Citizenship for investment in Vanuatu
The government programme allows foreigners to obtain citizenship by investing in the economic development of Vanuatu. A candidate must apply to an accredited agent to apply for the program. The registration procedure is entirely remote and takes 2–3 months. Citizenship is valid for life even without residing in the country, but it is required to request a passport renewal every 10 years. It is not necessary to come to the country to get it; the document can be picked up at the consulate at the place of residence.
There is no option to grant citizenship in Vanuatu for real estate investments. To become a participant in the programme, it is necessary to contribute $130,000 to the state's development fund. These funds are non-refundable and do not generate income. In addition to the investment, the applicant must have a minimum of $250,000 in a bank account.
Close relatives, such as spouses, children under 25 years of age, and parents over 50 years of age, dependent on the applicant's financial support, can obtain Vanuatu citizenship at the same time as the applicant.
Vanuatu investor citizenship provides an opportunity to optimise the payment of taxes. Income, inheritance, ownership of property, capital gains, and exports are not subject to taxation in the state. Companies within 20 years of registration do not pay income tax; an annual fee of $300 replaces it.
The Vanuatu passport allows visa-free travel to over 100 countries and a B1/B2 visa to the US.
Conditions for obtaining citizenship in Vanuatu
Immigration to Vanuatu is available to foreigners who meet the following requirements:
- Have no criminal record.
- Are in good health.
- Have funds available for investment.
- Can prove the legal origin of the investment funds.
- Have savings of $250,000.
- Not subject to international sanctions.
Citizens of Iran, Iraq, Syria, North Korea, Yemen, and Iran are not eligible for Vanuatu citizenship. To become candidates for Vanuatu dual citizenship, they must have lived in other countries for 5 years and already have a residence permit.
Investor costs
The cost of citizenship in Vanuatu depends on the terms of the investment programme and the number of people the investor includes in the application. The more members of their family applying for citizenship, the higher the costs will be.
The minimum investment amount is $130,000. Including a marriage partner in the application increases it by $20,000, and each next relative — by $15,000.
| Cost item | Primary applicant | Family of 2 | Family of 3 | Family of 4 |
|---|
| Development fund contribution |
130 000 $ |
150 000 $ |
165 000 $ |
180 000 $ |
You should also consider additional expenses for security clearance, translation and certification of documents, legal services, and more.
Documents for obtaining citizenship in Vanuatu
The set of documents required for the application includes:
- An international passport and passport of the country's citizen.
- Birth certificate.
- Colour photographs.
- A completed application form.
- Proof of legitimacy of investment funds.
- Bank statement for the last 12 months.
- Proof of fulfilment of investment obligation.
- Certificate of no criminal record.
- Medical report on the state of health.
- A short biography in free form.
