Home
| Databases
| WorldLII
| Search
| Feedback
Vanuatu Consolidated Legislation - 1988 |
Commencement: 30 July 1980
LAWS OF THE REPUBLIC OF VANUATU
REVISED EDITION 1988
CHAPTER 112
JR 16 of 1980
Act 16 of 1983
Act 8 of 1987
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
SECTION
PART I
Preliminary
PART II
Citizenship Commission
3. Membership of the Commission
4. Resignation and removal of members of the Commission
PART III
Citizenship by Adoption and Naturalization
9. Application
10. Application for citizenship by woman married to a citizen
11. Adopted children
13. Retention by Commission of citizenship certificates
PART IV
Loss and Renunciation of and Regaining of Citizenship
16. Deprivation of citizenship
17. Renunciation of citizenship
18. Regaining of citizenship by married woman
PART V
General
SCHEDULE 1 - Oath of Allegiance
SCHEDULE 2 - Citizenship Certificate
---------------------------------------
CITIZENSHIP
To provide for citizenship by naturalisation, renunciation of citizenship, and the establishment of a Citizenship Commission.
PART I
PRELIMINARY
INTERPRETATION
1. (1) In this Act unless the context otherwise requires -
"Commission" means the Citizenship Commission established by section 2;
"child" means a person who has not attained 18 years;
"citizen" means a citizen of Vanuatu;
"Constitution" means the Constitution of Vanuatu;
"oath of allegiance" means the oath of allegiance prescribed in Schedule 1;
"Vanuatu" means the Republic of Vanuatu;
(2) For the purpose of this Act -
(a) a person is of age if he has attained the age of 18 years; and
(b) a person is not of full capacity if he is a mentally disordered or defective person, so found and not discharged as sane, under the provisions of any Act relating to mental treatment.
PART II
CITIZENSHIP COMMISSION
ESTABLISHMENT OF CITIZENSHIP COMMISSION
MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMISSION
(2) Subject to subsection (1) members of the Commission shall hold office for a period of 3 years and shall be eligible for reappointment.
(3) A person shall not be eligible to be appointed a member of the Commission unless he is a citizen of Vanuatu.
RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL OF MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION
(2) The President may remove a member of the Commission with effect from a date notified by him in the Vanuatu Gazette.
FUNCTIONS AND POWERS OF THE COMMISSION
(2) The Commission shall have such powers as are conferred on it specifically or by necessary implication by this or any other Act and shall generally in addition have such powers as shall enable it to exercise any of its functions.
MINISTERIAL DIRECTIONS AND REQUESTS
(2) The Prime Minister may in writing require the Commission to advise him on any matter relating to citizenship and the Commission shall comply with such requirement.
MEETINGS AND PROCEDURE
(2) The quorum for meetings shall be the chairman and half the other members of the Commission.
(3) If the chairman for good cause cannot attend a meeting the Prime Minister shall appoint a member to act as chairman for that meeting.
(4) The Commission shall decide matters before it by a simple majority of the members present and voting. In cases of equality of voting the chairman shall have a casting vote.
(5) Subject to such rules as the Prime Minister may make by Order the Commission may determine its own procedures with regard to the convening and conduct of meetings.
ALLOWANCES
PART III
CITIZENSHIP BY ADOPTION AND NATURALIZATION
APPLICATION
APPLICATION FOR CITIZENSHIP BY WOMAN MARRIED TO A CITIZEN
ADOPTED CHILDREN
APPLICATION FOR, AND GRANTING OF, CITIZENSHIP BY NATURALISATION
(2) Where on an application made pursuant to subsection (1) and as a result of such inquiries as the Commission may cause to be made, the Commission is satisfied that the person making the application -
(a) is, on the date of application, and has been during a period of 10 years immediately prior to that date ordinarily resident in Vanuatu;
(b) intends to continue to reside in Vanuatu;
(c) is of good character;
(d) unless prevented by physical or mental disability, is able to speak and understand sufficiently for normal conversational purposes, Bislama, English, French or a vernacular of Vanuatu;
(e) has a respect for the culture and the ways of life of Vanuatu;
(f) is not or is unlikely to become a charge on public funds;
(g) has a reasonable knowledge and understanding of the rights, privileges, responsibilities and duties of citizens;
(h) has renounced or agreed to renounce any citizenship which he may possess; and
(i) has taken and subscribed to an oath of allegiance or made a solemn affirmation in the form set out in Schedule 1;
the Commission may grant the application, but otherwise shall refuse it.
