Country Profile:

Vanuatu, situated in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, comprises 83 islands and is often referred to as the backyard of Australia and New Zealand.

The economy of Vanuatu primarily depends on agriculture, fishing, and tourism. Tourism and the passport industry are the country’s most significant sources of foreign exchange.

Capital: Port Vila

Population: 335,908 (2023, 182nd)

Ethic Group: 98.5% Ni-Vanuatu

Area: 12,189 km²(157th)

Offical Language: English, French and Bislama

Currency: Vatu (as of Apr 16, 2024, 1 Vatu = 0.00819 USD)

GDP per Captial: $3,001 (2023)

How To Become A Resident In Vanuatu:

Citizenship by Investment Program:

In immigration circles, Vanuatu is famous for its citizenship by investment program, which offers passports in exchange for a minimum donation of $130,000.

This program has become a crucial source of foreign exchange for Vanuatu, significantly aiding the country’s progress in moving away from its status as one of the world’s least developed nations.

Long Term Residency Visas:

Beyond its passport industry, Vanuatu offers several long-term residency visa options and pathways to naturalization for foreigners. However, due to its small size and remote location, these options attract only a limited number of applicants each year.

The main long-term residency options in Vanuatu include:

1. Work Visa: Requires employment with a local company and proof that the applicant can contribute to the local community.

Work visas are typically valid for one year and can be continuously renewed under the same conditions.

2. Investor Visa: Foreigners who invest over 5 million Vatu (approximately 42,249 USD) in Vanuatu’s business sector are eligible to apply for an investment visa.

3. Visa for self-funded resident: Issued to foreigners who can demonstrate a monthly income of over 250,000 Vatu (approximately $2,113) from sources outside Vanuatu. If applying with a spouse, the required income must be at least doubled to over 500,000 Vatu per month.

4. Visa for leasehold holders: Available to individuals who enter into a long-term property lease in Vanuatu with a contract value exceeding 10 million Vatu (approximately $84,500).

All of these visas can be continuously renewed under the original conditions upon expiration.

The primary applicant’s spouse, children under 18, and dependent children aged 18 to 20 can also accompany the primary applicant to Vanuatu as dependents.

Naturalization:

Foreigners who have legally resided in Vanuatu for at least 10 years and meet other relevant requirements can apply for citizenship.

Alternatively, marrying a Vanuatu citizen grants you immediate eligibility for naturalization.

Vanuatu Citizenship By Investment Program:

What is Vanuatu citizenship by investment program?

The Vanuatu passport program, launched by the Vanuatu government in 2017, is designed to attract foreign investment and stimulate economic growth through an investment-based citizenship initiative.

Currently, although the Vanuatu government offers various investment options such as real estate and bonds, the primary method remains a donation of at least $130,000 (official price) in exchange for a passport.

Compared to similar programs in other countries, the Vanuatu passport program offers several advantages:

1. Minimal Applicant Requirements: As long as the donation is made, applicants are almost guaranteed to obtain a Vanuatu passport, with very lenient background checks.

2. Quick Passport Acquisition: The approval process is very fast, typically within 14 days, and at most around 30 days.

3. No Residency Requirement: Applicants never need to enter Vanuatu from the start of the application process to holding the passport. The only requirement is to renew the passport remotely every five years.

3. Broad Dependent Eligibility: The main applicant’s spouse, children, and parents over 65 years old can all obtain passports as dependents.

4. Tax Haven: Vanuatu is a tax haven with no personal income tax, corporate tax, property tax, value-added tax, capital gains tax, or inheritance tax.

However, the Vanuatu passport program also has some clear drawbacks:

1. Limited Passport Mobility: While the Vanuatu passport used to allow travel to over 140 countries and regions, it currently provides visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 94 countries and regions, including Russia and Southeast Asia, due to its CBI program.

2. Limited Practical Residency Value: Vanuatu is one of the world’s least developed countries and is relatively remote. With only about 60 habitable islands, only 14 of which are over 100 square kilometers in size, the country lacks sufficient diversity and is not ideal for foreigners to reside in or use as a base.

Who is eligible for a Vanuatu citizenship by investment program?

The policies of Vanuatu’s citizenship by investment program have evolved over time, offering several officially authorized options, including DSP, VCP, CIIP, IGBO, and REO, each targeting different regions and types of investors.

In the VCP and DSP programs, the official minimum price for a passport is $130,000. For a family of two, it is $150,000; for a family of three, $165,000; and for a family of four, $180,000. Each additional family member requires an extra donation of $15,000.

The main applicant must also pay a $5,000 background check fee, a $160 passport issuance fee per person, a $120 nationality verification fee per person, and a $100 government fee per person.

Apart from the financial requirements, the program has very few other conditions for applicants: they must be at least 18 years old, have no criminal record, and be in good health.

How to apply for Vanuatu citizenship by investment program?

The Vanuatu passport program cannot be applied for individually; it must be processed through a government-licensed intermediary. The required steps are as follows:

1. Prepare Required Documents and Apply for a Background Check: The first step is to find a suitable intermediary, prepare the necessary funds, and gather all required documents.

Required documents include: copies of your passport and ID card; six passport-sized photos; proof of relationship with dependents; proof of no criminal record; personal resume; medical health certificate; proof of investment; and proof of payment of application fees.

2. Background Check: After submitting the application, a licensed anti-money laundering agency will conduct a detailed background check on the main and dependent applicants.

At this stage, you need to pay a background check fee of approximately $5,000 and provide all personal information to the intermediary, who will forward it to the Vanuatu authorities for review.

3. Submit Formal Application: Once the background check is passed, you can submit a formal application to the Vanuatu Citizenship Commission (VCC) and must complete 25% of the donation.

4. Approval, Oath, and Passport Issuance: The VCC will review the application within two weeks. Upon approval, you will receive an Approval in Principle letter.

At this point, you must complete the full donation within 90 days. The VCC will then submit your application to the Vanuatu Citizenship Office. After receiving approval from the Citizenship Office, you can prepare for an online or video oath-taking ceremony for naturalization.

The entire process is very fast, theoretically around 30 days, but in practice, it can usually be completed within one or two weeks.

Passport Utility:

The passports of individuals who acquire citizenship through donation are identical to the passports of native Vanuatu citizens in terms of appearance, document number, quality, and other aspects. The only distinction lies in their political and voting rights. It’s important to note that children and spouses of donation-based citizens who haven’t obtained citizenship together will not automatically gain Vanuatu nationality.

Vanuatu recognizes dual citizenship, and its passport is ranked 58st globally. Holders of the passport enjoy unrestricted travel to 94 countries and territories worldwide(May 18, 2024).

Useful Links:

Vanuatu Citizenship’s Office and Commission：https://vancitizenship.gov.vu/

Vanuatu official lists of agents：https://vancitizenship.gov.vu/index.php/about-us/designated-agents

Vanuatu CIIP: https://www.imidaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/CIIP-CNO_Brochure_V9.pdf