Vanuatu offers truly unique opportunities for those who want to get a second passport in the shortest possible time, without paperwork and multimillion-dollar investments. Getting the right to visa–free travelling across the UK and the Schengen area, a loyal tax system for conducting international business, providing a "spare airfield" for the whole family in a country with a stable economy, a developed banking sector and a warm climate are great reasons for choosing investment citizenship in Vanuatu.
The official website of the program
The first passport offers appeared in Vanuatu at the end of the XX century. The current version of the program was launched in 2017. Since then, more than 5,000 passports have been issued, and the total amount of revenue collected is $230 million. The program is implemented on the basis of Chapter 112 of the law "On citizenship".
Applicants are attracted to business prospects: zero taxes on capital gains, inheritance, gifts, and income earned outside the country. In Vanuatu, there is no tax on income, wealth, inheritance, capital gains, capital withdrawals, and exchange-based profits. Corporate and income taxes for businessmen who want to buy a ready-made company on the island are 0%.
The main tax in Vanuatu is VAT (12.5%). It is paid by companies that actually operate on the islands. International business organizations (IBCS) registered in Vanuatu are exempt from paying taxes for 20 years. They only pay an annual stamp duty of $300.
Comfortable conditions for starting a business: if you want, you can even open your own bank on the islands. However, it is not necessary to become a tax resident. And even if Vanuatu is not the most famous country in the world, with a local passport you can also open an account in a respectable foreign bank.
The Vanuatu passport opens the borders of 130 countries, including the UK, Singapore, Hong Kong and Russia. Currently, the islands authorities are negotiating visa-free entry to Australia and New Zealand, but in the meantime, visas to these countries can be obtained in a simplified manner.
You do not need to give up other passports. Children, grandchildren and subsequent generations of the investor's family are entitled to Vanuatu citizenship by inheritance.
Although the program offers only one option of non–returnable investments in the Vanuatu Economic Development Fund, the mininun amount is only $130,000, and the speed of passport registration is from one month. An interesting option is to pay the fee with bitcoins. The passport is saved for life, inherited, and you can apply for citizenship for a new family member without any problems.
The funds will be used to stimulate the state's economy.
Additional fee for registration of citizenship (citizenship fee):
It is better to pay the citizenship fee through an independent escrow agent. This scheme guarantees 100% refund. Funds will be debited from the account only in case of obtaining citizenship. There is also an option to pay for citizenship with bitcoins.
The authorities of Vanuatu allow investors include family members in the application.
A spouse
Must be in officially documented marriage.
Children
Financially dependent, studying, non-married. Under 25 years of age.
Children with desabilities have no restrictions.
Parents
Over 50 years of age. Financially dependent.
You do not need to know the language or history of the state to participate in the program. The most important thing is reliability, availability of funds on the account and the legal source of their origin.
Requirements for the main applicant
If the applicant is involved in serious international crimes, does not meet the program criteria, or provides false information, they cannot obtain a passport.
Requirements for family members
Due diligence stage
The main stage
All personal documents and certificates must be certified, apostilled and translated into English.
$5,000 (regardless of how many family members participate in the program). Applies to all applicants over the age of 18.
Application fee – $250
Fee for the certificate of naturalization – $10,000 (per each)
The agent's fee for support is $20,000-40,000.
Foreigners with investment citizenship have the same rights as any other resident of Vanuatu.