Vanuatu digital nomad visa: requirements (2026)
Digital nomad visa in Vanuatu: via other route.
Vanuatu has no dedicated digital-nomad or remote-work visa; the 'Remote Worker Visa' marketed by relocation agencies is not an official legal category. However, location-independent earners can legally reside via the Self-Funded Resident / Residence on Assured Income route by proving a certified recurring monthly income, and Vanuatu also runs an investor-residence route and a fast citizenship-by-investment program.
Legal framework
Immigration Act [CAP 66] / Vanuatu Department of Immigration and Passport Services, Residence Visa categories (incl. Self-Funded Resident) and Residence on Assured Income Permit
Key points: digital nomad & residency in Vanuatu
No dedicated nomad visa
The Department of Immigration's official residence-visa scheme lists no digital-nomad or remote-work category; the country has not enacted a specific legal framework for remote workers despite agency marketing of a 'Remote Worker Visa'.
Self-Funded Resident route
Remote workers and the self-employed can qualify as 'Self-Funded Residents' by certifying recurring income through a Vanuatu bank of at least VUV 250,000/month (roughly USD 2,000), or VUV 500,000/month including a spouse/de-facto partner.
Residence visa duration & fees
Self-funded and most other residence visas are issued for 1, 3, 5 or 10 years; fees for applicants 18+ range from VUV 57,600 (1-year) to VUV 511,200 (10-year).
Other eligibility routes
Additional residence categories include Foreign Investor (holding a VIPA foreign-investor approval certificate), Leasehold Holder (property valued at VUV 10 million+ plus income criteria), Employee (12-month local job), and Partner/Child of a citizen.
No income tax
Vanuatu levies no personal income tax, capital gains tax or inheritance tax, so remote-earned foreign income is not taxed locally, a primary draw for relocators.
Citizenship-by-investment (golden route)
Beyond residency, Vanuatu offers fast citizenship-by-investment via the Development Support Program (non-refundable contribution from ~USD 130,000 for a single applicant) and the Capital Investment Immigration Plan, processed in weeks, a citizenship rather than a graduated residency program.
Sources
Next for Vanuatu: Internet & Online SafetyComprehensive law
Next topicOrientation, not legal advice: verify against the primary sources linked above. Last verified 24 May 2026. Methodology & how to cite · State of Technology Regulation 2026