of the issuance of Vanuatu Diplomatic Passports that marketed overseas.
The Citizenship Office and Commission makes it clear that its institution is a Constitutional body and is governed by its own legislation namely the Citizenship Act [CAP1121 as amended. As provided in the Act, the Citizenship by Investment Programs is regulated by its own owned regulations. Thus, the Citizenship office and Commission by law is responsible for the processing of citizenship applications and issuance of Vanuatu Citizenship Certificates. As provided by the Act, the Vanuatu Citizenship Certificates are legally approved and issued by the Vanuatu Citizenship Commission.
Furthermore according to the Citizenship Act and Regulations there is no provision provided that the Citizenship Office and Commission is responsible to issue certain types of Vanuatu passports. Therefore Citizenship Office and Commission by law is not responsible for issuing any of the passports types.
However as part of the process, for the issuance of Vanuatu green Passports is process, approved and issued by the office of the Immigration and Passport Services under the Ministry of Internal Affairs following their relevant legislation and regulations. Other types of Vanuatu Passports such as Diplomatic Passports is processed, approved and delivered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs following its relevant legislation and regulations. As such, the Citizenship Office and Commission clarify that any more future matters regarding approval and issuance of different types Vanuatu Passports is to be directed to the respective ministries such as the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Vanuatu.
Wherefore, this press release is issued to correct and clarify misleading information that has been published by the Daily Post and has been circulating on social media over the weekend. We urge the public to rely on official sources for accurate information regarding citizenship passport matters.
For more information, please contact:
Max Philemon Acting Secretary Gen Citizenship Office and Commission