The Vanuatu government has announced the temporary suspension of the Capital Investment Immigration Plan (CIIP) as part of a broader regulatory overhaul of its citizenship by investment framework. The suspension, enacted by Cabinet Decision on March 17, 2025, affects all CIIP pathways including the CNO Future Fund, cocoa, and coconut oil investment options.
Importantly, other citizenship pathways remain fully operational. The Development Support Program (DSP), Vanuatu Contribution Program (VCP), and Real Estate Option (REO) continue to accept and process applications without interruption.
Why the Suspension?
The temporary suspension appears to be part of Vanuatu’s ongoing efforts to strengthen program governance and align with international compliance standards. Rather than indicating problems with the CIIP, the suspension is better understood as a proactive regulatory refinement — the government is taking time to update procedures, documentation requirements, and oversight mechanisms before reopening the program with enhanced safeguards.
This pattern is consistent with Vanuatu’s approach since 2023, when it began a comprehensive reform of its citizenship programs in response to international scrutiny. Each major reform has been followed by a stronger, more credible program.
What This Means for Applicants
For applicants who were planning to apply through the CIIP-CNO pathway, the suspension means a temporary pause. Current estimates suggest the program will reopen within two to three months following the completion of the regulatory updates.
For applicants who prefer the DSP pathway — which remains the most popular and fastest option — there is no impact. The DSP continues to offer citizenship processing in 30 to 45 days at a contribution of $130,000 for single applicants.
“We view this temporary suspension as a positive signal. Vanuatu is demonstrating that it takes program governance seriously enough to pause operations, make improvements, and relaunch with better safeguards. This is exactly the kind of behavior that builds long-term program credibility. For clients currently considering Vanuatu citizenship, the DSP pathway remains fully available and is unaffected by this change. We’re advising clients who were interested in the CIIP to either proceed with the DSP or wait for the CIIP reopening, depending on their timeline and preferences.”
— Manpreet Kataria, CEO, Alpha Immigration Associates
Need guidance on which pathway is right for you? Contact our advisory team for personalized recommendations.