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Vanuatu

Vanuatu

Passport rank
57
Visa-free countries
97
Residency
Yes
Citizenship
Yes

Acquisition: 10 days

Capital required: $100,000

Acquisition: 1-3 months

Capital required: $130,000

About Vanuatu Citizenship and Residency

Vanuatu offers both residency and citizenship programs. Citizenship in Vanuatu through naturalization is possible after 10 years of living in Vanuatu under residency options.

Investment options available to acquire the citizenship and passport of Vanuatu

  • Development Support Program

– An investment for the amount of USD 130,000 will be needed for Solo applicants.

-A contribution for the amount of USD 150,000 will be needed for spouses.

-A contribution for the amount of USD 165,000 will be needed in case of spouses applying with a child.

An investment of USD 25,000 will be needed for every supplemental family member named in the application in case a family has more than 3 members.

There are additional fees aside from the required government contribution, such as diligence fees and professional service fees.

Restriction on Citizenship acquired through this option

Vanuatu offers Citizenship with full Ni-Vanuatu rights (less voting rights and political involvement). 

Article 13 (3) of the Vanuatu constitution states, For the purposes of protecting the national sovereignty of Vanuatu, a holder of dual citizenship must not:

-Hold or serve in any public office;

-Be involved in Vanuatu politics;

-Fund activities that would cause political instability in Vanuatu;

-Affiliate with or form any political parties in Vanuatu;

-Stand as a candidate and vote at any of the following elections: (i) general election for Members of Parliament; (ii) Provincial election for members of a provincial Government Council and (iii) municipal election for members of a Municipal Council

 

Benefits Of The Vanuatu Citizenship Program

  • 100+ countries visa-free, e-visa or visa on arrival
  • No minimum stay requirements
  • Proximity to Australia & New Zealand
  • No income or capital gains tax
  • Citizenship granted in as little as 30 days
  • No requirement to visit Vanuatu to apply
  • No language test
  • Peaceful, pristine, untouched environment
  • Low crime rates 
  • English as the primary language

Vanuatu Citizenship Requirements And Qualifications

The requirements of the Vanuatu citizenship are quite simple, and they include the following:

Main Applicant Requirements

  • The main applicant must be 18 years old or older
  • Must have a personal net worth of no less than US$250,000
  • Provide a police report
  • Provide a medical certificate
  • Provide a professional reference

Steps And Timeline

  • STEP #1: Determining the eligibility for the citizenship
  • STEP #2: Gather all required documents as per the checklist of each application
  • STEP #3: Completion and lodging of the application
  • STEP #4: Examination of the application by responsible officers
  • STEP #5: Assessment of application by Citizenship Internal Screening Committee
  • STEP #6: Consideration and approval of your application by the Citizenship Commission
  • STEP #7: Issuance of a letter concerning the decision of the Commission on your application
  • STEP #8: Completion of an oath
  • STEP #9: Payment of citizenship fee

Before collecting a citizenship application form, one is advised on whether or not they are eligible to become a Vanuatu citizen. Upon eligibility, you will be advised and provided the correct application form depending on the nature of your eligibility. Each application form has a checklist that requires certain documentation that must be submitted together with the completed form. The application may be returned if the required documents are not provided with the application.

The application will then be perused by the responsible officers and forwarded to the compliance officer for a second examination.

The completed application form including all required documentation will then be forwarded to the Citizenship Internal Screening Committee for further review to ensure that it meets all the requirements before further processing. If the Internal Screening Committee is satisfied with the application, it will then forward it to the Citizenship Commission which is the body responsible for approving citizenship applications. Hence, the approval of the application rests with the Commission.

The Commission may defer or reject the application if one fails to provide a required and valid document or information or to satisfy some specific requirement.

After that one shall receive a letter from the Secretary-General of the Citizenship Office concerning the Commission’s decision on the application. Upon being instructed that the Commission has approved your application, you will also be advised on the final requirements before the issuance of your citizenship certificate, such as:

  • Completion of an oath
  • Provide the correct spelling of your name to be printed on the certificate; and
  • Payment of the citizenship fee

The completion of your oath can only be made if the application has been approved. This requires you to collect an oath form and the authorization letter to the Commissioner of Oath from the Citizenship Office and complete it in the presence of a Commissioner of Oath. Completion of the oath can only be made in Vanuatu’s court. This means that an applicant who is based in Santo, for example, can complete his oath in the court in Luganville. However, applicants who live in a foreign country must travel to Vanuatu to complete their oath.

Upon completion of your oath, you are finally required to pay your citizenship fee to enable the printing of your Vanuatu Citizenship Certificate.

Residency

Vanuatu permanent residency may be attractive for some foreign investors who are looking for residency rights in Vanuatu and don’t want citizenship. The PR card is also possible without visiting or living in Vanuatu.

Permanent Residency is possible in Vanuatu upon buying a property for USD 100,000 or proving a monthly income of USD 2,500. Citizenship is possible after 10 years of living in Vanuatu under this option under the naturalization process. A permanent residency card (PR card) can be obtained for an additional fee of $10,000 for individuals and $12,000 for families.

There are two types of permanent residence visas:

1. Part A, subclass 131

Subclass 131, this visa product can be granted to anyone his/her parents are Ni Vanuatu or Ni Vanuatu descent or anyone who has been residing in Vanuatu for the last 12 month and have to apply to the office of the director of Vanuatu Immigration Services using VIS prescribed Form 3-0.

