Pacific / Vanuatu

Vanuatu lowers passport sales fees amid review

14:57 pm on 22 November 2019

Vanuatu has lowered the costs of its passports for sale scheme for individual applicants in a bid to attract more buyers.

Photo: Laszlo Konya/ 123rf

That comes amid a government review of the programme, which accounted for around a third of government revenue last year.

Under Vanuatu's passports scheme, applicants and their children could become citizens for a flat rate of around $US130,000.

But the Secretary General of Vanuatu's Citizenship Office said applicants with no children would now have to fork out just $US80,000.

Samuel Garae said the reduced fee would make the programme more attractive.

Internal Affairs Minister Andrew Napuat said on Thursday a review team had been appointed to look at the scheme.

In October, Vanuatu's President, Tallis Obed Moses, said the sale of passports was hurting Vanuatu's sovereignty.