(3) Subject to subsection (4) if a male applicant requests when applying for citizenship that -
(a) his wife; or
(b) any child of his named in the application become a citizen by naturalization; any such person named in the request shall become a citizen when the applicant becomes a citizen by naturalization.
(4) A wife shall not become a citizen in accordance with subsection (3) unless the application includes a statement by her that she wishes to become a citizen.
(5) When an application made pursuant to subsection (1) is granted the Commission shall register the applicant as a citizen, issue a certificate of naturalization in the form in Schedule 2 to the applicant and to any person who also becomes a citizen pursuant to subsection (3).
(6) A person to whom a certificate of naturalisation is issued becomes naturalised as a citizen on the date stated in the certificate.
(7) For the purposes of this section, the date of an application is the date on which it is lodged with the Commission.
(8) For the purpose of determining the period of residence in Vanuatu of any person -
(a) any period during which the person has been in custody awaiting deportation or removal from Vanuatu shall be disregarded; and
(b) a period shall not be disregarded by reason only that the person resided in Vanuatu during that period without having complied with any law relating to immigration.
(9) For the purposes of subsection (2)(i) an oath of allegiance may be administered by, and a solemn affirmation may be made before -
(a) any person authorised to administer oaths under the law; or
(b) a secretary of a Local Government Council; or
(c) a District Commissioner.
RETENTION BY COMMISSION OF CITIZENSHIP CERTIFICATE
PART IV
LOSS AND RENUNCIATION OF AND REGAINING OF CITIZENSHIP
LOSS OF CITIZENSHIP
(a) takes an oath or makes a declaration or affirmation of allegiance to another country or to the Sovereign or Head of State of another country;
(b) does, agrees to or adopts any act by which he becomes a national or citizen of another country;
(c) enters or serves in the armed forces of another country except with the express approval of the Prime Minister acting in accordance with the advice of the Council of Ministers; or
(d) except as permitted by any Act, votes in a national, provincial, state or local election, or accepts elective office, of another country.
(2) A person who is found by a court to have obtained citizenship by any false representation, fraud or concealment of a material fact on his part shall cease to be a citizen 30 days after such finding unless the Prime Minister being satisfied that the offence was of a minor nature and that the revealing of the true facts would not have affected the grant of naturalization publishes a declaration confirming that persons citizenship in the Vanuatu Gazette within such 30 days.
(3) The provisions of this section shall not apply to any act done under compulsion of law of another country.
LOSS OF CITIZENSHIP IN OTHER CASES
DEPRIVATION OF CITIZENSHIP
RENUNCIATION OF CITIZENSHIP
(2) A person may not renounce his citizenship unless -
(a) he already holds some other nationality or citizenship; or
(b) the renunciation is for the purpose of his obtaining some other nationality or citizenship.
(3) During a time of war, citizenship may not be renounced without the prior consent of the Prime Minister.
REGAINING OF CITIZENSHIP BY MARRIED WOMAN
18. (1) This section applies to a woman -
(a) who is a citizen;
(b) who marries a person who is a national or citizen of another country; and
(c) who becomes on or during the marriage a national or citizen of the country of which her spouse was at the time a national or citizen.
(2) A woman to whom this section applies may make application in the prescribed manner to the Commission to regain her citizenship and the Commission, if satisfied that she is such a woman and that her marriage has broken down, may grant the application.
