2 May 2014

Chinese people in Vanuatu can re-apply for citizenship

4:10 pm on 2 May 2014

The Chinese embassy in Vanuatu says people who have forfeited their Chinese citizenship to become citizens of Vanuatu can apply to get their Chinese passport back.

Vanuatu introduced a Capital Investment Immigration Programme, based in Hong Kong, aimed to earn millions of dollars by selling fast-tracked citizenship to Chinese nationals.

But the Chinese embassy says China does not recognise dual citizenship and Chinese people who have obtained Vanuatu citizenship automatically lose their Chinese citizenship.

It says if a person no longer wants to be a citizen of Vanuatu, they can apply to have their Chinese passport restored and won't be left in limbo.

Two individuals wanting to have both a Vanuatu and a Chinese passport stamped on departing Port Vila were not allowed to leave this week.