The 206 new naturalised citizens of Vanuatu will enjoy the same privileges as indigenous ni-Vanuatu. Photo: Ministry of the Prime Minister - Vanuatu
The Vanuatu Citizenship Commission awarded citizenship to 206 foreigners on Monday.
Commission secretary Allan Liki said the 206 certificates of citizenship were given to three main categories of the applicants under the Vanuatu constitution: naturalised citizenship, citizenship by marriage, entitlement citizenship.
Of them, 99 foreigners had spent 10 years or more in the country.
They include: 41 male and female foreigners who got married to ni-Vanuatu nationals, 63 foreigners who became naturalised, two who had renounced their Vanuatu citizenship but re-applied to have it restored and there was one given under the category of automatic citizenship.
Liki said the 206 new naturalised citizens of Vanuatu will enjoy the same privileges as indigenous ni-Vanuatu.
He also explained that naturalised citizens got their citizenship under the Vanuatu constitution, which is distinct from those get their certificates under the government's citizenship programme.
Vanuatu passport Photo: Andrew Gray