2. Part B, subclass 132-135

This Visa product is established to accommodate any serious investor who seriously intended to invest in Vanuatu however, the benefits are more gorgeous compared to the normal Vanuatu resident visa since the requirements are tough and any interested applicant must apply to the office of the director of Vanuatu Immigration Services using VIS prescribed Form 3-1.

Residence Visas

It is also possible to obtain 1-year residency if you have enough income to cover your costs or if you invest $50,000 (landowner visa). 

Vanuatu issues three types of residence visas.

1. Self-Funded Visa

2. Land-Owner Visa – USD

3. Investor Visa

Landowner visa

Vanuatu also offers Land Owner Visa for one year if you invest at least USD 100,000 (Vt 10 million). If you wish to settle in Vanuatu and lease real estate, you can apply for a Land Ownership visa. Note that lands in Vanuatu are not freehold. Properties can be leased for up to 50 years for residential lots and 75 years for commercial ones. Foreigners can freely invest in Vanuatu real estate or lands.

Requirements:

– Police clearance (original) for each person applying for a residence permit over the age of 18.

– Letter from a local bank verifying deposit in a trust covering the total amount of a one-way return ticket(s) for the persons applying for residence permits.

– Statutory declaration for each person applying for a residence permit over the age of 18 listings all criminal offenses they have been convicted of during the past 10 years.

– Leasehold contract.

Foreign Investor visa

You can get this visa if you Invest at least $50,000 in a project approved by the Vanuatu Investment and Promotion Authority (VIPA) and have an investment certificate as a Foreign Investor. the foreign investor certificate issued by VIPA indicates that you will be operating a business in Vanuatu, a business license issued by the relevant official body.

Requirements:

– Company structure, including a copy of the Certificate of Incorporation and structure details.

– CV or personal profile for the / each investor.;

– Copy(ies) of police clearances (less than 3 months old) for the investor(s).

– Business summary (i.e., business description, location (municipality/province) management, staffing, and including profitability (profit and loss) projections for the first 3 years.

– Training plan for citizens.

– Full details of any work permits required for non-citizen employees, i.e., position descriptions – these are normally for management/specialist positions that are not expected/are difficult to be filled locally.

– Comment on the environmental impact of the business, if applicable, and whether there must be consultation with the Environment Unit to determine if an environmental impact assessment will be necessary.

– Valid foreign investment approval certificate from VIPA

– Police clearance (original) for each person applying for a residence permit over the age of 18.

– Letter from a local bank verifying the deposit in a trust covering the total amount of a one-way return ticket(s) for those persons applying for residence permits.

– Statutory declaration for each person applying for a residence permit over the age of 18 listings all criminal offenses they have been convicted of during the past 10 years.

– Proof of sufficient funds to invest (either cash or assets).

Self Funded Visa

It is nothing but a self-employment visa ideal for ex-pats and retirees who have pensions.

All visas require proof of earning. The general rule to prove the source of income is you need to show. 250,000 Vatu per month for a single person or 500,000 Vatu per month for families

Requirements:

– Police clearance (original) for each person applying for a residence permit over the age of 18.

– Letter from a local bank verifying deposit in a trust covering the total amount of one-way return ticket(s) for the people applying for residence permits.

– Statutory declaration for each person applying for a residence permit over the age of 18, listing all criminal offenses they have been convicted of during the past 10 years.

– Proof of income via bank statements, contracts, or any other reliable means.

Processing:

  1. Submit certified passport for pre-approval due to diligence check
  2. Once approved submit a full application
  3. Receive Vanuatu Immigration approval and certificate
  4. PR Card issued
  5. FedEx certificate and cards to client

From application processing to couriering your PR Card is only 10 working days.

Our Services

Privacy World offers its services to anyone, not only looking to obtain residency and/or citizenship processes but our experts figure out legal ways to:

  • Find the best solution for your needs.
  • Identify and deploy a strategy to help you accomplish your goals.
  • Activate our network of people in the country where you need help without having you search for the best solution or lawyer. We only work with licensed people in every country whom we carefully vet and pass our guidelines and principles of privacy we stand for.
  • Focus on cutting through the red tape and to expedite your process.
  • Provide proper communication with you about your case.
    …. and above all: Offer you legal strategies to provide additional layers of privacy for your identity, while obtaining your residency or citizenship!

Privacy World can also help you with incorporating your company in Vanuatu, assisting in getting you settled in the country and coordinating with you so that this experience will be less of a hassle.

Want Privacy World to handle your case? Have any questions? Contact us!

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FAQ’s

Yes. Dual citizenship is recognized in Vanuatu. You are not required to renounce your previous nationality to become a citizen of Vanuatu.

Yes, you can include qualified members of your family in the application or add them after you have obtained your citizenship for an additional fee. A qualified family member can be a child not older than 25 years, a spouse, and parents and in-laws older than 50 who are financially dependent on the main applicant.

It has a validity of 1 year, renewable or you can apply for permanent residency.

It takes ten years of residency before you can apply for citizenship in the country.

No. There is no language test to obtain citizenship in Vanuatu.

You are not required to visit Vanuatu before or after obtaining your citizenship, you are, however, welcome to visit and explore the country.

The Government of Vanuatu does not require you to pass any interviews.

Yes, the passport of Vanuatu is now a biometric passport, also known as an ePassport.

No. There is no knowledge test to obtain citizenship in Vanuatu.

The income of Vanuatu citizens or residents is free of any kind of local taxes, whether the income is remitted or not. Vanuatu is a low tax and offshore jurisdiction free from personal income tax, capital gains tax, inheritance tax, and wealth tax.

Permanent Residency is possible in Vanuatu upon buying a property for USD 100,000 or proving a monthly income of USD 2,500.

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