(3) Where the Commission grants an application under this section the applicant becomes a citizen on the date decided by the Commission which shall be notified in the Vanuatu Gazette.
PART V
GENERAL
CERTIFICATE OF CITIZENSHIP STATUS
(2) If the Prime Minister is satisfied that the applicant is, or is entitled to become, a citizen he may issue a certificate stating that the person is or may become a citizen by virtue of a provision specified in the certificate.
(3) A certificate given pursuant to this section shall be evidence that on the material date the person concerned was, is or may become a citizen in accordance with the terms of the certificate.
HONORARY CITIZENSHIP
REGISTERS
(a) become citizens;
(b) regain citizenship;
(c) lose or renounce citizenship.
(2) The Commission shall publish the names of persons registered in accordance with this section in the Vanuatu Gazette not later than 30 days after registration.
(3) The registers referred to in subsection (1) shall be open for inspection to the public in such manner and on the payment of such fees as may be prescribed.
(4) Extracts from the registers referred to in subsection (1) may be certified and issued to an applicant on payment of the prescribed fee.
(5) Extracts issued in accordance with subsection (4) shall be accepted by the courts as evidence of what is stated in them.
OFFENCE AND PENALTY
(2) Any citizen of Vanuatu (whether or not a naturalised citizen) who travels across a national boundary making use of a passport of any foreign state and without being authorized in writing by the Minister commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding VT25,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both.
REGULATIONS
FEES
_____________________________
SCHEDULE 1
REPUBLIC OF VANUATU
Citizenship Act, Cap. 112
OATH OF ALLEGIANCE
I, .................................................. do this .............................. day of 19 ............... swear (or solemnly affirm) that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to the President and the Republic of Vanuatu, So help me God.
Signed ............................................
SOLEMN AFFIRMATION
I, .................................................. do this .............................. day of ................................... 19 ............... solemnly affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to the President and the Republic of Vanuatu.
Signed............................................
_____________________________
SCHEDULE 2
REPUBLIC OF VANUATU
Citizenship Act, Cap. 112
CITIZENSHIP CERTIFICATE
IS HEREBY CERTIFIED THAT .................................................. was on the .............................. day of ................................... 19 ............... granted Citizenship in accordance with the Constitution and section 12 of the Citizenship Act, Cap. 112.
........................................................
Chairman
Citizenship Commission
.......................................................
Member
Citizenship Commission
____________________________
SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION
CITIZENSHIP (APPLICATION FORMS) ORDER
Order 8 of 1980
Order 42 of 1984
To provide for application forms relating to citizenship by naturalisation and matters connected therewith.
The forms contained in Parts 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the Schedule to this Order shall be the application forms for the purposes of sections 12, 10, 18(2), and 19(l) of the Citizenship Act, Cap. 112.
_____________________________
SCHEDULE
Part 1
Form A
REPUBLIC OF VANUATU
Citizenship Act, Cap. 112
APPLICATION FOR THE GRANTING OF CITIZENSHIP
BY NATURALISATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 12
Section A
.................................................................. Recent photograph
of applicant
Place and date of birth:
.......................................................................................
Address:
......................................................................................
......................................................................................
......................................................................................
Occupation:
......................................................................................
Academic or professional qualification (if any) or past employ-
ment record (if any)
......................................................................................
......................................................................................
Religion (if any, give brief description):
......................................................................................
......................................................................................
Marital Status (Please tick where appropriate):
Married Living together (but not legally married)
Single separated: (Please tick where appropriate)
Judicial
Customary
Divorced Desertion
________________________________________________________________________
Section B
If you wish to apply for citizenship for your wife and children, you are required to complete this section. Your wife will not be granted citizenship if she does not sign the statement requesting it.
Maiden name of wife: Recent photograph of wife
......................................................................................
Place and date of birth:
......................................................................................
Nationality:
.......................................................................................
Occupation:
......................................................................................
Academic or professional qualification (if any) or past employment record (if any)
.......................................................................................
......................................................................................
