Vanuatu Bans Citizenship by Investment for Russians? Rumors Dispelled and Official Denial

Over the past two days, rumors have been circulating in the media that Russian citizens have allegedly been banned from participating in Vanuatu's citizenship-by-investment (CBI) program. This news quickly spread through specialized chat rooms, forums, and among immigration consultants. However, the reality turned out to be quite different. Let's look at what actually happened and why the confusion arose.

Where the rumors originated

On March 9, a memo was published stating that the Vanuatu Citizenship Authority had allegedly instructed all authorized agents to stop accepting applications from Russian and Sudanese citizens for the CBI program.

The document referenced an updated list of restricted countries, published under number 02COC/26. According to this version of the list, the list of countries whose citizens are not eligible to apply has increased to eight.

Which countries were included in the document?

The published list included:

• Iraq
• Iran
• North Korea
• Yemen
• Syria
• Afghanistan
• Russia
• Sudan

Previously, the list included only six countries, so the addition of Russia and Sudan caused a significant stir among applicants and immigration specialists. Many perceived this as an official change in the country's policy.

What actually transpired

Employees of IT-OFFSHORE learned that the published document was an error. Vanuatu officials stated that the memo was accidentally distributed through internal channels and does not reflect the country's current policy.

The official statement reads as follows:

"The Citizenship Commission wishes to clarify that the memo circulated on March 9, 2026, titled 'Update on Restricted & Sanction Countries by UN' was released in error."

This means the document has no legal force and does not constitute an official change to the program rules.

What does this mean for Russians?

Currently, no new restrictions have been introduced for Russian citizens under Vanuatu's citizenship-by-investment program. The program continues to operate as usual, and Russians can still submit applications through licensed agents.

Situations like these once again demonstrate the importance of verifying information through official sources and relevant experts before jumping to conclusions.

If you have questions about citizenship-by-investment programs or current applicant requirements, IT-OFFSHORE is always available to help you understand the situation, verify information, and navigate the current rules.