Vanuatu · POLICY & PRACTICE
Vanuatu: verifying agents
A citizenship application may involve a consultant, a designated agent and government offices. Identifying each role before signing makes subsequent payments and progress reports easier to understand.
Identify the agent responsible for submission
The Citizenship Office publishes designated agents by programme.[1] If a different consultancy is handling the initial enquiry, ask which designated agent will submit the application, how responsibilities are divided and who signs the agreement. Different names call for clarification rather than an automatic conclusion.
Compare the full company name, programme and published contact details. An appointment letter or screenshot can provide a starting point for checking; current authorisation should be confirmed through official channels.
Check changes in authorisation
A separate government page identifies cancelled agents who are not recognised as designated representatives.[2] An old list is therefore only part of the picture. Reconfirm the submitting agent’s status before a significant commitment.
Where details differ, use the contact route on the government website and keep a dated record of the enquiry. The office also warns about websites impersonating official services.[1] Begin from the verified government domain when checking a link supplied in sales material.
Understand the payment and decision records
As a practical preparation step, request a fee schedule separating service charges, checks and government payments, with the stage, recipient and receipt for each. If an account name differs from the contracting business, ask for an explanation and written instructions identifying the application, recipient and purpose of payment.
A consultancy’s assessment, an agent’s update and a government decision serve different purposes. Check the issuer, application reference, stated stage and next steps. A record of completed background checks should not be independently interpreted as a grant of citizenship.
Retain the final application record
The Citizenship Office identifies fraudulent grants, grants contrary to citizenship law or the Constitution, and non-compliance with statutory restrictions as grounds for revocation.[3] Accuracy and a lawful process matter throughout the application.
Keep the final submitted version, significant supplementary evidence, receipts and formal decisions. Check names, relationships and personal history before submission. A clear archive helps with later document applications and makes the steps taken easier to explain.
Official sources
General information, not individual legal, tax or investment advice. Eligibility and documentary requirements depend on the applicable rules and the authority’s assessment.