Religion (if any, give brief description):
.......................................................................................
........................................................................................
I, .................................................. (name) request to become a citizen of the Republic of Vanuatu when my husband is granted citizenship.
......................................................
Signature of wife
Names of Children Date of Birth Nationality Sex
................................... ............................... ........................................ ..........
................................... ............................... ........................................ ..........
................................... ............................... ........................................ ..........
................................... ............................... ........................................ ..........
................................... ............................... ........................................ ..........
................................... ............................... ........................................ ..........
________________________________________________________________________
Section C
Applicants are required to answer truthfully all questions in this section.
(b) If so, please state the date of your arrival (delete if not applicable) .......................................................................................................................
(c) Have you at any time within the period of 10 years immediately preceding this application gone out of Vanuatu? ............................................................................................................
(d) If so, please indicate the length of stay abroad. .....................................................................................................................
(e) For what purpose or purposes did you travel abroad?
- (i) ................................................................................................
- (ii) ................................................................................................
- (iii) ................................................................................................
- (iv) ................................................................................................
2. Have you ever been convicted of a criminal offence? If so, please give details:
.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
3. Are you fluent in any of the following languages -
Bislama, English, French or a vernacular language of Vanuatu? Please indicate which language or languages.
...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................
(b) If self-employed, please specify the nature of your business.
..............................................................................................................................
(c) If you are not in gainful employment, give reasons thereof and how you are able to maintain a living in Vanuatu. .....................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................
(b) Are you prepared to assume those rights, privileges responsibilities and duties on your becoming a citizen of Vanuatu?
........................................................................................................................
(b) If so, state which country and provide evidence thereof. .......................................................................................................................
(c) Specify how you obtained this nationality or citizenship. .....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
(d) Since when have you been a national of this country ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................
(b) If so, please indicate on which island you intend to live on. .......................................................................................................................
(c) Are you prepared to assist and serve towards the development of the country?
....................................................................................................................
1. ............................................... 2. ...............................................
(Name) (Name)
Address: .......................................... Address: ................................
............................................ ..............................................
............................................. ...............................................
Signature: ....................................... Signature: .........................................
(Name)
Address: .................................................
.................................................
..................................................
................................................
Signature: ......................................................
(b) You are also required to attach to this form references in writing made on your behalf by the three persons who witnessed your application.
These references must be made in their own handwriting and signature
Date: ............................................ .................................................
Signature of applicant
_________________________________
Form B
REPUBLIC OF VANUATU
Citizenship Act, Cap. 112
APPLICATION FOR CITIZENSHIP BY WOMEN MARRIED
TO VANUATU CITIZENS PURSUANT TO SECTION 10
Section A (questions about applicant)
1. Full name of applicant ................................................. Recent photograph
event of being granted Vanuatu citizenship?
......................................................................................
Section B (questions about applicant's husband)
..................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................
Date: ......................................... ......................................................
Signature of applicant
NOTE (1) You are required to attach with this form a certificate of marriage or some other proof of marriage to your husband.
(2) Where your husband is an automatic citizen of Vanuatu you are required to provide proof of this fact - e.g. details of passport, birth certificate.
Form C
REPUBLIC OF VANUATU
Citizenship Act, Cap. 112
APPLICATION FOR CITIZENSHIP BY MARRIED WOMEN
PURSUANT TO SECTION 18(2)
Section A (questions about applicant)
1. Full name of applicant .................................................. Recent photograph
Section B (questions about applicant's husband or former husband)
8. Full name .................................................................................................................
9. Present address .........................................................................................................
11. Present citizenship or nationality .....................................................................
Section C (questions about applicant's marriage or divorce or separation, etc.)
12. Place and date of marriage .......................................................................................
Date: ............................................... ..........................................................
Signature of applicant
________________________________
Form D
REPUBLIC OF VANUATU
Citizenship Act, Cap. 112
APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE OF CITIZENSHIP
STATUS PURSUANT TO SECTION 19(l)
Section A (questions about applicant)
1. Full name of applicant .................................................. Recent photograph
....................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................
