The Citizenship Office and Commission makes it clear that its institution is a Constitutional body and is governed by its own legislation namely the Citizenship Act CAP1121 as amended. As provided in the Act, the Citizenship by Investment Programs is regulated by its own owned regulations. Thus, the Citizenship office and Commission by law is responsible for the processing of citizenship applications and issuance of Vanuatu Citizenship Certificates. As provided by the Act, the Vanuatu Citizenship Certificates are legally approved and issued by the Vanuatu Citizenship Commission.
Role
The Vanuatu citizenship office and passport office are separate government entities, each playing a different role ..
- Vanuatu citizenship office and commission responsible for only for issuing certificate of citizenship (not passports)
- Immigration and Passport office under Ministry of Internal affairs responsible for issuing Vanuatu ordinary passports.
- Ministry of foreign affairs tasked with the responsibility for issuing diplomatic/official passports to officials on government duty.
Furthermore according to the Citizenship Act and Regulations there is no provision provided that the Citizenship Office and Commission is responsible to issue certain types of Vanuatu passports. Therefore Citizenship Office and Commission by law is not responsible for issuing any of the passports types.
Green Passports
However as part of the process, for the issuance of Vanuatu Green Passports is process, approved and issued by the office of the Immigration and Passport Services under the Ministry of Internal Affairs following their relevant legislation and regulations.
Diplomatic Passports
Other types of Vanuatu Passports such as Diplomatic Passports is processed, approved and delivered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs following its relevant legislation and regulations.
The Citizenship Office and Commission clarify that any more future matters regarding approval and issuance of different types Vanuatu Passports is to be directed to the respective ministries such as the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Vanuatu.
