Starting in January 2017, the Government of the Republic of Vanuatu launched the Development Support Program (DSP) to raise funds for infrastructure and promote economic development. Citizenship by investment is a provision enacted under the Citizenship Act. Applicants must have no criminal record. Those who apply for and receive citizenship through investment gain the full right to reside in Vanuatu at any time, and their passports are renewable upon expiry. Passports are valid for 10 years and can be renewed when expired.
Key Benefits of Vanuatu Citizenship
- The Vanuatu passport provides visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 91 countries, including Russia. Before 2022, the passport allowed visa-free entry to all Schengen countries; however, the visa waiver was suspended due to security concerns related to the citizenship program.
- You can include most of your family members in your application (children under 30 years of age and parents aged 50 and above).
- Citizenship is passed on to future generations without additional investment.
- Vanuatu is a member of the Commonwealth, and its citizens enjoy Commonwealth status, which grants certain privileges in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries.
- Vanuatu is an established tax haven. It has zero corporate tax, no income tax, no capital gains tax, no estate tax, no wealth tax, no withholding tax, no gift tax, and no other personal income taxes.
- Vanuatu is business-friendly. Apart from a locally applied 12.5% VAT, there are virtually no taxes at all.
- You can use your Vanuatu passport for banking purposes.
- The application process is completely confidential.
Vanuatu Citizenship Costs
Applicants may obtain Vanuatu citizenship by making a contribution to the government as follows (amounts in U.S. dollars): Single applicant – 130,000; Investor and spouse – 150,000; Investor, spouse, and one child – 165,000; Family application (up to 4 persons) – 180,000. Additional fees apply for larger families: 15,000 for each additional child, for each dependent child aged 18 to 30, and for each dependent adult over 50. The quoted amounts are the minimum costs for end clients as prescribed by Vanuatu law. They include the government contribution and agent professional fees. A due diligence fee of 7,500 is payable separately.
Citizenship Application Process
The process begins with preliminary due diligence screening. Once this is passed and all required documents are submitted at once, the application is straightforward and fast. It typically takes 8 to 12 weeks to complete the full process and obtain passports.
Questions & Answers:
Q: What is the validity of a Vanuatu passport issued under the DSP program?
A: Passports are valid for 10 years and can be renewed for the same period whenever the passport expires.
Q: How many nationalities are currently banned from participating in Vanuatu’s DSP program?
A: There are five countries on the banned list: Iran, Iraq, Syria, North Korea, and Yemen.
Q: Are there options to obtain Vanuatu citizenship through real estate investment, like in some Caribbean countries?
A: No. The official Vanuatu citizenship program does not include real estate investment options.
Q: Is it still possible to pay for Vanuatu citizenship with Bitcoin?
A: No. Earlier media reports about Bitcoin payments were inaccurate. Following the misinformation, the Government of Vanuatu officially denied the possibility of paying in Bitcoin. However, some authorized agents may accept USDT, convert it into fiat currency, and then pay the government on behalf of the client.
Professional Services
Elma Capital has partnered with a designated local agent in Vanuatu to provide a more reliable and professional legal service. If you have any questions regarding the information above or wish to use our legal assistance in obtaining second citizenship in Vanuatu, contact us today
When sending us an email, please indicate your citizenship, country of residence, and the age of each family member to be included in the application. This information is required to provide an accurate quote of the fees and expenses applicable to your case.