10. Intended place of future ...........................................................................................
...................................................................................................
12. Have you ever been convicted of a criminal offence?
If so, give details .........................................................................................
..................................................................................................................................
Section B (questions about applicant's family)
13. Full name of applicant's father ................................................................................
14. Full name of applicant's mother ...............................................................................
16. Full name of applicant's grandmother .......................................................................
17. Present address of applicant's parents .......................................................................
19. How long have the applicant's parents been resident in Vanuatu? ...........................
________________________________________________________________________
Section C (statement to be completed by the applicant)
I ........................................ of ........................................ testify that to the best of my knowledge, I do not hold any other citizenship or nationality and as I am in doubt as to my status, I hereby apply for a certificate pursuant to section 19(l) of the Citizenship Act, Cap. 112.
Date: .................................. ......................................................
Signature of applicant
----------------------------------------------
SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION
CITIZENSHIP (RENUNCIATION OF CITIZENSHIP FORM) ORDER
To provide for the form of declaration of renunciation of citizenship of Vanuatu.
DECLARATION FORM
A citizen of Vanuatu who becomes a citizen of another state and who is required by that state to renounce his Vanuatu citizenship may do so by completing a declaration in the form set out in the Schedule hereto.
____________________________
SCHEDULE
REPUBLIC OF VANUATU DECLARATION OF RENUNCIATION
OF CITIZENSHIP OF VANUATU
1. I ................................................... of ......................................................................
(full name of declarant) (full residential address)
am of full age and capacity and was born at
.................................................................................................................................
(town/village and country)
on the ......................... day of ................................... 19 ...............
(state basis of citizenship)
(name of country)
under the laws of the same by reason of the fact that ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
(state basis of citizenship)
I, the said .............................................................................................................
(full name of declarant)
do solemnly and sincerely declare that the foregoing particulars are true about myself.
Declared at ................................... this ......................... day of .................................... 19 ............... before me.
I certify that the declaration was read over in the ................................... language to the declarant who appeared fully to understand the meaning thereof.
................................................................
Signature of declarant
Signed before me at ........................................ this ......................... day of ................................... 19 ...............
---------------------------------------------------------
Commissioner for Oaths, Notary Public or a
person authorised to witness statutory declarations
[NOTE: A citizen of Vanuatu may not renounce his or her Vanuatu citizenship unless he or she has first become a citizen of another state.]
_____________________________-
SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION
CITIZENSHIP (APPLICATION FORMS) (FEES AND CHARGES) ORDER
To prescribe fees and charges for citizenship application forms and matters connected therewith.
FEES
In respect of the several matters contained in Schedules 1, 2, 3, and 4, there shall be paid to the Government of the Republic of Vanuatu the several sums for the fees specified therein.
SCHEDULE 1
APPLICATION FORMS
VT
(a) For every first application 200
(b) For every second, third, etc. applications where the
has first application has been refused 300
2. Form B 50
3. Form C 50
4. Form D 100
__________________________
SCHEDULE 2
Fees chargeable for certificates
1. (a) For each certificate of registration issued 2,000
(b) For each new certificate issued in the event of a lost or
damaged certificate 2,500
(c) If loss or damage was caused or done due to the bearer's
negligence 3,000
__________________________________
SCHEDULE 3
Fees chargeable for inspection of registers
service (flat rate) 100
person other than a person employed in the public
service (flat rate) 300
______________________________
SCHEDULE 4
Certificate fee
1. (a) For each certificate of entitlement issued 1,000
(b) For each new certificate issued in the event of a lost or
damaged Certificate 1,500
(c) If loss or damage was caused or done due to the bearer's
Negligence 2,000
-------------------------------------------------------
PacLII:
Copyright Policy
|
Disclaimers
|
Privacy Policy
|
Feedback
URL: http://www.paclii.org/vu/legis/consol_act1988/ca148